946 
fxus66 keka 171426 rra 
afdeka 


Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service Eureka California 
340 am PDT Wednesday Mar 17 2010 


Synopsis...a ridge of high pressure over the West Coast will 
bring dry weather and above normal temperatures inland for the 
rest of the week. 


&& 


Discussion...pretty straightforward forecast this morning. 
Satellite shows generally clear skies over northwest California. 
Some valley and coastal fog is forming, but it will quickly burn 
off after sunrise. Models continue to be in excellent agreement 
showing a strong ridge of high pressure starting to build over the 
West Coast today and lasting for the rest of the week. Expect a 
warming trend to begin for inland sections today. Highs inland 
will rise into the 70s to near 80 on Friday, when the ridge is at 
its strongest. These temperatures are about 10 to 15 degrees above 
normal. But as the ridge axis shifts to the east later Friday 
stratus and fog is expected to form along the coast and hover 
through the weekend. Left the long term unchanged with low probability of precipitation 
because no strong fronts are foreseen at this time. Stroz 


&& 


Aviation...12z Wednesday-12z Thursday...patchy fog will result in 
local IFR conditions this morning...perhaps persisting through 
about 18z along the coast and in some interior sheltered valleys. 
Otherwise...VFR conditions to prevail across northwest California through 
the valid taf period...although patchy fog will likely redevelop 
again tonight after about 06z. Bettwy 


&& 


Marine...large west swell will gradually subside this morning and 
then transition into a shorter period north-northwest swell this 
afternoon into Thursday. A surface ridge of high pressure will 
build rapidly over the NE Pacific while a thermal trough develops 
over the interior. This will result in a period of gale force 
northerly winds and hazardous seas over the outer waters. We left 
all headlines unchanged...with a gale and hazard seas warning for the 
outer waters this afternoon through Thursday. A Small Craft 
Advisory continues for the inner waters...with just a few gusts to 
35 knots tonight. The models remain in good agreement and suggest the 
swell will subside late Thursday night into Friday...along with 
much weaker surface winds. Bettwy 


&& 


Eka watches/warnings/advisories... 


California...none. 


Northwest California coastal waters... 


Gale Warning for pzz470-475. 
Hazardous seas warning for pzz470-475. 
Small Craft Advisory for pzz450-455-470-475. 


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