Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Lakeport, CA

DISCUSSION

...Today - Sunday...
Current GOES-West visible satellite imagery illustrates a blanket of fog, mist and low clouds across the Central Valley, Delta and lower foothills once again on this Friday afternoon. Broad high pressure will continue to be the primary synoptic influence for the region through the weekend, and little change is expected each day. Fog, mist and low clouds will persist through the weekend for much of the same area. High temperatures for the lower elevations will be in the 40s, which is trending about 10 degrees cooler than normal for mid December climatology. The opposite is true for higher terrain above the stratus layer, where highs are in the 50s to low 70s, which is about 20 degrees warmer than average for this time of year. Only very minor cooling is expected in the mountains through the weekend as high pressure begins to shift eastward. Be sure to take is slow and use low-beam headlights if dense fog is encountered while driving!

Next Week
Confidence is increasing in a pattern change next week, transitioning from high and dry with persistent stratus, to wetter and breezier. Latest guidance indicates precipitation first moving into Shasta County late on Monday, and then spreading southward across our forecast area on Tuesday and continuing into Wednesday. The latest rain forecast has trended slightly wetter, mainly for Shasta County and the mountains. The National Blend of Models (NBM) also indicates a 10 to 15 percent chance of thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday night. Best chances are currently over the north/central Sacramento Valley, northeast foothills and over the mountains. Little to no snow accumulations are currently expected, as snow levels are fairly high with this round (above 7000-8000 ft). Motorists should slow down and drive with caution if slick roads are encountered while driving next week. Extended models are also indicating several waves of precipitation possible as we progress later into the month of December. The latest Climate Prediction Center 8 to 14 Day Probabilistic Outlook favors above normal precipitation for December 20-26. Be sure to check back with us for updates as we get closer!

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 23-03Z. Another round of BR/FG and low stratus returns after 00Z-06Z with areas of IFR/LIFR ceilings once again expected to persist into Saturday. Light and variable surface winds less than 10 kts.

STO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
None.