textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1234 PM PDT Wed Jul 22 2026

- Breezy onshore winds return late this week and into the weekend

- Temperatures near seasonal averages throughout early next week

UPDATE

Issued at 908 AM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026

The stratus pattern was more typical for this time of year and was able to spread into the inland valleys overnight. However, dry air aloft was able to disrupt the cloud deck across the Monterey Bay region. We also had fog in places like Russian River Valley, Santa Rosa, Half Moon Bay, Marina, and Monterey at times this morning. However, conditions continue to improve across much of the region as low clouds retreat back to the coast. No significant updates needed to the ongoing forecast at this time. More on the Beach Hazards Statement with the afternoon update.

RGass

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1245 AM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026 (Today and tonight)

Patchy coastal low clouds are trying to redevelop early this morning. Higher dewpoint air lingers, however areal low cloud coverage will depend on the total amount of nocturnal radiative cooling (improved since it's drier aloft) and near surface cool air advection through morning. Putting the brakes on low cloud development so far is the recent uptick in sea surface temperatures with the loss of cold water upwelling due to the recent northward moving remnant low center passing by to our west. The buoys show sea surface temps in the upper 50s to lower 60s, about 3F to 8F above July normals. However, northwest winds (and upwelling) will resume in our coastal waters today and tonight.

High pressure aloft will continue to bring stable weather. Daytime highs today will be in the 60s/70s coastside to the 70s/80 bayside and 80s/90s inland including 90s/100 over the southern interior. Lows in the 50s to lower 60s tonight.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1245 AM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026 (Friday through Wednesday)

A gradual turn toward less humid conditions with a slight warming trend inland develops through the weekend into next week. Onshore breezes will prevail with night and morning coastal low clouds and fog, possibly a few patches of light drizzle.

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.

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 from 3 PM this afternoon to 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 from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM PDT Friday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.