textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026

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

- Temperatures near seasonal averages throughout early next week

SHORT TERM

Issued at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026 (This evening through Friday night)

Stratus continues to retreat to the coast this afternoon with sunny sky conditions returning to the interior. Thus, temperatures are forecast to reach the low 60s to middle 70s near the coast, 70s to lower 80s bayside, and 80s to lower 90s across the interior valleys. The southern portion of the Central Coast has the greatest potential to exceed 100 deg F in places such as Lockwood, Bradley and Parkfield.

For tonight, stratus looks to return back to the coast late this evening and fill locally inland into the coastal adjacent valleys. However, the pattern aloft looks to be the same as this morning, so expect some disruptions in the cloud deck at times. Patch fog is also likely along the coast and in the Russian River Valley.

Friday is looking like a repeat of today's afternoon temperatures. The noteworthy thing to mention is the high level clouds forecast by late Friday afternoon/evening. This is a result of monsoon moisture advecting northward around the mid/upper level high pressure over the Four Corners Region. However, the moisture will be high enough aloft to just produce high level clouds.

LONG TERM

Issued at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026 (Saturday through next Wednesday)

The ridge over the Southwest is continuing to shift towards to Four Corners and will build in strengthen over the weekend. Meanwhile, the mid/upper level trough off of the Pacific Northwest coast will also strengthen. This will keep a shallow marine layer in place while also allowing for a slight warming trend across the interior into early next week. Additionally, this will work the keep the high pressure over the Four Corners/Southwest region. Still expecting typical ebb and flow of stratus returning to the coast late in the evening and into the valleys overnight. Stratus will retreat to the coast by mid-to-late morning each day. Looking at the 8-14 day Temperature Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center, we are likely to see above average temperatures across the region with the high pressure shifting further westward across southern California.

AVIATION

VFR everywhere except at HAF, SFO, and OAK where borderline MVFR-IFR ceilings are lingering. HAF will remain mainly IFR through the TAF period with low confidence on brief VFR-MVFR conditions around 23- 01Z Friday. Dry air in the upper levels will continue to compress the marine layer as it returns again tonight with a depth around 1000 feet. Given the shallow marine layer, SJC and LVK will be spared from impactful stratus this TAF period. Moderate onshore winds increase through the day and diminish shortly after sunset. Medium confidence on stratus arrival and ceilings tonight.

Vicinity of SFO...Currently IFR but will soon become VFR through the afternoon. High confidence on moderate to fresh westerly breezes (around 15-20 kt) dominating the TAF period. Medium confidence on timing of stratus as it may arrive sometime between 08-11Z and persist until 17-18Z Friday.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO. MVFR stratus will arrive and scatter out after SFO does.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR as onshore winds increase through the afternoon up to 15 kt. IFR ceilings impact MRY first around 08Z before filling in over SNS. High confidence for ceilings to be borderline IFR-LIFR at MRY and high-end IFR at SNS. Both should scatter out around 17-18Z Friday.

MARINE

(Today through Tuesday) Issued at 908 AM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026

Moderate to fresh NW winds persist with embedded strong gusts, allowing wave heights to remain moderate through the weekend. A long period southerly swell from Hurricane Fausto also continues to build this weekend and persists into early 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 Friday for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

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

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT this afternoon for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning until 9 AM PDT Friday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.