Rain and Snow likely..... for the Pacific Northwest.

Another run of the models and forecast suggest that the majority of this week's storms will stay well north of the Bay Area.  So what does that mean for us?  For one, this may become the driest December in history for much of the state.  What a change from last year, when we were getting hammered with 100" weeks of snow.  After last winter, it will take more than a single record dry month to knock us back into the world of drought, but it is something to think about.  We may be headed right back were we came from.  That being said, let us take a look at the coming week.

Sea birds feast along the reefs at low tide on the open north coast of Santa Cruz County.

Today should again be a beautiful day.  Expect high 50s to about 60 along the coast.  And the morning's are getting a bit less cold.  Things begin to change on Tuesday, as a storm system moves through the region, mostly to our north.  The southerly trailing edge of the system may bring rain to areas north of San Francisco, especially in the evening hours.  The byproduct of this wave could be fog for us folks living in the city on south.  As for the folks in the central valley, they could see their cold inversion fog cleared out, at least for a few days.  Rain, or showers, could persist through the day on Wednesday.  Yet again, this is pretty much only likely north of SF.  For those of us to the south, we should see the fog clear and partly sunny skies for Wednesday and the rest of the week.  Another system drags by to our north on Friday.

Sun and waves.  Somewhere along West Cliff Drive.

All in all, we look to stay dry this week, south of the city.  Points north could see some showery weather Tuesday night into Wednesday, and again during the day on Friday.  But really, just a slight chance.  Tahoe is likely going to miss all this action, but there is a chance of a dusting to a few inches of snow.  Nothing at all to get excited about, and not enough to turn the season on.  As for a bit of weather detail in the Sierra, expect around 45-50F at 7000 feet.  It should be nice weather for schussing the manmade snow, climbing rock walls or hitting up the mountain bike trails.  Down here on the coast, waves continue through the first half of this week, with more possibly on the way.  And of course, the weather is quite nice for hitting up the links.