Hazardous Seas Warning 14, NWS Eureka, CA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
308 PM PDT Thu Apr 10 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Light coastal drizzle this evening will give way to cool
and breezy conditions Friday and Saturday. Warm and sunny conditions
will quickly return Sunday into early next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGES:
-Cloudy weather and drizzle along the coast this evening.

-Cooler conditions and gusty north wind Friday and Saturday,
especially near shore.

-Warm temperatures return Sunday into early next week.

WEATHER PATTERN OVERVIEW: A very weak shortwave and associated
surface front is currently crossing the area. A band of midlevel
clouds has streamed in from the south all along the coast, through
skies still remained clear enough to allow some interior valleys to
warm up just below 80. Nothing more than drizzle and most has been
observed along the coast so far. Models indicate a a 20% chance of
up to 0.2 inches of rain along the far north coast, but the vest
majority of models show now rain at all this evening.

Drier, though cooler weather will quickly return behind the front
Friday and Saturday. The strongest winds are most likely Saturday
afternoon as high pressure rapidly rebuilds across the Pacific and
enhances the pressure gradient along shore. Northwest gusts along
shore Friday and Saturday afternoons will most likely peak around 35
mph in wind favored areas. NBM even indicates a 50 to 70% chance of
isolated gusts over 40 mph Saturday afternoon, mostly along isolated
headlands.

Calmer and warmer weather will return early next week as ridging
builds back over the area bringing the threat of a coastal marine
layer. Interior valleys will likely seas highs in the low 80s by
Monday, with Ukiah most likely to see its warmest temperatures since
the start of the year, There is some indication a weak shortwave
brining another round of cooler conditions and drizzle late next
week, but fewer than 10% of models show any wetting rain.

FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND DEVIATIONS: There is relatively high
confidence in the current forecast without much model deviation in
the short term.

There is some variance in the intensity of heat next week. At the
high end, about 15% of models put interior highs above 85 as early
as Sunday afternoon. Conditions will cool by mid week but there is
large variance around next Wednesday with highs varying from the
low 70s to low 80s. Coastal temperatures also show variance,
especially around Sunday depending on the strength and extent of any
marine layer. Model ensembles have generally trended downward with
precipitation potential next week with less than 5% even show 0.1
inches. /JHW

&&

.AVIATION...A weak frontal system continues to move through the
region today. Drizzle to light rain along with overcast MVFR
conditions can be expected for terminals from coastal northern
Humboldt to Del Norte County. Gusty southerlies continue to diminish
for KCEC. These sparse showers will diminish into this evening.
General cloudiness will move over the whole region as the front
progresses east. Overnight and into early tomorrow, high pressure
will build into the region creating potentiall for IFR to LIFR
conditions at coastal terminals as the marine layer may develop and
move onshore. Some overnight interior valley fog may be likely
overnight.

&&

.MARINE...Southerly winds continue to decrease as a weak frontal
system continues to move through. Overnight tonight, winds will turn
northerly and increase as a high pressure system moves against
Northwest CA. Strong northerly winds with gale gusts and steep to
very steep waves are expected Friday through this weekend. NBM shows
an 85 to 95 percent chance of gale force gusts for most of the
coastal waters by  Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday
morning. Gale conditions are expected for the outer waters by late
Friday evening. Steep seas of 13 to 15 feet are expected this
weekend along with the gales.

&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
None.
NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT this afternoon for
     PZZ450-470.

     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Friday to 3 PM PDT Saturday
     for PZZ450.

     Gale Watch from Saturday afternoon through late Saturday
     night for PZZ450-455.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM Friday to 3 PM PDT Saturday
     for PZZ455.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 9 PM PDT Friday for
     PZZ470-475.

     Gale Warning from 9 PM Friday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for PZZ470-
     475.

&&

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For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png