Starting to look a bit more like winter. Or at least after a few more brilliant days.

It was toasty out there yesterday.  Like really toasty.  I know it may need to be calibrated, but my car thermometer claimed 75F in downtown Santa Cruz at 2pm.  I was parked on the sunny side of the street, but geez.  It was hot at the Farmer's Market.  It was shorts weather.  Seriously.  A bit cooler as one headed out toward the water.  About 70F near the Boardwalk and 65F once out past the Lane on West Cliff.  I imagine the afternoon breeze was keeping things a bit cooler out there, while it was calm downtown.  But enough about Wednesday.  Today looks even better, with Friday fairing pretty nice as well.  Expect mid 60s to low 70s.  And plenty of sunshine.

Clean surf has started to pound the coast.  Add a clear sky and near 70F air temps and you have California Dreami'

The surf is thumping too.  Two swells showed up in town on Wednesday and another arrives today.  Things have been pretty active out there.  And with this great weather, it is just like the California in brochures.  But, just when you are getting comfortable, things are starting to get interesting.  I could be as early as Friday night, and for sure by Saturday morning.  How far south it will reach is still hard to determine.  Rain is what I am talking about.  Another small system breaks through the high pressure, squeezing in from the north.  It will track down the coast, bringing light showers.  Confidence is high for points north of SF.  From the city south, chances drop pretty quickly.  Regardless, we will get plenty of cloud cover and cooler weather.  Yup, high 50s for the weekend.  And another dusting of snow in the Sierra.

Things stay possibly wet for four days.  Sunday looks likely to start fair and end not so fair as a second, wetter and stronger system follows the first.  Don't get me wrong.  These storms are nothing like what hit us for five days in January.  And there not really like the one that hit us a few days ago.  These guys are not likely to split.  So that means more snow for Tahoe.  Not much, but a few inches.  And light to moderate showers for us on the coast.  Things look like they will start to clear up on tuesday, but cold air will have replaced the warmth we have right now.  Sure, it will rebound a bit, but don't expect mid to high 60s.  And it won't hit 70 next week.  Speaking of which, have you been out side today?  Take your lunch break in the sun.  It will be well worth it.

The backside of Roundtop is nicely pasted and faces that afternoon sun.  Much more snow and this paces loses any gnar appeal.

As we move through next week, we see a few chances for more storms to break through.  It could be that our lovely high pressure will be heading up to Alaska for a ski vacation.  They have had record snow and cold this year (so that is where it all is).  The heli ops up there will be stoked to see some bluebird.  And if that does happen, the westerlies will cut under and bring on the storm train.  But that is not likely to happen for another two weeks.  Still, we could see plenty of colder and showery weather before then.  It looks like our epic weather is going on hiatus while winter finally pays us a visit.  Don't complain too much, we are in need of some water.

So, today and Friday: awesome.  Sunny and warm.  Today is the warmer of the two.  This weekend: blah.  Cooler (mid to high 50s), clouds and showers.  Same to start next work week.  Tuesday we should see the end of the rain, clearing of the clouds and with luck, and more cool temps in the high 50s.  Maybe more showers by the week's end.