Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Sonora, CA

DISCUSSION

...Today - Sunday...
Another round of patchy fog and low clouds continue today with the worst visibilities again over the northern Sac. Valley down to a quarter mile visibilities. Visibilities will marginally improve into the afternoon but no indication of the stratus deck leave our Valley, keeping our daily trend of the cloud deck remaining into the next day. Our pattern of persistence will extend into the weekend keeping low cloud ceilings, cooler temperatures, and calm weather in the Valley with mild and warmer temperatures across the upper foothills and mountain locations. As long as the cloud deck holds, afternoon highs will remain in the mid 40s, low 50s but reaching into the mid 60s above around 1500-2000 feet each day. Please be sure to exercise caution if traveling, particularly in the morning hours where the fog has been the densest. Our potential pattern shift has delayed so Sunday looks more similar to today with continued low clouds and cooler Valley temperatures.

Next Week

A pattern change is projected for early next week, but there remains quite a bit of uncertainty in the timing and intensity of this system. Current forecast now show Monday afternoon as the onset of precipitation chances over the mountains that will begin a pattern of unsettled weather with best chances of impactful weather over the mountains and northern Sac. Valley. With the strength of the current ridge, its possible we will see the forecast trend later as it attempts to break down the ridge and allow precipitation to impact the area. Current Climate Prediction Center forecast point to an more than 60 percent chance of above normal precipitation over northern CA, highest as you move over the northern half of our CWA from Dec. 19-25.

AVIATION

Persistent low ceilings and reduced visibility across the Central Valley and lower foothills over the next 24 hours with IFR/LIFR conditions, although some TAF sites may very briefly see MVFR/VFR visibility around 21-02Z. Another round of BR/FG and low stratus returns after 00Z-06Z with areas of IFR/LIFR ceilings once again expected to persist into Friday. Light and variable surface winds less than 10 kts.

STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
None.