Freeze Watch in Effect Overnight on the North Coast

As temperatures are expected to dip below freezing overnight, the National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch for the coastal areas of Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino counties, as well as the interior of Humboldt and Del Norte.

According to Matthew Tidwell, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Eureka, a frost advisory is in effect for tonight in most of the coastal areas, as well as the northern Humboldt interior and northern Del Norte interior. Temperatures in those regions are expected to drop to between 33 and 36 degrees. However, the forecast is complicated by the potential for fog formation. “The tricky part about tonight is whether fog will form,” Tidwell explained. “We’ve got a lot of standing water around and even just really moist ground, so that might keep some areas from getting as cold as they might otherwise.”

While the interior areas of Garberville, Covelo, and Hayfork are forecast to see even colder temperatures, dipping to 32, 27 and 23 degrees respectively, those locations are not included in the freeze watch. Tidwell noted that the Agricultural Commissioners help determine when the growing season is considered over, typically around November 1st in northern Humboldt. After that point, the frost and freeze products are no longer issued. “These frost and freeze product are mainly for agricultural or gardening interests,” Tidwell said. “And so once you get into the winter, we stop [issuing them], though.”

The determining factor for the most impacted areas will be the presence of fog. Tidwell explained that the dry areas are likely to see near-freezing or freezing temperatures, but they may also fog up.

Additionally, the potential for black ice on wet roadways is a concern, especially tonight as the region transitions from the recent heavy rain.

After a prolonged period of heavy rain from a bomb cyclone system, the weather pattern has now shifted, with the next two weeks expected to be dry, according to Tidwell. “The main thing is we really switched patterns,” he said. “Now the next two weeks look dry. At this point, we’re fairly confident that at least the next week is going to be dry, and even into the following week looks pretty dry.”

Residents in the affected areas are advised to monitor the freeze watch and take appropriate precautions.