2024 Monday — Fog clearing

This photo was taken just shortly after 12:30 today. We have not seen blue skies since Thursday, July 4th. The temperatures in the inland area are extremely high and the contrast of the cold ocean water cause the chemistry of fog.

Our local weather expert explained it this way:

“This afternoon, we almost reached a 60-degree F temperature differential between the coastline and the inland valleys. Weather stations in Los Osos and Morro Bay reported 56°, while the Paso Robles Municipal Airport hit 115° at 3:30 p.m. That’s a 59-degree temperature differential or delta T. This marks the most significant temperature differential I've ever witnessed in San Luis Obispo County.

The previous record occurred yesterday with a 56-degree gradient. On July 25, 2018, an epic temperature gradient occurred. At 2 p.m., the Diablo Canyon Power Plant reported 55°, while just a few miles away, the PG&E Energy Education Center in Avila Valley recorded 108°—a 53-degree differential.

Labor Day weekend 2007 at the Pops by the Sea concert in Avila Beach there were reports of thermometers reaching 110 degrees. A little distance away, a fishing boat at Port San Luis reported a temperature of 105 degrees near the Harford Pier. As the vessel moved past the breakwater toward the wind shift line, the temperature dropped 37 degrees in less than a quarter mile.

Yes, the Central Coast is a land of many microclimates, but lately extreme microclimates seem to be a more accurate description. Bob Shanbrom, of San Luis Obispo, said it best: ‘Sometimes you need to have the air conditioning on in the front of your car and the heater in the back’.”

From Cayucos on
California’s Central Coast,
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol
and Chloe & Mitzi Too!