124
FXUS66 KEKA 080853
AFDEKA

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Eureka CA
153 AM PDT Sat Aug 8 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Moderate to major heat risk continues peaking on today in most
  areas. Temperatures diminish slowly next week, but most areas
  remain the upper 90s to around 100 through mid-week.

* Stronger afternoon valley winds and low relative humidity will
  elevate fire danger this weekend.

* There is the potential for thunderstorms late next week or over
  the weekend.


&&

.SYNOPSIS...Persistent high pressure aloft will remain through
the weekend. Inland areas continue to see above normal temperatures
through the weekend bringing moderate to major heat risk. Coastal
areas will have improved chances of clearing over the weekend.
Temperatures are expected to start gradually cooling next week. An
upper level trough off the coast may bring monsoon moisture and
the potential for thunderstorms late next week or next weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...A steady ridge of high pressure remains entrenched
over the west coast leading to warm to VERY hot temperatures for
the inland areas. Most inland valleys can expect high temperatures
between 100-110F through the weekend. The coast continues to
offer some relief from this heat. Offshore stratus is blanketing
much of the western seaboard from the Mexican boarder up to Canada
overnight into Saturday. However, above average SSTs and offshore
flow will limit the development of overcast conditions through
the weekend.

Increased warming continues across the interior increasing the
HeatRisk with moderate to major HeatRisk now being indicated. The
heat is expected to peak on Saturday, particularly over Lake
County, where conditions are on the edge of warranting an
excessive heat warning instead of only an advisory. Regardless,
this persistent heat will be dangerous for anyone working outside
and everyone in the interior portions of all of Northern
California should be drinking plenty of fluids and taking breaks
in the shade to avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

The aforementioned mentioned daytime interior heating will tighten the
surface pressure gradient over NW CA forcing stronger onshore (NW)
sea breezes each afternoon and evening. With very dry conditions
across the interior this will result in increase fire weather
concerns. For more details, see the fire weather section below.

The upper level ridge that has settled over the area will
finally see some weakening and should migrate eastward. A
secondary high pressure system is forecasted to set up over the
Pacific which will lead to weak troughing settling over the west
coast. This should allow temperatures to cool several degrees back
to around normal for this time of year and could lead to
increased likelihood of afternoon clearing of coastal stratus.
This may also start to bring the threat for inland thunderstorms
late next week or next weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...Coastal stratus will persist overnight into
Saturday early morning hours but with the advent of anomalous sea
surface temperatures, expect a scattering over the coastal
terminals where there has been persistent overcast for the past
few days. Overcast skies are expected to dissipate around noon
for Saturday, especially near KACV with steady light to moderate
winds out of the NW. Inland areas are expected to remain VFR with
gusty afternoon winds developing. Upslope winds will form through
the morning and midday before NW winds dominate NW CA.

&&

.MARINE...Significant wave heights are starting to increase,
especially over the outer waters. Satellite imagery and surface
observations shows northerly nearshore winds of around 10-20kts.
The wind field increases in speed further away from the coastline.
This increase in wind speed means that waves in the outer waters
are likely larger and steeper than the nearshore buoys are
recording. This afternoon through Sunday northerly winds will
continue to increase. Downwind of Cape Mendocino and Point St.
George, stronger northerlies are expected with gale force winds
likely (>50% probability). These forecasted winds called for a
Gale Warning to be issued for the outer waters from Saturday late
morning through the remainder of the weekend, and likely longer if
long range models hold strong. The inner waters are more likely
to see moderate to fresh breezes through the weekend. Waves could
still be steep due to propagation from short period seas in the
outer waters entering the area. These stronger northerly winds are
likely to last through most of the coming work week.

Plan your seafaring outings accordingly and always feel free to
reach out for any addition information regarding the marine
forecast for NW CA.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...In Mendocino and Lake counties the higher
elevations, generally at least above 2,500 feet are seeing very
conditions this morning with RH in the 20s or even lower as of
1am. Some of those locations are also 5 to 10 mph northwest winds
with local gusts to 25 in the windiest areas. These breezy
conditions are expected to expand to much of the area for
several hours this afternoon bringing critical fire weather
Trinity, northern and eastern Mendocino, and Lake Counties due to
low RH values and increased afternoon winds. While the duration of
the winds are shorter than needed for Red Flag status, it is
important to remember that even a single spark could start a
wildfire in these conditions. Tonight the higher elevations will
likely be dry again, although maybe not quite as dry as this
morning. Sunday afternoon breezy winds are expected again for
several hours, but the RH is expected to be slightly higher than
on Saturday.

Next week temperatures are expected to start cooling off as the
ridge of high pressure gets pushed to the east. It is starting to
look like there will be the potential for some thunderstorms next
Friday or Saturday. There is still a lot of uncertainty on this,
but it definitely needs to be watched as it gets closer.

&&

.COASTAL FLOODING...Sea levels continue to run approximately 0.8
ft above the predicted tide level in Humboldt Bay. Tides will
become more amplified early next week following the normal lunar
cycle. The predicted tide at the North Spit is 7.95 ft MLLW at
10:21 pm on Monday the 10th and then 7.99 ft MLLW at 11:17 pm on
Tuesday the 11th. If the tide continues to run at around 0.8 ft
above predicted, this could result in minor coastal flooding
around Humboldt Bay with minor impacts in King Salmon and possibly
a few other locations around the bay.


&&

.EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...
     Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 11 PM PDT this
     evening for CAZ105-106.

     Heat Advisory until 10 PM PDT Sunday for CAZ108-110-111-113-
     114-116>120.

     Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PDT Sunday
     for CAZ112.

NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA COASTAL WATERS...
     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Saturday to 10 PM PDT Sunday
     for PZZ450-455.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for PZZ470-475.

     Gale Warning from 3 PM Saturday to 10 AM PDT Monday 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.

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For forecast zone information
see the forecast zone map online:
https://www.weather.gov/images/eka/zonemap.png