Overview
- The marine layer moved back into coastal and northern California on Tuesday, producing cooler temperatures, deeper morning clouds and light drizzle along the coast.
- Models show midweek increases in monsoonal and upper‑level moisture that raise isolated to scattered thunderstorm chances in the Sierra and interior mountains with the best odds Wednesday–Thursday.
- The Timber Fire in Los Padres National Forest remains active and hard to contain because of steep, rugged terrain and lingering elevated fire‑weather conditions despite improved coastal humidity.
- Several very large Western fires are still sending widespread smoke across the region, and a cold front later this week should clear smoke in parts of Montana while also bringing heavier showers and localized flash‑flood and lightning risks near burn scars.
- A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for some south‑coast beaches during high tides and stronger onshore flow will produce gusts up to about 30 mph through mountain passes and gaps that can influence local conditions and fire behavior.