That unusually warm
air can contribute to a «bulge» effect to the atmospheric pressure controlling how cold
air flows, according to Overland, who works at NOAA's Pacific
Marine Environmental Laboratory.
A sea breeze, which is caused by the temperature and pressure difference between warm areas inland and the cool
air over the ocean, often develops on warm summer days as well, increasing the on - shore
flow pattern and maintaining a constant
flow of
marine stratus clouds onto the coastal areas.