Strong winds hinder marine layer formation Thursday

Clouds were on the slower side to develop Thursday morning and due to strong winds crossing over the Santa Ynez mountain range, cloud cover may remain limited near the South Central Coast. Elsewhere through the region, the marine layer will look similar to yesterday and could produce drizzle down toward Ventura county. Skies will clear better today, but clearing will be on the slower side. Temperatures for the day will be a degree or two cooler and today looks to be the coolest of the workweek. Upper 60s and low 70s can be expected near the beaches while highs warm into the middle 70s inland. Winds will pick back up to this evening near the Gaviota Coast, with gusts anywhere upwards of 35mph.

Clouds will fail to develop Friday morning, near Santa Barbara as sundowner winds inhibit the marine layer from forming. So, expect sunny skies near the South Central Coast while clouds and a moderately dense marine layer return elsewhere, clearing nicely by the evening. Temperatures will warm a few degrees as low pressure to the north shifts to the east and cuts down the transportation of cooler arctic air. Expect to see highs in the upper 60s to middle 70s near the beaches and upper 70s inland, so still below average but noticeably warmer. Winds will be even stronger Friday night, with gusts 45mph or greater. This will mean increased fire risk due to warmer temperatures and dry fire fuels.

Saturday and Sunday will look rather mundane and copy and paste to Friday. Temperatures may warm a degree or two but cloud cover should remain similar and sunny each evening. Winds will stay strong and onshore for the weekend but will shift to moderate Santa Ana winds by Monday and Tuesday. This will warm temperatures up further and could produce the heightened risk of fire danger.