A photo of the impact of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the Paso Robles climate
July 08, 2010
In the current weather pattern, it's been foggy on the coast and moderate, sunny and breezy at the vineyard. Although it's been cool for the last week or so, today's high is supposed to climb back into the upper 80's and get into the 90's this weekend. At the coast, it's forecast to stay in the lower 60's. This contrast is one of the most distinctive features of the Paso Robles climate. The cold Pacific Ocean and the hot California interior vie for influence here, and in a typical weather pattern like this one we have very cool nights, typically in the 50s, and warm, sunny days.
On the way in, I caught a good photo of the impact of the Santa Lucia range on our weather: the coastal fog bank is being held back by the mountains, allowing Paso Robles to warm up and the grapes to ripen!