After one-day blip, Bay Area's dry winter weather to return

"A weather pattern with high barometric pressure that has remained firmly in its place for much of January is about to rebuild again after a brief 24-hour break that allowed a small amount of rain to leak into areas of the Bay Area on Tuesday. For areas such as the East Bay and South Bay, it's anyone's guess as to when they may see some more. The showers have generally subsided, National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Kennedy said."

"Now expected are some heat and some tule fog We do start to see the fog in the East Bay and North Bay become more prominent (Wednesday) night and into Thursday, Kennedy said. That will be one of the by-products of the high pressure building again along the northern part of the state, creating a ridge that will prevent storms from descending into the region."

"The warmer-and-drier pattern has been in place since early January, generally one of the Bay Area's wettest months. The measurable rain on Tuesday was the first in the region since Jan 6. The 21-day dry spell was the longest winter break from rain since 1997, and the longest exclusively in January since 1992, according to Bay Area weather expert Jan Null."

A high-pressure pattern that dominated much of January will rebuild after a brief 24-hour break that allowed light rain across parts of the Bay Area. Showers largely subsided, with only a few lingering toward Monterey Bay. Rain totals were minimal: Mt. Veeder and Mill Valley about 0.25 inch, Orinda 0.06, Oakland 0.03, Concord 0.02, San Jose dry, and traces in Santa Cruz County. The region experienced a 21-day dry spell—the longest winter break since 1997 and the longest January-only stretch since 1992. The returning ridge will produce warmer, drier conditions, enhance tule fog overnight in the East and North Bay, push temperatures into the mid-to-high 60s and low 70s in bay areas, and prompt a beach hazards statement.

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