Snow for the Sierra. Cold, wind and drizzle for the Coast.

It sure felt wintery today.  But there is good news in this forecast, so be sure to read on.  As we wrap up a blustery Sunday, one can expect a cold, windy and damp night.  Rainfall amounts are expected to be measured in the tenths of an inch around the Bay Area.  The Monday morning commute will be a wet one, as light showers have already begun across the region.  For those of you who are always ready for ski season, the Sierra could see some decent snow this evening and tomorrow with upwards of a foot in the most ideal locations, with several inches down to 5000 feet.  Not quite enough for an early opener, but it is a little help from Ma Nature as the resorts get ready to fire up the snow guns in advance of Thanksgiving.  Interesting weather we are having.  Inclement weather should stick around most of the day tomorrow, with a good chance of the showers stopping by mid afternoon.  High temperature of about 58F here in Santa Cruz.

Seagull, enjoying the view, along the cliff of 4 Mile Beach, Santa Cruz.

Tuesday, this weather system will shift east and high pressure will begin to nose in.  Over night lows will be quite chilly, especially as we lose the cloud cover.  Mountain valleys should be watching out for a frost on Wednesday morning, and measures might want to be taken if you have any tender winter crop seedlings in the ground.  Day time highs will start to increase with mid 60s by Wednesday and upper 60s and maybe even 70F for Friday.  Another low pressure system will develop in the eastern Gulf and move ashore to our north next weekend.  Right now it looks like the system and its rain will stay to our north and only deliver some cooler air to us.  Back down into the low 60s for the weekend.  But keep checking back here, as the GFS has not done so well this year with the mid term.  The Euro also keeps this system in the PNW, but I am starting to get a gut feeling that we might be moving into an early wet season.  Maybe I'm finally starting to think about snow.

So the good news.  Fog marine layer looks to take a beating from this storm, and by Tuesday afternoon we should be looking at sunshine through the work week.  And if this next system does stay north next weekend, while a bit crisp, should be sunny.  And again, Thursday, or otherwise known as, Halloween, looks like it will be dry.  That is always appreciated.  Check back tomorrow for updates on the snow, a more detailed look at the coming weekend and some long term forecast babble.