A Bay Area heat wave that was presupposed to be relatively short before lengthening after which lasting a couple of days longer than originally expected is finally, truly, coming to an end.
This was stated by the National Weather Service, but with one caveat.
“What you'll see (on Monday) is just a little relief,” said NWS meteorologist Brayden Murdock. “There'll be a lot more on Tuesday.”
Relief from Monday's heat will mostly profit those living near the coast on the peninsula and in cities along Interstate 880, where temperatures are expected to stay at 70 degrees. In the South Bay, temperatures will range from just above 80 degrees (in San Jose and Santa Clara) to only above 80 degrees (in Morgan Hill).
Only the far reaches of the East Bay are expected to see temperatures of 90 degrees or more. The hottest spot is prone to be Livermore, where 92 degrees are forecast.
All these temperatures are lower than those of the previous week, when the thermometer often rose above 38 degrees Celsius in the inside and hills and above 32 degrees Celsius or more elsewhere.
A high pressure system that proved more persistent than strong caused the warmth to last more than originally expected, Murdock said.
“If it had been a strong system, it would have been much hotter,” he said. “It just didn't have enough force or wind to push it far enough out of the area to feel the difference.”
According to Murdock, that advance was already underway Monday morning. The marine layer was far less compressed, providing some relief from the dense fog affecting the Monterey Bay coast and northern Salinas Valley.
The winds also showed signs of change, he said.
These aspects are only prone to be exacerbated as a low-pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska moves through the region. This low-pressure system is moving with barely less speed and force than originally expected, in response to Murdock.
“It's finally going to get here,” he said of its expected arrival on Tuesday. “From then on, our weather pattern will keep us rather cool for the foreseeable future.”
image credit : www.mercurynews.com