Mild Start to First Day of the Winter Solstice

Waking up to patchy dense fog across the region. This will likely persist through mid-morning with visibility down to less than 1/4 of a mile in several spots. Highs today will top out in the upper 50s – above average for the first day of Winter. Winds will pick up late this afternoon with a wind advisory for the mountains beginning at 6 pm through noon Tuesday. Winds will be out of the NW 20-30 mph with gusts 50+ mph possible for the higher elevations. The rest of the area can expect a breezy night with winds 10-15 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. The ‘Christmas Star’ will be visible tonight about 45 minutes after sunset. Look towards the southwest to see the great conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter. It will be so bright that you likely will be able to view it even in the city. We will have optimal viewing conditions with clear skies and temps will be mild in the low 50s through 7 pm. Tomorrow through Wednesday will be dry with highs in the mid-50s. A cold front will bring rain beginning Wednesday night through Christmas Eve. Cold air won’t reach mountains until late Thursday into Christmas Day. If we get any snow in the high country, it will be a dusting. Don’t expect a white Christmas anywhere else. But, it will be a cold one with temps only reaching the upper 30s to low 40s. Temps will remain cold through the weekend. Highs won’t get out of the 40s with lows falling to the teens and 20s.

Today: AM Fog. Clouds clear. High: 57 Wind: SW 5-10 mph

Tonight: M. Clear. Low: 38 Wind: SW 10-15; G20

Tue: Sunny. High: 55 Wind: NW 5-7 mph

Tue PM: M. Clear. Low: 32 Wind: Light