textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 920 AM PDT Thu Sep 24 2026

- Warming trend persists today bringing pockets of moderate HeatRisk across parts of the Bay Area and Central Coast.

- Cooler conditions arrive Friday into the weekend.

- Near seasonal temperatures early next week.

SHORT TERM

Issued at 358 PM PDT Thu Sep 24 2026 (This evening through Friday night)

The lack of marine layer development last night (aka our natural air conditioning) allowed temperatures to reach well into the mid 80s to 90s across the interior mountains and valleys of the North/East/South Bay and Bay shoreline, with temperatures closer to the mid 90s across the interior Central Coast. The Pacific coastline remains under the marine influence, therefore temperatures were observed in the mid 60s to 70s.

Overnight, the anticipated cold front pushes through our forecast area. This will bring some relief Friday morning with a thick post- frontal stratus deck and a prominent onshore push of cool, albeit dry, air. Despite the frontal passage, dry air aloft will mix out the majority of low clouds allowing high clouds to dominate the skies through the afternoon into the evening. Because the main core of the 500 mb trough remains far north of our area, no significant impacts are expected with this system. The main impact associated with the post-frontal environment are strong gusts around 20 to 25 mph along the coast into the SF Peninsula.

LONG TERM

Issued at 358 PM PDT Thu Sep 24 2026 (Saturday through next Wednesday)

This weekend, the troughing pattern persists, thereby allowing for cold air advection to gradually fill into the region. There is potential for the 500 mb trough to dig more southward over the Bay Area and Central Coast Sunday into Monday, eventually becoming a cut- off low southeast of our forecast area. In response, building high pressure behind the trough may induce a push of weak offshore flow across the higher terrain in the North and East Bay, initiating another warming period early next week.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 421 PM PDT Thu Sep 24 2026

VFR conditions across all terminals this afternoon with a compressed marine layer confined to the coastline. VFR conditions are expected until late in the overnight hours to near sunrise with low confidence in the extent and timing.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR and gusty winds are expected to prevail through the forecast period with a slight chance of MVFR ceilings around sunrise Friday morning

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR is expected to persist until late in the overnight period with moderate confidence in MVFR ceilings developing with VFR conditions by mid-morning Friday.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Tuesday) Issued at 421 PM PDT Thu Sep 24 2026

Light to moderate northerly breezes expected through early Thursday night. Building high pressure in wake of a passing cold front will usher in fresh to strong breezes Friday into Saturday for most of the waters. Near gale force gusts will be possible in the wind-prone areas nearshore. The stronger winds will lead to an elevated sea state and hazardous conditions for small craft.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT early this morning for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 9 PM PDT Friday for Mry Bay.

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

Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

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