Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Palm Desert, CA

DISCUSSION
FOR EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA INCLUDING ORANGE...
SAN DIEGO...WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SOUTHWESTERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTIES...

At 8:30 AM, visible satellite was showing extensive low cloud coverage from the beaches to the mountain slopes, locally into mountain passes. Low clouds are expected to gradually clear inland areas, but may linger along the immediate coast into the afternoon hours. High temperatures today are expected to be 3 to 7 degrees cooler than yesterday for most locations, up to 10 degrees cooler than yesterday in the High Desert. An upper level low passing through the Great Basin will increase the onshore pressure gradient.
That will result in additional rounds of gusty westerly winds over the mountains and into the deserts this afternoon and evening. Winds will be strongest through the San Gorgonio Pass where gusts 55 to 60 mph are possible, otherwise gusts will be 35 to 50 mph.

For early in the upcoming week, a long wave troughing pattern will remain over the Western United States. That will keep high temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below average through Tuesday. Even remaining below average, temperatures between today and Sunday are expected to increase 3 to 7 degrees. A brief period of offshore winds can be expected Sunday morning on the coastal mountain slopes, with minimal impact expected. Marine layer low clouds and fog are expected each night and morning and will reach into the valleys.

For Wednesday through the end of the upcoming week, the upper level troughing shifts north, allowing for weak ridging to build in. That will bring a gradual warming. Current forecast for the end of the week follows NBM with highs within a few degrees of normal. The increased ridging will result in a shallower mariner layer, with persistent coverage along the coast and less coverage expected in the valleys.

AVIATION
211530Z
Coast/Valleys
Low clouds based 2500-3500 ft MSL will slowly clear for inland areas 16-18z. VIS 1-5SM where clouds and terrain intersect, obscuring higher terrain. FEW-SCT low clouds expected to linger this afternoon within a few miles of the SD County coast; 20% chance for BKN cover at times. BKN low clouds surge back 00-03z for SD County coast and valleys. Clouds will likely spread into Orange County and through the Inland Empire as seen this morning, though there is less confidence in full coverage of clouds that far north compared to this morning. Regardless, bases will likely be similar to this morning, around 2000-3000ft MSL.

Mountains/Deserts
Clear skies and unrestricted VIS through early Sunday morning. Strong westerly winds occurring, with gusts 30- 50 knots by 18-21z this afternoon for mountain passes and locally into deserts. These gusts are likely to produce pockets of up/downdrafts in lee of mountains/mountain passes in addition to isold BLDU in the desert with VIS 3-5SM at times. Winds gradually weaken tonight into Sunday morning.

MARINE
Aside from northwesterly wind gusts near 20 kts in the vicinity of San Clemente Island this afternoon, no hazardous marine conditions are expected through Wednesday.

BEACHES
Elevated surf this afternoon, 3-5 feet sets to 6 feet for west facing beaches.

SKYWARN
Skywarn activation is not requested. However weather spotters are encouraged to report significant weather conditions.



SGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...Wind Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for Apple and Lucerne Valleys-San Diego County Deserts-San Gorgonio Pass near Banning.

PZ...None.