SHORT TERM... Issued at 1221 AM PDT Tue Jul 28 2026 (Today and tonight)
If you read the evening AFD update micro-climates were highlighted. Seems fitting to kick off this AFD with another micro-climate highlight. If one looks at the overnight satellite imagery they'll notice only patchy stratus developing. I do expect more by morning, but patchy for now. So why is it patchy, pockets of offshore flow most notably over the N Bay and along the Big Sur coast. Offshore flow is a drying and warming wind for our region. Taking a closer look at Big Sur there are two sensors called Highlands Peak. It's close to midnight and both are reporting temperatures near 80 degrees. N to NE flow leads to compressional warming as the air descends the Santa Lucias, hence the warm temperatures.
Tuesday will be another pleasant day weather wise most areas. The longwave pattern continues to advertise broad upper level troughing just offshore and upper level ridging to the SE. Similar to Monday we'll see a large spread of temps from the coast to the interior. Onshore flow will keep coast/bays in check with highs in the 60s/70s. Farther inland with marine layer influence will see much warmer temperatures with highs in the upper 80s to near 100.
Given the temperature contrast expect another round of breezy afternoon winds in the valleys and inland gaps/passes.
Tuesday night the upper level trough begins to ease with upper level ridging building in from the east. As such, a more stable marine layer will develop with slightly better stratus coverage. Above the marine layer temperatures will be on the milder side.
