June Swoon

Residents of Ventura County coastal communities, prepared for their annual, weather-induced bout with the blues, are dealing this year with a different June gloom: regret at being indoors.

The infamous weather pattern, which for 30 years has meant an average of only 10 clear days each June, has largely been absent so far, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.

Instead of living under British-gray skies and fighting early morning chill, people are savoring patio lunches at Ventura Harbor and sunbathing by the pier, enjoying the sunshine more often associated with Santa Barbara.

John Kramer spent much of Monday longingly looking out his window. Kramer, customer service manager of the post office in west Ventura, just got a new kayak.

“I did go out yesterday,” he said. “So my thoughts today have been on kayaking.”

Boyd Larson, a 12-year resident of Oxnard, was walking near Channel Islands Harbor with friend Sharon Signorotti, 65, of Sacramento. Larson, 80, said he could not remember a more perfect spell of early summer weather.

“June gloom is not that bad, but this has been exceptional,” he said. “No fog, no clouds, warm, shortened-sleeves weather--it doesn’t get much better.”

Clear days are defined by the weather service as no more than 30% cloud cover. Although the service no longer maintains records of daily cloud cover, its meteorologists said this year’s June gloom has been anything but.

“Based on our experience, we feel we’re not as gloomy by far,” said Gary Ryan, a weather service meteorologist in Oxnard. “We have no hard statistics to back it up, but our observations have been that we have had far less of the overcast skies.”

The weather mix that annually brings fog and clouds to Ventura County coasts consists of a strong onshore airflow and a deep marine layer--air that has taken on the temperature and humidity characteristics of the ocean near it, explained weather service meteorologist Rich Thompson, also in Oxnard.

Fortunately for those who like to work and play outdoors, the two gray-weather factors have not yet hit simultaneously, he said. And the immediate forecast shows no signs of impending gloom.

Conditions that put coastal highs in the mid-70s Monday could heat the coast to almost 80 by Thursday, Thompson said, though temperatures may cool a bit by Friday.

The congenial weather has helped business at Captain Hook’s Sport Fishing at Channel Islands Harbor. Boat reservations were filling faster than usual at a time often overshadowed by clouds, said Jerry Baker, 40, a Hook’s employee.

“I live in Ojai, and usually when it’s 105 there, it’s foggy out at the beach,” he said. “This is amazing.”

A few paces away, Mignonne Buenger, 46, and stepdaughter Kate, 8, planted impatiens and miniature roses at the storefront entrance to Marine Emporium Landing, owned by Buenger’s family.

The absence of gloom made outside work too tempting to resist, Buenger said, so out came the spade.

“I think we had the gloom in May this year,” she said. “This is probably the most gorgeous June I can remember; that’s why we’re out here doing this.”

Minutes later, three women were camped happily at a table at Pelican Bay Cafe & Bakery, overlooking Ventura Harbor.

Dana Miklos, 40, of Ventura said she had just been thinking how unseasonably clear the weather has been. Clouds and fog have rarely left before noon in June, added Nancy Lear, 45, of Oxnard.

“It’s usually overcast,” said Toni Gemignani, 42, also of Oxnard. “But I’ve been out this week doing my yard.”