You should reconsider if you are thinking about storing your jackets and jackets for this season.
Unlike previous February storms that brought moisture from subtropical sources in a classic El Niño pattern, resulting in mild temperatures and high snow levels, this weekend's weather systems originate from the Arctic, with high temperatures only reaching the 50s.
A strong cold front is expected Saturday, with strong to gusty southwest winds (25 to 38 mph with gusts up to 50 mph) along the coast and mountain ridges Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
Wind, rain and the possibility of thunderstorms are expected on Saturday and into early Sunday morning. The intensity of the rain is expected to diminish to rain showers later Sunday morning, ending Sunday afternoon.
By Sunday morning, snow levels could drop as low as 3,000 feet, which could bring snow to the highest peaks in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
A blizzard is expected in the Sierra Nevada, and the Lake Tahoe area will likely receive up to 12 feet of snow. Along the Central Coast, rain totals Saturday through Sunday are expected to range between 0.75 and 1.50 inches, with higher amounts in the coastal mountains on the Central Coast.
The upper level trough will produce fresh to strong northwesterly winds (19 to 31 mph), partly cloudy skies and a few showers off the immediate coast on Monday.
Dense ground fog is expected to form over the coastal and inland valleys during the night and morning. Lows through Monday night will reach the low 30s in the inland valleys (Santa Ynez), low 40s in the coastal valleys (Santa Maria and Lompoc), and along the coast.
Northwest winds will decrease in intensity from Tuesday to Wednesday morning, with areas of low offshore clouds appearing along the coast from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning before another cold front hits.
This fast-moving cold front will produce strong to gusty northwest winds (25 to 38 mph with gusts up to 45 mph) Wednesday night into Thursday.
High temperatures on Thursday will only reach the mid to high 50s, and snow levels will drop to 4,000 feet.
Rainfall totals on Thursday are expected to range between 0.10 and 0.40 inches.
The weather is expected to be dry, cool and breezy from Friday to Saturday. Another low pressure system is expected to bring rain next Sunday and Monday.
Temperatures in Santa Maria
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
50/57 46/57 38/58 40/62 44/60 43/58 44/57 47/60
Temperatures in Santa Ynez
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
47/58 43/59 35/57 37/64 40/62 39/59 38/58 40/62
Temperatures in Lombok
Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
51/59 47/58 39/59 40/63 44/61 44/59 46/58 49/61
Sea water temperatures
As was the case last week, sea water temperatures will range between 57 and 59 degrees until next Sunday.
Waves report
An 11 to 13 foot northwesterly swell (290 degrees in deep water) is expected (with a period of 14 to 16 seconds) coupled with 5 to 7 feet southwesterly seas Saturday into Sunday morning.
Seas will develop 7 to 9 feet NW (295° water depth) and swell (with a period of 5 to 14 seconds) Sunday afternoon, decreasing to 5 to 7 feet on Monday.
A 4 to 6 foot NW swell (300 degrees in deep water) will develop (with an 8 to 11 second period) on Tuesday, decreasing to 3 to 5 feet (with a 9 to 16 second period) by morning. Wednesday.
Gusty northwesterly winds will generate seas of 6 to 8 feet northwesterly (305 degrees in deep water) and waves will rise (with a period of 5 to 14 seconds) Wednesday afternoon through Thursday, falling to 4 to 6 feet by the same period on Friday. Until Saturday.
This date in weather history (March 2):
1927 – Raleigh, North Carolina, was buried under 17.8 inches of snow in 24 hours, a record for that location. Nashville, NC received 31 inches of snow. The average snow depth in the state was 14 inches.
1989 Snow and strong winds swept the western United States. Up to 16 inches of snow was reported south of Seattle, Washington, and more than 2 feet of snow covered California's Sierra Nevada mountain range. Winds gusted to 89 mph at Hidden Peak UT, and reached 92 mph in Peavine CA. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2015 – Yesterday's thunderstorms produced periods of heavy rain, hail and gusty winds in many areas of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
