textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 121 PM PST Sat Jan 24 2026

- Clear today and tonight with cool overnight temps in the mid-30s inland

- Offshore winds weaken by Sunday morning; light winds then prevail into mid-week

- Slight chance of rain showers late Tuesday/Wednesday AM along coastal ranges and the North Bay. Amounts generally less than 0.1"

UPDATE

Issued at 822 PM PST Sat Jan 24 2026

Classic East Coast vs West Coast temperature dipole this afternoon. Temperatures across the West were generally above normal (including locally), while east of the Rockies are below normal. Not totally unheard of when there is a highly amplified longwave pattern over the CONUS during winter. In other words, big ridge to the west and deep trough to the east. Temperatures around the Bay Area and Central maxed out in the 60s to lower 70s. Temperatures this afternoon did get a boost from the lingering offshore flow.

Speaking of offshore flow, current gradient from SFO-WMC is still hovering around -10mb, which is yielding wind gusts 30-50 mph over the North and East Bay higher terrain. No surprise that Mt St Helena is the winner at 51 MPH.

The near term challenge will be the combination of offshore flow, dry airmass (PWAT from OAK was 0.17"!), chilly temps, and lurking Tule fog. The offshore flow helped dry out the airmass, which could set the stage for ideal radiational cooling. However, we need some winds to diminish to fully decouple. Sheltered valleys will be even trickier as wind plays less of a role. As noted below, we'll have some pockets dropping in the mid 30s. Fog will be tricky as well given how dry it is, but some patchy fog in the North Bay is possible. Given the easterly flow Tule fog sneaking into the East Bay is more likely.

No update at this time, but we'll be flirting with Cold Weather Adv conditions for the North and East Bay Valleys given some of the 30s.

MM

SHORT TERM

Issued at 121 PM PST Sat Jan 24 2026 (This evening through Sunday)

Generally fair weather across the board today. Temperatures this afternoon are about 10-20 degrees warmer than 24 hours ago thanks to today's lack of Tule fog and stratus. In fact, the only cloud cover visible on satellite is a bit of stratus off the coast of Bodega Bay and some patch terrain-induced CU along the Big Sur coast. Temperatures are expected to be a bit chillier tonight due to the lack of cloud cover. Sunday morning lows will range from the mid-30s (interior) to low 40s (coastal). The only other notable mention in the short term is that we'll have one more night of breezy offshore winds along interior ridgetops before the low pressure system responsible (part the same one wreaking havoc on the central and eastern US currently) moves out and is replaced largely by zonal flow aloft. This will relax surface pressure gradients and cause any offshore winds to diminish and become light, or even light onshore in some locations by Sunday afternoon.

LONG TERM

Issued at 121 PM PST Sat Jan 24 2026 (Sunday night through next Friday)

With mostly benign conditions through the early week, we'll jump to Sunday when a weak upper level short wave trough is progged to move over the region. This will bring a slight chance of rain to the area. However, based on the most recent forecast updates it seems like this may be limited to coastal ranges as well as the North Bay. Amounts are very slim at a few hundredths of an inch for most and up to a tenth or two from the Golden Gate northward. By next Friday, some model guidance is advertising another chance for rain, but there is considerable uncertainty at this point to talk about anything specific.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 852 PM PST Sat Jan 24 2026

Currently VFR at all terminals with some stratus off of Bodega Bay and some high clouds streaming in from the Pacific Ocean. Moderate to high confidence that offshore flow and the resulting warmer and drier conditions will preclude sub-VFR conditions with the help of record low PWAT and interior dew points in the 20s and 30s. The exception would be if tule fog can be advected in from the Central Valley, but confidence is low, especially with how bad it looks health-wise on satellite.

Vicinity of SFO...Currently VFR with southwesterly flow. Moderate to high confidence in VFR through the TAF period. Winds will back through the TAF period, becoming southeasterly tonight and northeasterly by early tomorrow morning.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Currently VFR with drainage flow at both terminals. Moderate to high confidence in VFR prevailing through the TAF period. Onshore flow will briefly return tomorrow afternoon with drainage winds returning tomorrow evening.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Friday) Issued at 852 PM PST Sat Jan 24 2026

Gentle to moderate northerly/offshore breezes will veer to become southerly tomorrow. Southerly breezes will increase to become fresh to strong over the northern portion of the waters Monday and Tuesday. Winds diminish and return northerly on Wednesday. Moderate seas will prevail through Tuesday. Conditions deteriorate Wednesday as seas build to become rough to very rough.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...None.