May Gray, then sun and warmer weather

The Big Picture The unseasonably cold storm has officially packed its bags and moved into Nevada. High pressure from the Pacific is building in its place, triggering a well-deserved warming and drying trend that will bring normal spring temperatures back to the region by Sunday and through most of next week. The Forecast: Day-by-Day Tonight: A compressed marine layer will bring a solid blanket of low clouds inland overnight. Saturday Morning Fog & Drizzle: Watch out for thick fog if you are driving around Santa Rosa, Petaluma, or Novato early tomorrow morning, along with spotty coastal drizzle around the Monterey Peninsula. It should all clear out by mid-morning. Saturday Afternoon: The warming trend gains traction under a mix of sun and clouds. Expect highs in the upper 50s on the immediate coast, low-to-mid 60s around the Bay  and pleasant 70s inland. Sunday Through Midweek: Temperatures will jump back to normal or slightly above normal. While the inland valleys warm up nicely, a returning marine layer on Monday and Tuesday will keep the beaches and coastal towns on the cooler side. Late Next Week: Don't pack away the jackets just yet. Long-range models show another cool weather system taking aim at the West Coast by next weekend.  Marine Impact Boater Warning: High pressure to our north is cranking the wind machine back up over the ocean. Widespread hazardous marine conditions begin tonight. Expect strong northerly breezes with gale-force gusts ripping north of the Golden Gate and down the Big Sur Coast all weekend long. Have a great weekend!