Sunrise 6:27 AM   Sunset 7:56 PM Moonrise 3:09 PM   Moonset 3:50 AM

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PZZ455 Cape Mendocino To Pt Arena Out 10 Nm- 311 Am Pdt Fri Apr 19 2024
Today - NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves nw 4 ft at 6 seconds - .and S 3 ft at 15 seconds. Patchy fog. Tonight - NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves nw 4 ft at 7 seconds - .and S 2 ft at 15 seconds. Patchy fog. Sat - NW winds 5 to 10 kt. Waves nw 3 ft at 6 seconds - .and S 2 ft at 15 seconds. Patchy fog. Sat night - N winds 15 to 25 kt. Waves nw 6 ft at 7 seconds - .and S 2 ft at 14 seconds. Sun - N winds 20 to 30 kt. Waves N 9 ft at 9 seconds - .and nw 4 ft at 13 seconds. Mon - N winds 10 to 20 kt. Waves N 6 ft at 8 seconds - .and nw 4 ft at 13 seconds. Tue - NW winds 10 to 15 kt. Waves N 5 ft at 7 seconds - .and nw 3 ft at 11 seconds.

PZZ400 311 Am Pdt Fri Apr 19 2024
Synopsis for northern california waters - Winds and waves continue to diminish as the sea state becomes controlled by a weak southwesterly swell. Wave heights expected to fall to 2 to 4 feet by Saturday. Northerly winds will rapidly increase Saturday evening in the wake of a weak cold frontal passage, beginning in the southern waters before migrating north. Gale force gusts likely on Sunday across the waters, producing steep and hazardous seas through early next week.

FXUS66 KEKA 191132 AFDEKA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Eureka CA 432 AM PDT Fri Apr 19 2024

SYNOPSIS
Above normal afternoon temperatures will continue across the interior valleys into early next week. A weak cold front will bring a slight chance of light rain and drizzle to the North Coast on Saturday followed by breezy northerly winds on Sunday.



DISCUSSION
Pics from sky depicts high clouds continues streaming across Northern California this morning, while southerly wind reversal aided coastal stratus moving northward reaching the southwestern portion of Mendocino Coast. Overnight temperatures have been running 3 to 8 degrees warmer compared to last night.

Upper level ridge weaken slightly and is expected to shift eastward today through Saturday. Expect another pleasant day with above normal temperatures to continue across the interior valleys today. Interior temperatures are forecast to be few degrees warmer compared with yesterday's reading, with highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Coastal areas are expected to be near normal temperatures, with highs forecast in the 50s. HRRR guidance indicated low stratus clouds charging up along and lapping the Mendocino Coast throughout the day, and forming offshore over the waters and spread onto the North Coast tonight in advance of a weak front.

A weak front associated with a transient shortwave trough will bring a push low level moisture and perhaps some light rain and drizzle to Del Norte and northern Humboldt counties, primarily during the afternoon on Saturday. Otherwise, dry weather and some cooling of interior high temps are expected in response to breezy west-northwest winds and greater cloud cover across the interior.

Surface high pressure will build in quickly over the Pacific Northwest Saturday night and Sunday in the wake of the front.
Breezy northerly winds are forecast to redeveloped over mostly coastal areas as surface pressure gradients tighten on Sunday.
NBM probabilities indicates a 60-80% chance for wind gusts from 30-40 MPH along the exposed ridges and coastal headlands of Del Norte/Humboldt Counties on Sunday. Also, gusty west-northwest winds will most likely develop through channeled terrain in the interior behind the front Saturday evening.

After a brief period of interior warming and upper ridging, interior temperatures are forecast to trend down mid to late next week and more seasonable values as another upper-trough-complex impacts the west coast. The magnitude and rate of cooling remains highly uncertain at this point with 25-75th spreads on the order 10F for high temps and 5F for low temps. Current forecast is for near normal temperatures; highs in the 60s and lows mostly in the 40s.
There are subtle indications for convection across mainly Trinity County on Tuesday as an upper trough with limited moisture generates instability.

Potential for precip (showers) will also increase mid to late next week, though amounts will most likely wont be very much with RAW ensemble probabilities of 20% to 30% for > 1 inch of rain in 24-hours for the western slopes of Del Norte and northern Humboldt. Stay tuned. ZVS/DB



AVIATION
VFR conditions and light offshore winds again this morning beneath a ridge of high pressure and scattered cirrus. A marine stratus shield observed on satellite south of Point Arena is expected to migrate north this afternoon, but should remain south of Cape Mendocino. Diurnally driven winds will produce westerly winds along the coast and northerly upslope flow at UKI this afternoon before returning to light offshore flow. Coastal southerly flow reversal will become more substantial tonight into Saturday morning, enhanced further by an approaching frontal boundary. HRRR indicates a strong marine stratus signature rounding the Cape during this period, highlighting the potential for mist/fog and thick low level stratus at the coastal terminals. Stratus may produce MVFR/IFR ceilings reduced visibilities before the front crosses the coast Saturday afternoon.



MARINE
Seas continue to diminish admist light northerly winds as the last of the small crafts expire in the northern outer waters.
Light winds and a small long period swell ensure calm seas through Saturday, with wave heights falling to 2-4 feet. Winds will briefly turn southerly ahead of a weak frontal passage Saturday afternoon before a swift resurgence of northerly winds behind the boundary overnight into Sunday. NBM is still indicating 80-90% probabilities of >34 kt gusts developing downwind of Cape Mendocino before expanding to the northern and southern waters by Sunday afternoon.
Responsive wind waves alongside a long period NW swell will produce steep and hazardous seas exceeding 10 feet by late Sunday. The tightening pressure gradient developing ahead of another offshore ridge will enable gale winds to continue in the outer waters through Monday morning, further enhancing the sea state to wave heights 12 to 14 feet. Uncertainty remains as to how quickly the axis of elevated winds will retreat offshore before another trough complex approaches the PNW on Tuesday.



EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...
None.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
None.

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Mendocino
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Fri -- 03:23 AM PDT     1.78 feet Low Tide
Fri -- 04:50 AM PDT     Moonset
Fri -- 06:31 AM PDT     Sunrise
Fri -- 08:55 AM PDT     4.44 feet High Tide
Fri -- 03:23 PM PDT     0.68 feet Low Tide
Fri -- 04:08 PM PDT     Moonrise
Fri -- 07:57 PM PDT     Sunset
Fri -- 09:57 PM PDT     5.00 feet High Tide
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Mendocino, Mendocino Bay, California, Tide feet

Point Cabrillo
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Fri -- 01:08 AM PDT     -0.76 knots Max Ebb
Fri -- 04:13 AM PDT     0.00 knots Slack
Fri -- 04:50 AM PDT     Moonset
Fri -- 06:31 AM PDT     Sunrise
Fri -- 07:09 AM PDT     0.74 knots Max Flood
Fri -- 09:44 AM PDT     -0.00 knots Slack
Fri -- 12:56 PM PDT     -0.98 knots Max Ebb
Fri -- 04:08 PM PDT     Moonrise
Fri -- 04:29 PM PDT     0.00 knots Slack
Fri -- 07:35 PM PDT     0.95 knots Max Flood
Fri -- 07:57 PM PDT     Sunset
Fri -- 10:27 PM PDT     -0.00 knots Slack
Tide / Current data from XTide NOT FOR NAVIGATION

Point Cabrillo, California Current, knots

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