Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Martinez, CA

DISCUSSION

Today Through Thursday
Latest GOES-West visible satellite imagery depicts a large area of fog stretching from about Corning southward on this Monday afternoon. The Dense Fog Advisory has been extended in time through 2 PM this afternoon as dense fog and visibilities of 1/4 mile or less are still being observed. The region remains under upper level ridging over the next several days, with dry and mild weather prevailing for much of interior northern California. This inversion pattern is bringing daily chances for fog and low clouds in the Valley and lower foothills through the week, especially from Chico southward. High resolution guidance shows a 50 to 70 percent chance of visibilities less than 1/2 mile once again tonight into Tuesday morning. The fog and low clouds will delay some of the daytime heating in those lower elevations. Be sure to slow down, and use low-beam headlights if fog is encountered while driving. Elsewhere, above normal temperatures are forecast, along with offshore flow.

...Friday - This Weekend...
Toward the second half of the week, the upper level pattern will feature a flattening ridge, with an upper low developing and moving into the southern California area which will bring slightly cooler temperatures for us up north by the end of the week and into the weekend. Precipitation chances have trended down for the weekend, with now only a 10 percent chance or less of 0.01" of rain showers over the northern mountains and southern Cascades.
Confidence is higher in a minor cooling trend in temperatures, with forecast highs in the 50s to around 60 for the Valley.
Ensemble guidance then indicats the upper level ridge building back in behind the trough, allowing for increased offshore flow.
Another round of periodically breezy north to east flow can be expected late Friday and over the weekend as a result of this.

AVIATION
Lingering IFR/LIFR conditions in central/southern Sacramento Valley, Delta, and northern San Joaquin Valley through 23z Monday.
FG/BR expected to re-develop around 03z-06z Tuesday with similar aerial extent as today. There is some uncertain potential for FG/BR to reach further north, into Red Bluff, however FG/BR will be patchier that far north with only MVFR conditions expected.
Surface winds below 12 kts in the lower elevations, with local E-NE wind gusts of 15-25 kts in the Sierra and Southern Cascades until 18z Tuesday.

STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
Dense Fog Advisory until 2 PM PST this afternoon for Carquinez Strait and Delta-Central Sacramento Valley-Northern San Joaquin Valley-Southern Sacramento Valley.