SLO County weather for week of Jan. 23: Misty evenings, clear and warm afternoons

A pattern of gusty Santa Lucia (northeasterly) winds developing during the night and morning, decreasing and shifting out of the northwest during the afternoon, will continue through Monday.

Except for areas of low clouds and fog along the coastline during the evening and fog in the inland valleys during the night and morning, this condition will produce mostly clear and dry weather with cold mornings and above-normal temperatures in the afternoon through Monday. Over this period, dense Tule fog in the San Joaquin valley could persist throughout the day.

Gentle to moderate (8 to 18 mph) northwesterly to southerly winds on Wednesday into Friday should allow the marine layer with areas of fog and mist to develop along the coastline. Otherwise, dry weather will continue through the end of January. Long-range guidance continues to hint at a possible pattern shift in early February, which may allow for precipitation to return as the storm track drops south.

Surf report

Saturday’s 4- to 6-foot west-northwesterly (280-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 15-second period) will remain at this level through Sunday. A 6- to 8-foot west-northwesterly (280-degree, deep-water) swell (with an 18- to 20-second period) will arrive along our shoreline the following Monday and Tuesday.

Seawater temperatures will range between 55 and 57 degrees through Monday.

This week’s temperatures

LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES

LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS

PG&E safety tip

Areas of dense fog is forecast to develop during the overnight in the inland valleys. If you hit fog while you’re driving, slow down and give yourself more time to get to work or school.

John Lindsey’s is PG&E’s Diablo Canyon marine meteorologist and a media relations representative. Email him at pgeweather@pge.com or follow him on Twitter @PGE_John.