May gray, June gloom: Marine layer’s impact on California’s coast
If you’ve spent your life in California, you’ve heard it dozens of times: A friend or family member bemoans a cloudy summer beach day or picnic, blaming “June gloom” or “May gray” for blotting out the sun. You may have even heard “no-sky-July” or “Fogust” … Why do low clouds and fog hang around amid otherwise beautiful weather, making for these dreary summer days at the coast? The answer is a combination of high pressure, ocean winds and the temperature difference between the water and land, according to the National Weather Service.