5/31/23
Good Wednesday morning,
The last day of May has treated Santa Barbara with blue skies. That is not the case however in many other locations in southern California. https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=34.5,-133.8,4z
The wind last night helped to blow the fog away from SB. Don’t expect this to be the case for days to come, but we will take the sun for a day.
Thursday starts June Gloom moving from May gray. It does look like the fog will return for all with Friday and Saturday bringing back some blue skies.
Sunday another cool down as low pressure settles in again. That’s the way it is, enjoy the sun while it lasts.
James Taylor should put on a great show at the bowl tonight, bring a jacket or sweatshirt and enjoy.
Jack Martin
5/28/23
Good Sunday morning,
Ugh, just another foggy ugly morning. It just seems like it will never warm up.
Sadly week after week it’s the same forecast: fog, drizzle, cooler temperatures, repeat again this week. You can just see the fog hovering along the coast and Valley’s.
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/
It’s all about cooler temps, highs in the 60s along the coast, low 70s in the valleys. This will pretty much be the story all week with the possibility of drizzle and even light rain by mid week. This is all thanks to the never ending low pressure systems that wants to hover over us. Even lake Nascimento is it chilly 68° today and will warm up to the low 70s.
As the week progresses we’ll look forward to the weekend where possibly it’s going to warm up a little bit as a quick high-pressure system built-in. Otherwise we are just going to transition from May gray to June gloom hopefully some better news as we get closer to the weekend.
Jack Martin
5/22/23
Good foggy Monday morning,
May gray is upon us and there is no relief in site. Fog is 2500 feet thick and extends into the valleys. Coastal clearing is not likely until late in the day or not at all.
Valleys will break this afternoon. The mountains even have a 20% chance of thunder showers today. Highs today will be mid 60s coastal and low 70s in the valleys.
A matter of fact that’s the story for the entire week.
Thursday and Friday a weak system descends from the pacific northwest bring a chance for some rain, but most likely just a deeper marine layer drizzle and light rain possible.
The Holiday weekend looks to maybe clear earlier and warm slightly, but temp’s sill below normal for this time of year. Even Lake Nascimento will be cool in the 70s for the holiday weekend
All you lake goers, bring a sweat shirt.
You can see the weak system that will work its way towards us https://zoom.earth/
Have a great week
Jack Martin
5/21/23
Just lots of fog out there as usual this time of year. It was a treat on Saturday to see all the afternoon sun. Hopefully today we will see the same
Next week, I don’t have good news if you want sun, and we are looking at drizzle and light rain possible Wednesday and Thursday.
Highs upper 60s coastal 70s in the valleys all week. Some thunders possible as far as Ventura mountains https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=34.1,-109.8,5z
This is the latest report from the LA time with El Nino coming. This is a doom and gloom report. Love the press making the worst out of everything, but a wet winter is likely again. We have a 4 to 5 months to recover from this winter then we will do it again.
https://apple.news/A-lsQu7_6Se-pySaRrzNadA
Have a great Sunday, better fix all those roofs before January 2024
Jack Martin
5/20/23
If you like May gray and cool, damp days, then you will like the forecast for the next week. Sadly I do not like chilly and drizzle, but this is what the coastal areas will see all the way through next week.
Onshore flow will continue through next week with night and morning clouds and drizzle. As we get into the middle of the week light rain is even possible.
For the Eastern mountains and deserts monsoonal moisture has made it into the area, there is a chance for thunder showers through Monday. You can see the clouds on the zoom earth .
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=33.9,-105.4,4.82z
This weekend and into next week coastal areas will see highs in the upper 60s and lows in the 50s . Valleys will be a little warmer at mid 70s , but morning fog is still likely.
Deserts, hot muggy and chance for showers through Monday.
That’s the best I can offer, maybe this would be a good weekend to clean the garage
Have fun and enjoy the cooler weather
Jack Martin
5/19/23
Good Friday morning,
Dang it has been a damp wet week along the coast. It seems like every morning this week we wake up to drizzle and wet streets. We have actually recorded .005/100 inch of rain this week. Yesterday we never really saw any sunshine, as soon as the clouds separated the fog returned last night.
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=31.2,-108.1,4z
Today more of the same and actually into early next week along the coast. As we progress into the weekend it looks like clearing may occur a little earlier, but highs will still only be in the upper 60s to 70 degrees along the coast. It does get a little better in the valleys where clearing will come earlier and temps will rise into the mid to upper 70s. Regarding the monsoonal moisture that has been talked about for the past week, it has not done much at this point, but the threat of thunder showers in the inland areas will continue through Monday. As discussed this will not affect the chilly coastal areas, but the desert areas are still reaching 100 plus each day. The monsoonal flow has been affecting Texas and other-southern states all week. This moisture should get into the desert areas of California a little more in the next few days.
For us this damp pattern continues into next week , then by mid week the winds may come up and blow some of this marine layer out to sea.
We still have another 45 days of this May gray and June gloom before we get into summer weather and we will be wishing for fog again, I think!
It has been a cold and wet 2023 to this point. Looking into the fall and next rainy season, the national weather service is calling for El Niño. This means wetter than normal. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/el-nino-returns-2023/
Not that we look forward to another super wet year, but it is likely for the next few, as warmer currents will flow into our area in the fall warming the ocean and bringing more subtropical moisture. All in all we will take it 1 day and 1 week at a time.
If you want sun, head to the valley this weekend.
Jack Martin
5/17/23
It is just crazy how less than 200 miles the weather difference can be this extreme – Yesterday in Palm Springs Vs today in Santa Barbara.
Today, and moving through the rest of the week, the pattern really does not change. As we wake in Santa Barbara it is another wet start to the day with chilly temps at 54 degrees.
We will only see a high of 65 degrees and clearing in the afternoon.
Santa Ynez clearing earlier with a high of 79 degree , starting out with 54 degrees also.
The desert is just hot, and a chance of monsoonal moisture the rest of this week as the humidity climbs. It will be hot and humid and 100 to 103.
My pick is Santa Ynez at 80 degrees this weekend, maybe taking in a winery.
Enjoy the May Gray, because it is not going away anytime soon.
Jack Martin
5/16/23
Good morning,
Pea soup in SB and tropical 🌴 in palm springs . 77 degrees here and 103 for the high. Too 🥵 hot I am coming home to drizzle. Great morning here, but after 1 pm you need to hide indoors.
It is amazing the difference of having a cold Pacific Ocean / air conditioner will do you change the wars there no a short distance.
Look at the zoom earth, you’ll see that high clouds are straining up over the inland areas and the fog along the coast.
This will bring a very slight chance of rain over the inland mountains this afternoon and Wednesday. Maybe will see some high clouds streaming overhead when the fog breaks, but no threat in SB.
This week continues 70s coastal with morning fog, 80s in the valleys and 100 in the deserts. Enjoy the California weather. I might need my winter parka coming home today after a few days in Palm Springs 😂
Jack Martin
5/15/23
Good Monday morning,
This weeks weather in California will vary on where you live. Coastal fog in the morning and low 70s for highs, valleys also some fog, but quicker clearing and low 80s. Mountains and deserts 100 degrees and some thunderstorms possible Tuesday and Wednesday. This is a mixed bag for all as 70 to 100 is 2 hours away from each other.
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=26.1,-115.9,5.49z
This is all pretty normal for this time of year, but the monsoonal moisture is not typical.
The monsoonal moisture will not affect the coastal or valleys near us, but LA mountains and deserts are possible.
All in all a calm week with various degrees of weather. Have a good week and see you soon.
Jack Martin
5/12/23
Good afternoon,
Finally the west coast is heating up. It looks like the entire west coast will be hot this weekend into next week.
Even Seattle, WA will be in the 80s and 90s. Here we will see hot everywhere but the beaches, but still nice in the 70s at the beaches.
The valleys 80s and 90s through at least mid-week next. Deserts will 100 plus.
This is all thanks to high pressure building in https://zoom.earth/
Enjoy the fantastic weekend
Jack Martin
5/11/23
Good Thursday morning,
What a great day it was yesterday with warming and calm winds. Did you see the rocket launch at 1 pm yesterday? I did it was pretty cool in the perfect blue skies.
Today and through the next week we will see warming in all valleys and inland locations.
Very typical for this time of year. Highs in the 80s and 90s. Along the coast fog will start out most days then clearing. An Eddy will spin off the coast of Catalina keeping fog and cooler along the coast. Coastal areas will warm into the 70s as we get into the weekend, but the hot areas will be valleys and deserts.
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=33.8,-120.4,4z
Next week warm continues inland and May gray along the coast. This is all typical late spring and early summer weather. The threat of monsoonal moisture is growing to the south over the desert areas mid week. We will see how that plays out.
Enjoy the warm weather, if you want hot, just drive over the hill
Jack Martin
5/10/23
Good Wednesday morning,
All the wind last night blew away the marine layer. North flow is going to make rough seas today, as the low-pressure system washes through.
Today will be transition day, before we start a big warmup into the weekend. This weekend will be 7 to 15 degrees above normal in the valleys.
Expect 80s and 90s in all valley areas though midweek next. https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=32.92,-119.62,6z
High pressure is taking over, and the crazy part is there is even going to be monsoonal flow in the beginning of the week.
This can cause early season rains to the South. How crazy as that!!!!
We will see what happens, but monsoonal rains this far north are not likely.
Enjoy the transition from spring to summer, the crazy year continues.
As always stay tuned.
Jack Martin
5/9/23
Good Tuesday morning,
A weak low-pressure system will pass through the next 2 days. This really will not do much to our weather here.
Yes, if you listen to the TV they say 20% of thundershowers, but this is not likely here. Maybe to the south, but not here.
So what’s up? weak low pressure will bring more northwest winds tonight. Highs will remain in the 60s. https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=37.3,-139.4,4z
North winds are not likely to cause any rain in the Santa Barbara area because of our mountains.
Wednesday the low will pass through and on Thursday we will start a warming trend.
It does look like a big warm-up into next week as high pressure and offshore winds will be the formula for hotter temps.
70, 80s, and 90s into the weekend and next week.
Have a great day!
Jack Martin
5/8/23
Good Monday morning,
A cut off low over the Oregon coast is spinning to the north keeping us cooler.
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=37.2,-131.9,4.38z
This morning as I went outside to feed Pearl it truly felt like a spring morning. All the birds were chirping and cool damp air smelled fresh.
I do think Spring has arrived and there is no more looking back from this crazy season.
Today it will remain cooler with highs in the 60s. Tonight some northwest winds 10 to 20 miles an hour.
Tuesday the cutoff low will keep us cooler, but no rain here. A few mountain showers north or south are possible, but just chilly.
Wednesday, we will see where the cut off low drifts, but high pressure should start to build in and begin a warming trend.
Looking into the second half of the week we will finally see temps rebound and warm us into the 70s, 80s and even some low 90s in valleys by the weekend.
Enjoy the spring like week, we deserve it.
Jack Martin
5/5/23
Good Friday morning,
Surprise to some, but not to me as SB saw 1/4 an inch of rain around 3am.
As mentioned yesterday, we had another 1/4 coming and low and behold, there it is.
This increased Santa Barbara rain total to 1.08 inch for this rare May storm.
https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/scripts/getlocal.php?prod=LAXRRMSBA
The low pressure system is now pushing East and will mess with the rest of the country. The rain early this morning was wrap around moisture as the main low is south and East of our area. Today we will see more sunshine slightly warmer by 3 to 6 degrees, but 60s at best and 10 to 15 degrees below normal.
Saturday another weak system, that will do nothing more then bring high clouds and cool temps remain in the 60s.
Saturday afternoon and night some north winds will blow mildly keeping fog out of SB for Sunday, but allowing it to form in other coastal location.
Sunday a nice over all day, some valleys might hit 70 but nothing any warmer.
Next week, if you are looking for a warm up, it will not happen. No rain next week, but 70s should return. A system rolls into the Pacific Northwest keeping us cool though mid week.
Thursday into the weekend the forecast is not 100%, but it does look like a ridge will build in and we will warm up to at least normal 70s- 80s.
This year and season today has been very interesting, but I think we can finally put an end to the turbulent weather and start to enjoy the weather we live in California for.
Don’t put that sweatshirt away yet, but you can hang up the rain gear for the season.
Enjoy the weekend,
Jack Martin
5/4/23
Good wet Thursday morning,
I started to type 3/4/23 because it is more like the beginning of March… Just crazy rain total for May. Montecito had 1.10 inch, Santa Barbara .87 https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/scripts/getlocal.php?prod=LAXRRMSBA
Of course south facing mountains got the most rain. The low is spinning right over point conception and rain has shifted further south in Long Beach.
So what’s up for today? It looks like lingering showers today and another ¼ of an inch. Because this storm has moved so slowly the rain can linger into Friday with showers possible mainly in the mountains. Snow level is 4000 feet with high elevation snows. It will be a chilly day with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s temps to rebound very slowly with a cool weekend in the 60s.
Next week we will rebound to 70s, but only getting to normal temps for this time of year. The only good new is the rain is gone.
We will start to dry out today and peaks of blue skies are visible.
Jack Martin
5/3/23
Good Wednesday morning,
This morning it is clear and cold out there. I had to turn my heater back on this morning.
It certainly does not look like rain right now, but It is coming. The cutoff low has just been spinning for days with very little movement.
https://zoom.earth/ It does look like most of the rain will hold off till later in the day. Tonight into Thursday morning RAIN “finally.”
Around ½ to 1 inch coastal, 1 to 2 inches in the mountains. Snow level 4000 to 6000 feet and as low as 3500 feet. Higher elevations up to 12 inches of snow in May.
The amazing part about the snow this season is there is still 80% of the snow at resort levels that has not melted. Water supplies will just continue, well into the summer.
When will the rain chances end, well cut off lows have a mind of their own and are a weather mans wows…. or better analogy is like a 2-year-old, you never know where they will go.
It does look like rain showers can continue into Friday and possibly Saturday. The rain will be very showery , but it may not move out until Saturday morning.
Looks like Friday night Santa Barbara can get a good blast of northwest winds due to pressure gradience. The weekend will warm slightly with 60s for highs, but rain is out of the picture.
Next week , we are dry, and warming back into the 70s . The storm system we experienced will drift across the country making havoc for others.
Enjoy the rain, trust me it is coming… summer will come I promise.
Jack Martin
5/2/23
Good Tuesday morning,
The cold wind last night cleared out the marine layer, but it is chilly out there. Temps right now are in the upper 30s to upper 40s.
Today it will be cold with most areas only hitting the 50s. You can see the cut off low forming now with nice counterclockwise Action.
Rain is also on its way to us, likely arriving later in the afternoon. It is hard to believe that it is May, and we are looking at a classic low-pressure system like this.
This storm will spin counterclockwise then drop ever so slowly. The low-pressure system might even linger into Saturday with showers possible. Personally for us I think it will be gone by Friday.
This is also a system that is loved by the Santa Barbara mountains with enhance rain because of the south facing mountains. The rain over the next 3 days will be very showery in nature.
We are looking at .75 to 1.25 on south facing mountains, and .40 to .75 coastal and valleys. As for the weekend we are looking dry, but cooler with highs in the upper 60s. Next week rain chance goes away, and the forecast is dry.
Rain really will be Tuesday night through Wednesday night, any rain beyond that will be showery. I flew back form SF last night and the winds over the ocean were howling.
You can also see lake Cachuma on the first photo (zoom in and you will see it)
Rain is falling in SLO as we speak: https://radar.weather.gov/station/KVBX/standard
Enjoy the rain, for one last time till late October (I think !!!)
Jack Martin
5/1/23
Good Monday morning, May 1, and interesting first week of May to come.
https://zoom.earth/maps/satellite/#view=29.8,-119.6,5.49z/date=2023-05-01,05:50,-7
This morning the fog has taken to about 5000 feet, causing drizzle and some light rain and foot hills and valleys.
As you can see the low pressure system to the north is starting it’s truck south and you can see the cold air with the white spiky dots from the satellite.
This will arrive this afternoon and everybody will be chilly in the 50s and 60s for highs.
Depending on how the low cuts off from the main front, showers could linger into Friday at this point.
Looks like the best chance of rain is going to be from Tuesday night to Wednesday night. Coastal area should receive around a half inch, mountains around an inch if the front cuts off, south-facing mountains of Santa Barbara could see additional rainfall.
Any rain that we receive will be showery in nature through a 2 to 3 day period.
Looks like the weather should clear up for the weekend and will start a warming trend for the weekend and into next week.
Jack Martin