textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1220 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

- Gusty onshore winds through Saturday with east-west mountain passes as high as 50+ mph. Winds increase for the waters this weekend, with marine impacts through early next week

- An upper trough brings cooler temperatures, moisture, and a deeper marine layer with AM drizzle Saturday

- Beach hazards return Saturday morning through Wednesday morning for south and southwest facing beaches along the Pacific Coast

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1220 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026 (This evening through Saturday night)

Radar shows ongoing light rain showers across the far interior areas as a cold front moves down, associated with the larger upper level low propagating across the PacNW. With troughing firmly in place, a deeper marine layer allowed for some coastal drizzle this morning for a few spots, now currently mixing out. High clouds associated with this system continue to move into the region, helping to keep interior areas a bit cooler today. Along with these clouds, cooler 850 mb temps will usher in 10-15 degree below normal surface temperatures for both this afternoon and Saturday. As the low moves slightly southward today and tomorrow, a tighter gradient will allow for a significant uptick in onshore winds both days, with gusts 50+ mph through west-east passes and mountain peaks...20-40 mph wind gusts elsewhere. With better moisture in the lower levels, the marine layer on Saturday will remain sufficiently deep, and another round of drizzle/light rain (<0.05") is expected in the morning.

Winds will increase not only across inland areas, but also over the waters. Gusts up to 30-40 kt will be possible with seas of 8 to 10 ft. Marine hazards are currently in effect through Sunday morning, please see the marine discussion for further information.

An uptick in long period southerly swell will result in a high risk of rip currents and sneaker waves. Never turn your back to the ocean! Beach hazards will be in effect this weekend and into much of next week, see the beaches discussion for more information.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1220 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026 (Sunday through next Thursday)

The aforementioned low will move up to Idaho/Montana beginning Sunday, but weak troughing will remain in place over California through at least the middle of next week as high pressure attempts to push in from the west. A very slow increase in heights will support the marine layer becoming more compressed each day, but could still make it relatively far inland with patchy fog for the coastal terrain through at least Tuesday. Temperatures will follow suit, slowly warming into the middle of the week, but generally should remain at or below normal through the forecast period. Model guidance has finally started to catch on to this cooler influence from the trough, but forecasted temperatures near the end of the period may still be a bit too high depending on how long it takes for the ridge to push in.

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1156 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Lower clouds are scattering and eroding for all but the immediate coast, while mid and high clouds continue to move through the area. Winds increase across the region build into the afternoon becoming breezy to gusty with mostly westerly wind directions. Winds reduce into the evening as IFR/MVFR CIGs move inland. Pockets of mist and drizzle look to affect visibilities along the coast and some slightly more inland areas. Breezier winds arrive into Saturday morning, scattering cloud cover from the north to the south. The North Bay looks to clear in the early morning, the SF Bay in the mid morning and the Monterey Day beyond the end of the TAF period. Gusty winds will build into that day as cloud cover erodes across the region.

Vicinity of SFO...MVFR CIGs last into the afternoon but scatter as breezy and gusty west winds arrive. Winds reduce into the evening MVFR CIGs return. Mist and drizzle look to affect the terminal in the late night, offering slight reductions in visibilities. Cloud cover lifts and scatters into the mid morning as breezy west winds arrive. Strong gusts build into that afternoon, peaking around 33 kts.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Cloud cover is clearing leading to VFR as breezy west winds arrive. Winds will reduce into the evening with MVFR CIGs building overland. CIGs fall to IFR overnight with some drizzle and mist affecting visibilities.

MARINE

(Today through Wednesday) Issued at 1156 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Winds have reduced in the outer waters, but continue to be breezy to gusty along the immediate coast. Winds across the waters will reduce through the day but begin to strengthen again Saturday afternoon. These strong winds and rough seas will result in hazardous conditions for small craft across the waters at times well into the work week. Expect gale force gusts to develop in the northern outer waters and along coastal jet regions over the weekend as well. Long period southwest swell will persist through the extended forecast.

BEACHES

Issued at 110 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

A Beach Hazards Statement has been issued for the Pacific Coast Beaches from Saturday morning through Wednesday morning as long period southerly swell returns to the coast, creating an increased risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, 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. 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!

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...Beach Hazards Statement from late tonight through late Tuesday night for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Sunday for SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning from 3 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

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

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