textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 103 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026

- Near to slightly below normal temperatures within the marine layer through the extended forecast

- Warm and dry conditions persist above 1000 feet

SHORT TERM

Issued at 103 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 (This evening through Sunday night)

The Bay Area and Central Coast continue to be on the border of upper level troughing across Northern California/the Pacific Northwest. Practically, no major changes to the overall forecast. Ridging influence is more pronounced today with the marine layer compressed to around 1000 feet and less extensive morning stratus coverage. Stratus cover has dissipated everywhere except the San Francisco/San Mateo coastline with clear skies across the rest of the region. This will help temperatures to warm slightly compared to yesterday with interior highs in the upper 70s to 80s. Conditions will be warm above the marine layer/in the higher terrain where highs will peak in the upper 80s to low 90s. Cooler conditions prevail along the coast and SF Bay shoreline with highs in the 60s to low 70s. The Interior Central Coast remains toasty with highs in the upper 90s to low 100s expected across far interior Monterey County.

Ridging effects remain pronounced heading into Sunday with the marine layer remaining compressed to around 1000 feet. This will bring a return of patchy stratus along the coast and SF Bay shoreline. Given the compressed nature of the marine layer, stratus should scatter out early again, likely by 10/11AM. Sunday's high temperatures will be comparable to Saturday's with highs in the 80s to low 90s across the interior, 60s to 70s along the coast and SF Bay shoreline, and in the 90s to low 100s across the interior Central Coast. Breezy conditions expected Saturday and Sunday over the marine environment, along the coast, and across favored mountain gaps/passes.

LONG TERM

Issued at 103 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026 (Monday through next Friday)

The long term forecast is a rinse and repeat of the short term with upper level ridging and troughing fighting over our area. Troughing becomes more influential Monday and Tuesday with the marine layer deepening to around 1000-1500 ft. This should bring more substantial early morning stratus to the region and will see temperatures cool by about 5-6 degrees (low 80s to low 90s across the interior) while coastal temperatures stay relatively stable. Mid to late week, ridging again becomes more dominant with temperatures warming slightly and the marine layer/stratus coverage compressing. This will keep temperatures near to slightly above normal above the marine layer and near to slightly below normal within it through the extended forecast. Diurnally breezy winds continue each afternoon/evening along the coast, higher elevations, and across mountain gaps/passes. Looking farther out, the GFS and ECMWF continue to show a number of tropical systems developing across the Eastern Pacific. We will be keeping an eye on these systems as they develop to see how they interact with the upper level ridge and if any tropical moisture will extend towards the West Coast.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 426 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026

It's VFR except for patches of coastal stratus and fog /IFR/ along San Mateo County and Monterey County. Mid and high clouds, including wildfire smoke over the north Central Coast, are moving northeastward over the forecast area. Northerly to northeasterly winds develop over the North Bay tonight and Sunday morning. Coastal stratus and fog /IFR-LIFR/ redevelop tonight and Sunday morning.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR prevails until stratus /IFR/ develops 12z Sunday. VFR returns 18z Sunday. West wind 20 to 30 knots until mid evening then decreasing to 8 to 15 knots tonight and Sunday morning. West wind increasing to 15 to 20 knots Sunday afternoon to mid Sunday evening.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR until stratus /IFR-LIFR/ redevelops late tonight and Sunday morning. Conditions improve to MVFR-VFR late Sunday morning and afternoon. West to northwest winds 5 to 15 knots.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Thursday) Issued at 401 PM PDT Sat Aug 22 2026

Fresh to strong northwesterlies persist into Sunday morning as moderate seas prevail through the weekend. Marine conditions remain hazardous for small craft until Sunday night. Northern outer waters maintain elevated winds into Monday. Expect minor impacts to visibility along the Big Sur coastline due to smoke from the Timber Fire getting trapped south of Point Sur.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.