textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1200 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026

- Breezy onshore winds expected each afternoon and evening through the weekend

- Temperatures near seasonal averages throughout early next week

- Gradual warming second half of next week

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1200 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026 (Today and tonight)

Drier air aloft continues to work on a compressed marine layer overnight into Friday morning. Stratus will push inland overnight with uncertainty in the extent and timing but expecting less coverage than the previous couple of nights, however patchy dense fog is still possible in the valleys, especially the Russian River Valley in the North Bay. Stratus should also be quicker to retreat back to the coastline, by late morning Friday as drier air in the lower boundary layers mixes closer to the surface. Temperatures will remain similar as yesterday and remain so into the weekend.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1200 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026 (Saturday through Thursday)

The expansive dome of high pressure centered over the Four Corners region and the persistent troughing pattern over the EPAC has us comfortably in the middle, with steady onshore flow at the surface and temperatures hovering right around normal for this time of year through the weekend into the beginning of next week. There's no dramatic pattern change indicated in the extended guidance. We will see gradual warming by the middle and end of next week as Fausto drifts northwest and mid/upper level heights rise in response to the troughing getting shifted north. See beaches section for impacts from Fausto along our Pacific coastline for the weekend into next week.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1013 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Stratus coverage is limited attm and mostly confined to the coast line. Short term guidance indicates an expectation that all terminals will drop to at least MVFR with Monterey Bay terminals and KSTS dropping to IFR by sunrise. Given current satellite trends decided to keep South Bay terminals VFR through the forecast period.

Vicinity of SFO...Currently VFR with low confidence in timing of MVFR ceilings spreading over the terminals. Once at MVFR, clearing times should be by late morning with KOAK first followed by KSFO an hour later as stratus retreats back to the coast under a compressed marine layer.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR, with limited coverage of stratus attm despite a ceiling earlier in the evening at KMRY. Stratus is forming on the lee side of the peninsula as wind blows from north to south without much back building into the Bay. Short term guidance is confident that MVFR then IFR ceilings will develop, will have to continue to monitor satellite trends. Clearing is expected by early afternoon at the latest with VFR through the remainder of the afternoon and early evening.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Wednesday) Issued at 1013 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Moderate to fresh northwest breezes with strong gusts will continue into the weekend, with moderate wind driven seas. Hurricane Fausto will produce long period south to southwest swell that persist into the beginning of next week.

BEACHES

Issued at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Hurricane Fausto in the tropical Eastern Pacific will generate a long period southwesterly swell which is forecast to reach the coastline of the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast this upcoming weekend. As such, sneaker waves and strong rip currents are the primary concerns. However, breaking waves can reach up to 10 feet along some south and southwest facing beaches and break points (like Santa Cruz, Pacifica, and parts of Stinson or Ocean Beach). Sneaker waves can have 20+ minutes in between the larger sets (breaking waves) with significant "flat/calm looking" times between them. This can potentially catching beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the cold water; hence the name "sneaker". Rip currents are strong enough to pull the strongest swimmers away from shore. Swim near a lifeguard if possible. Stay back from the beach, and away from jetties, piers, beachside rocks, and other infrastructure near the water. Never turn your back to the ocean! A Beach Hazards Statement is in effect from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon for all beaches along the Pacific Coast.

RGass

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...Beach Hazards Statement from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 9 PM PDT Saturday for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.