Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Eureka, CA

DISCUSSION
Coastal cloud cover has been rather persistent today while interior areas were able to see plenty of sunshine. High and mid level cloud cover is already on the increase and will only continue to increase through the evening as a frontal system approaches the area. A band of rain is expected to move through primarily Humboldt, Del Norte, and western Trinity counties beginning early Wednesday morning with accumulation of a tenth of an inch in the south to over a half inch in some of the favored terrain in northern Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Farther south and east less rain is expected where only several hundredths are forecast to as little as no rain in southern Mendocino and Lake counties. Behind the quick passing morning front, northwesterly winds will increase and gusty conditions are likely for coastal areas and ridgetops Wednesday and Wednesday evening.
Wind gusts over 30 mph will be possible in typically windy locations, but winds to advisory levels are not expected (except maybe at Cape Mendocino). Scattered showers will persist in Del Norte and Humboldt counties into the evening hours.

Gradually drying northerly flow will bring in cold air and the potential for overnight lows into the 30s in many interior valley locations. The growing season has resumed in Mendocino County and coastal areas of Humboldt and Del Norte, so it is likely that some locations may need frost or freeze warnings Thursday morning and again Friday morning. The most likely location will be in interior, northern Mendocino County.

Dry conditions are expected for much of the next week as high pressure builds over the eastern Pacific and storm systems are pushed toward the north into Oregon and Washington. Slight chances for rain remain in the forecast for Del Norte County much of the week with any individual front possible of bringing a shower or two to the extreme northern portions of the area, but overall conditions are expected to be dry with ridging dominating over Northwest California. /RPA

AVIATION
Coastal clouds have been rather persistent today as moisture increases ahead of an approaching frontal boundary. Showers will develop overnight as a quick passing band of precipitation moves through the region early Wednesday morning. Rain will reach as far south as far northern Mendocino County. Showers will then linger along the Del Norte and Humboldt coasts through the day into Wednesday evening. Winds will increase out of the north during the day on Wednesday, becoming gusty at all TAF sites by Wednesday afternoon. /RPA

MARINE
Light winds and low seas are currently present across the coastal waters. Conditions are going to rapidly deteriorate Wednesday morning as a quick passing front turns winds out of the northwest on Wednesday and then north Wednesday night. Winds will ramp up into small craft, especially south of Cape Mendocino, Wednesday afternoon and then further increase later on Thursday to near gale or gale as high pressure builds over the eastern Pacific. The pressure gradient will continue to strengthen with gale gusts expanding north into the northern zones Thursday night or Friday.
Very steep seas will build in response to the wind. The general pattern may remain in place through the weekend into early next week, resulting in likely a prolonged gale event south of Cape Mendocino. To cover the start of the increase in wind and steep seas, small craft advisories have been issued starting in the north early Wednesday morning, expanding into the southern waters zones late Wednesday morning. Additionally, a gale watch has been issues for the southern zones beginning Thursday afternoon through Friday. /RPA

EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...
None.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM Wednesday to 1 PM PST Thursday for PZZ455-475.

Gale Watch from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning for PZZ455.

Small Craft Advisory from 1 AM Wednesday to 1 PM PST Thursday for PZZ470.

Gale Watch from Thursday afternoon through late Friday night for PZZ475.