High pressure over the area will keep temperatures above normal and conditions dry for the rest of the week. Expect partly cloudy skies this evening with light winds as lows cool to the 40s. Looking at a nice finish to the week as high pressure flattens out. Highs will reach the 70s one last day on Friday, with south to southwest winds increasing 10-20 mph during the afternoon. A trough of low pressure is forecast to dig south off the California Coast this weekend, ushering in clouds, cooler temperatures, and gusty west winds on Saturday, with rain on the increase Saturday night. The low offshore will help draw the remnants of Hurricane Rachel northeastward into the area, with rain showers likely by Sunday into Monday. Highs will cool into the 50s and 60s over the weekend with lows in the 30s and 40s. Due to the warmer tropical moisture tap, the snow level will remain above 9,000 feet. As a much colder low drops in from the north on Monday, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will continue. Cooler air will arrive with this system, pushing highs into the upper 40s and lower 50s in the mountains early next week. The snow level may even drop to around 7,000 feet by Monday night, bringing the potential for our first snowfall of the season, especially up at resort level. Total rainfall amounts of around a quarter to half inch are likely from the coast inland, with a half inch to an inch across the lower coastal slopes and mountain areas; locally higher totals are possible in a few locations. Low pressure will exit the region on Tuesday with cold and breezy conditions as showers decrease, then fair and gradually warmer weather will return later in the week.

---