textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1215 AM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026

- Hazardous beach conditions along the Pacific Coast through Wednesday

- Warming peaks Wednesday with Minor HeatRisk

- An upper trough settles over the West Coast by late week, bringing cooler temperatures and breezy to gusty winds

SHORT TERM

Updated at 1215 AM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026 (Today through Thursday)

The marine layer remains roughly 1000 to 1500 ft with stratus building back inland early this morning, although slightly less inland push than yesterday morning.

The marine layer will continue to slowly compress through the short term with a slow reduction in stratus, along with warmer and dry conditions continuing. The more compressed marine layer will allow patchy fog to develop along the coast and in wind-sheltered valleys this morning and again tonight/Thursday morning.

Subtle ridging will allow for temperatures to peak this afternoon. Highs will climb into the 80s for inland areas, while far interior areas will reach the 90s. Continued cooler along with coast with highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s, with 70s for near-coast areas. An upper-level trough will begin to build over the western US by Thursday as a large upper-level low drop south along the Canadian coastline. Temperatures will still be similar to Wednesday, with a few spots seeing their afternoon highs slightly lower than Wednesday, mainly south of the Bay Area.

The other primary concern remains the long-period southerly swell impacting the Pacific Coast beaches into Wednesday afternoon. There is a high risk for sneaker waves and strong rip currents...never turn your back to the ocean. Additional information can be found in the Beach Hazard Statement and the Beaches discussion section below.

LONG TERM

Updated at 1215 AM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026 (Thursday night through next Tuesday)

The cooling trend will become more pronounced Friday into Saturday as a large upper-level low pushes into the PacNW and upper-level troughing deepens over the region, leading to a resurgence of the marine layer and much cooler temperatures. Temps will be roughly 4-8 degrees cooler Friday as compared to Thursday for inland spots with highs along and near the coast in the 60s and inland areas in the 70s to low 80s. Further cooling continues into Saturday as heights to fall with the approach of the low. By Saturday morning, the marine layer will be deep enough to support patchy drizzle, primarily for the coastal areas. A slight warming trend is still favored for Sunday into early next week, but overall confidence is still low as some long-range models keep a prevailing troughing pattern lingering over the West that may limit warming into early next week, but temperatures should improve a bit as compared to the Friday/Saturday cooldown.

Onshore winds will begin to increase on Thursday as the low approaches and gradient tightens, peaking Friday and Saturday with a frontal passage. Expects gusts of 25 to 35 mph. Gusts may exceed 40 mph at times, especially for wind-prone areas and mountain passes. Winds should subside Sunday into early next week with the gradient relaxes as the low departs.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 409 AM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026

Extensive stratus, generally MVFR-IFR except LIFR at STS, has come into the valleys with a low to moderate confidence of stratus impacts to LVK sometime this morning. Stratus will retreat to the immediate coast through the morning, with gentle to moderate onshore breezes in the afternoon. Stratus will redevelop tonight into Thursday morning with some possibility of lower ceilings and not as much inland development, although this is a low confidence forecast at this time.

Vicinity of SFO... MVFR-IFR stratus should stick around for the next few hours, mixing out after sunrise. Gentle to moderate west winds are expected to develop this afternoon and evening, with stratus returning to the terminal tonight into Thursday morning. Leaning towards more of an IFR stratus tonight, but this is a low confidence forecast.

SFO Bridge Approach... Similar to SFO.

Vicinity of OAK and SJC... MVFR-IFR stratus continues at the terminals through the morning hours with some lifting of ceilings at OAK before the skies fully clear in the early afternoon. Gentle to moderate northwest flow should develop at the terminals this afternoon and evening. IFR stratus should return to OAK tonight, with a moderate confidence for stratus development after midnight on Thursday morning.

Monterey Bay Terminals... MVFR-IFR stratus has developed at the terminals, but lower confidence in LIFR ceiling development so have removed the TEMPOs at both terminals. The stratus should retreat back to the immediate coast through the morning with gentle to moderate northwest flow in the afternoon and evening. IFR stratus should return to the terminals rather early tonight.

MARINE

(Today through Monday) Issued at 409 AM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026

Gentle to moderate winds will persist through midday with generally moderate seas. Fresh to strong breezes and rough seas will resume across the waters later today through the latter part of the week. Hazardous conditions for small craft will develop Wednesday afternoon and continue through at least Thursday for the northern outer waters. Long period southwest swell will persist through the extended forecast.

BEACHES

Updated at 1215 AM PDT Wed Jun 24 2026

Long period southerly swell at around 16 to 18 seconds emanating from energetic storms in the Southern Hemisphere continue to affect the California coast, especially for south and southwest facing beaches. Hazardous beach conditions are advertised, specifically for moderate to steeply sloped beaches along the Pacific Coast of the North Bay, San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties. A Beach Hazards Statement for Pacific Coast beaches continues through Wednesday afternoon. Be sure to check beach conditions before you head out. Sneaker waves will run up the beach much farther than other waves, potentially catching beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the water. 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!

The southerly swell is expected to subside tonight into the latter half of the work week before increasing again by the weekend.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...Beach Hazards Statement through this afternoon for CAZ006-505- 509-529-530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Thursday to 9 AM PDT Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Thursday to 3 AM PDT Friday for Mry Bay.

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

Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM Thursday to 9 AM PDT Friday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM PDT Friday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.