Variable Around the Bay. And Signs of the Turn.

Tomatoes are at the market.

Maybe it was the first redwood needles falling into the yard, or the strong south wind and sunny skies near Pigeon Point this morning, but the first signs or the turn of season are starting to show up around town.  The wisps of autumn was pronounced in the Pogonip earlier this week, under the oaks.  A center of low pressure was moving from east to west just south of us.  This is what is driving the southery gradient this morning and driving sub tropical moisture into our region.  And this is what is creating a slight chance of thunderstorms for the Bay Area, and slightly higher chance in the Sierra.  Not autumn per se, but a change in the pattern for sure.  And the official change of season is just ten days aways

Around the bay there is definitely a bit of variety.  The summit of 17 had a 90F temperature at around 4PM on Friday.  Same down in Los Gatos and just a few degrees cooler in Saratoga.  It was hot.  By the time we got to Santa Cruz things we looking more like 75F, and even cooler at the water's edge.  So if you are headed to the valley, dress lightly.  If you are coming to the coast, put on a puffy coat.  For real.  It is chilly over hear, even once the fog breaks.  If it does.  Today, Saturday, it does not look like we will see the sun at all.  And things are getting even cooler here along the coast.  High 60s for the rest of the weekend and by mid week we may only be topping out in the low 60s.  If you need to the sun, head inland.  Even getting just off the coast will give you a much better chance of sun and warmth.  This is certainly the time of year when the valley seems a bit more appealing.  Or you could just head up tot he Sierra and enjoy copious sun and mild warmth.

Just 'cause it is chilly, don't mean you can't Q up a burger.

Short term, the weather does not seem to have much of a change in it.  We should see a little cooling on the coast, and a bit more cooling in the valley (say only 80 in LG), but we are starting to see some seasonal change.  The high pressure in the Gulf of Alaska was short lived and a new smaller gale is forming to our northwest.  This will be another opportunity to produce some small NW mid period swell on Monday.  The low pressure remains in the Gulf, but becomes more dispersed and less organized.  But is stays up there.  And the long term shows more gales forming mid month starting around the 18th.  Again, more chance for wave production, but something bigger is happening here.  Most, if not ll of the moisture will stay north of the Canadian border, but this is not a summer pattern.  We are starting to see the slow change into fall and winter.  We hope to see the marine layer get moved out, and the typical sunny autumn weather to move in over the next few weeks.

This is our best time of year coming up.  The surf will become more consistent.  The wind tends to shift off shore.  The bike tracks are smooth and the air perfect temperature for peddling.  The harvest is in full swing.  The farmer's market has just about everything you will ever need.  And Empire apples just showed up this past week.  Yes, the best apple ever is back.  So get ready for our best time of year.  Summer in the Fall.