textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1222 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

- Overnight and early morning stratus returns to the forecast

- Warming and drying trend continues into the late week for areas away from the coast

- Cooler conditions return this weekend with a chance of drizzle and/or light rain into early next week

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1222 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026 (This evening through Wednesday)

Temperatures this afternoon will warm into the upper 50s to mid 60s near the coast and the interior reaching into the mid 60s to lower 70s under mostly sunny sky conditions. These temperatures are slightly below seasonal averages, generally up to 5 deg F cooler and up to 15 deg F cooler in the higher terrain. This is as a short-wave trough lingers over the Bay Area and northern Central Coast.

Expecting low clouds to return to the coast and locally inland into the coastal adjacent valleys overnight tonight and more so into Wednesday morning. There is a greater probability of this to occur as the marine layer is forecast to deepen overnight to around 1,000 feet.

On Wednesday, as low clouds gradually retreat to the coast, temperatures rebound to near or slightly above (up to 5 deg F) seasonal averages. However, cooler temperatures will persist in the higher elevations. This is as high pressure begins to build eastward from the eastern Pacific.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1222 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026 (Wednesday night through next Monday)

The warming trend will continue into late week with interior temperatures up to 10 deg F above normal by Friday as the aforementioned ridge builds overhead. Friday is when we have the greatest probability of reaching or exceeding 85 deg F across the interior, with the warmest being across the interior Central Coast (greater than 50%). However, the marine layer will remain in place and keep temperatures cooler near the coast. This is as the ebb and flow of late evening and overnight stratus returns to the coast and coastal adjacent valleys each day.

A slight cooling trend is forecast to return on Saturday as a mid/upper level low drops southward out of the Gulf of Alaska. This low pressure system will eventually become a cut-off low with high pressure building across British Columbia late in the upcoming weekend setting up a Rex block. This would bring drizzle and/or light rain to the coastal waters Saturday night and into Sunday. Then, as the mid/upper level low shifts inland Monday and Tuesday, it will bring increasing chances for drizzle and/or light rain to the Bay Area and Central Coast. Rainfall amounts from this system are expected to remain light, however they will make for wet roadways across the region.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 439 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

VFR through this evening with a few popcorn cu hugging the nearby hills. Onshore flow will bring some gusty winds 15-20kt for coastal/bay TAF sites. As the sun sets, cu field will fade , but some low stratus clouds will form. As noted by previous forecast spotty stratus field will be the name of the game tonight. Stratus that does develop will be on the lower end of CIGs with heights in the 0800-1500 ft. Thankfully, any developed CIGs will only lingering through mid morning Wednesday. KHAF is the exception for CIGs on Wednesday with coastal stratus impacts for the most of the day. Do expect another solid onshore breezy/gusty push Wednesday afternoon with 15-20kt again.

Vicinity of SFO...Gusty NW winds through this evening. Kept MVFR CIGs developing early Wednesday. Lower conf for sure as cigs will be drifting in from the N and barely hitting the terminal per hi-res guidance.

SFO Bridge Approach...VFR for most of tonight. Less clouds for Wednesday AM. CIGs more likely north of the approach for AM rush.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR with gusts 15-20kt this evening. CIGs develop early tonight then clear during Wednesday mid morning.

MARINE

(Today through Sunday) Issued at 818 AM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

The gradient between high pressure over the Eastern Pacific and low pressure over California will build over the next few days, generating a strong NW breeze from Wednesday through Friday. These winds will build rough seas of 8-12 feet across exposed waters.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Wednesday to 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Wednesday to 3 PM PDT Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

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