textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1256 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026

- Warming and drying trend continues into Friday for areas away from the coast

- Overnight and early morning stratus remains in the forecast as the marine layer deepens this weekend

- Cooler conditions return this weekend with a chance of drizzle and/or light rain into early next week

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1256 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026 (This evening through Thursday)

The warming trend continues this afternoon with high pressure building in from the eastern Pacific Ocean. This afternoon will warm into the upper 50s to low 70s near the coast and mid 70s to near 80 degrees F across the interior under mostly clear sky conditions.

Expecting low clouds to return to the coast and locally inland into the coastal adjacent valleys overnight tonight and more so into Thursday morning. This is especially so over the Monterey Bay Region, the San Francisco Peninsula, and through the Golden Gate into Oakland. There is a greater probability of this to occur as the marine layer is forecast to deepen overnight to around 1,200 feet. Overnight lows are forecast to range from the mid 40s (colder interior locations) to lower 50s.

Thursday will feature a few degrees of warming across the interior (up to 6 degrees F above seasonal averages). However, coastal locations will remain will generally remain within a few degrees of normal for late April due in large part to onshore flow and the marine influence.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1256 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026 (Thursday night through next Tuesday)

Temperatures will be warmest Friday afternoon when we have the greatest probability of reaching or exceeding 85 deg F across the interior, with the warmest being across the interior Central Coast (greater than 50%). Temperatures near the coast will remain cooler thanks to onshore flow, coastal stratus, and the marine influence.

A slight downward trend is expected for Saturday as a mid/upper level trough drops down from the Gulf of Alaska and into the eastern Pacific. This will help deepen the marine layer to around 2,000 feet. Thus, expect coastal stratus to penetrate deeper into the valleys on both Saturday and Sunday. This low pressure system will eventually become a cut-off low with high pressure building across British Columbia late in the weekend setting up a Rex block. This would bring drizzle and/or light rain to the coastal waters Saturday night and into Sunday. Then, as the mid/upper level low shifts inland Monday and Tuesday, it will bring increasing chances for drizzle and/or light rain to the Bay Area and Central Coast. The WPC 500 mb height-based cluster analysis shows increasing confidence in this pattern occuring. Rainfall amounts from this system are expected to remain very light, with generally a few hundredths of an inch expected throughout this early week event.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 959 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Late afternoon cu field has faded and winds have eased. Patchy stratus will continue to develop overnight with patchy MVFR impacts for the AM rush. VFR most areas Thursday afternoon with the exception of KHAF. Much higher conf for widespread marine layer by Friday AM. Fog impacts for N Bay, most likely at KSTS, Thursday AM.

Vicinity of SFO...MVFR CIGs develop late tonight lingering through Thursday AM. VFR Thursday afternoon with onshore afternoon winds. Lower stratus expected by Friday AM.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...MVFR CIGs develop late this evening and then through Thursday AM. VFR Thursday afternoon, but early return Thursday evening.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Tuesday) Issued at 959 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026

Breezy to gusty northwest winds are building across the waters. Wind speeds will continue to increase overnight, with a strong breeze expected Thursday through Friday. These winds will build rough seas of 8 to 12 feet. Winds start to decrease Saturday and conditions will continue to improve through the weekend.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.