FXUS66 KEKA 180741 AFDEKA AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Eureka CA 1241 AM PDT Mon May 18 2026 .SYNOPSIS...Gusty north winds continue to ease today. Clear and dry conditions will remain through the week with a warming trend through Thursday. && .KEY MESSAGES... -Strong north winds will weaken today and through the week with only moderate north winds close to shore. -Generally clear skies and dry conditions, even along shore, through the week. -Conditions will warm through Thursday with highs in the interior peaking near 90. .DISCUSSION...Strong north winds continue to subside for Northwest California, especially near shore when compared to yesterday, but will persist through early today around the rim of the Sacramento Valley, especially Lake County. Strong mixing will continue to keep skies clear as temperatures begin to warm, especially across the interior. Wind overnight will continue to preclude any frost formation. High pressure will already begin to weaken but move more onshore today and through the week. This will lead to much weaker north winds with some moderate gusts to 20 mph still pushing in right along shore in the afternoon. Interior winds will transition to a more terrain controlled regime. Conditions will remain very dry with warming temperatures through the week. Highs will most likely top out around 90 for the interior on Thursday. This will constitute only a minor HeatRisk for this time of year. Hotter temperatures will help reform a marine inversion. Any stratus and fog; however, will most likely be very shallow and mix out quickly during the day. Compared to previous runs, most ensemble members continue to show a weak trough in the far extended forecast, but have it delayed until after next week. Rather most models show high pressure slowly weakening, allow temperature to drop, through next weekend. A trough early next week could bring some light showers or thunderstorms, but the vast majority of models currently remain dry. /JHW && .AVIATION...VFR conditions are expected for terminals in Northwest California as gusty north winds remain elevated, but quickly diminish early this morning. Winds will remain elevated for higher elevation areas of the Yolla Bollys and Lake County. Winds have diminished for more protected areas; however, winds remain elevated aloft, bringing LLWS concerns mostly for Mendocino County. && .MARINE...The pressure gradient relaxes slightly and the strongest winds move farther off the coast as the high pressure builds in. However, a large area of gale force gusts around 34-45 kts expected across all zones, with the strongest winds downwind of Cape Mendocino. Steep to very steep, hazardous seas will continue with the elevated winds. Conditions will remain hazardous across the waters for much of the workweek with strong to gale force gusts north winds and steep to very steep seas. Gale force winds and very steep seas are forecast to persists across the outer waters through Friday. /ZVS && .FIRE WEATHER...Strong north winds will continue, but diminish into the early morning. Winds will especially remain elevated around the rim of the Sacramento Valley and in Lake County today. Winds will weaken by this evening and transition to more gentle terrain wind through the week. Conditions will remain very dry with high temperatures increasing to near 90 for the interior by Thursday. && .EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA... None. NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS... Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT early this morning for PZZ450- 455. Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for PZZ470-475. && $$ NOTE: The full forecast discussion is now regularly issued between 10 am/pm and 1 pm/am. Additional updates will be issued as needed. Visit us at https://www.weather.gov/eureka Follow us on Facebook and Twitter at: https://www.facebook.com/NWSEureka https://www.twitter.com/NWSEureka For forecast zone information see the forecast zone map online: https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png