textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1232 AM PDT Sun Jul 26 2026

- Breezy onshore winds expected each afternoon and evening through early in the week

- Temperatures near seasonal averages through the first half of the week

- Gradual warming starting midweek, with increasing Moderate HeatRisk for interior locations heading into the weekend

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1232 AM PDT Sun Jul 26 2026 (Today and tonight)

Upper level troughing holds over the eastern Pacific and into the PacNW today, slowly meandering eastward. Satellite trends show stratus forming along portions of the northern California coast, which should bring stratus to most coastal locations and down into the Monterey Bay. Uncertainty remains on how deep the marine layer gets tonight, though current thinking is it'll be between 500- 1000ft. Any stratus that forms tonight should retreat to the coast by mid to late morning with mainly sunny skies prevailing.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1232 AM PDT Sun Jul 26 2026 (Monday through Saturday)

We will remain under an elongated trough through early to midweek, leading to typical summer like days. Look for seasonal temperatures, breezy onshore winds each afternoon and evening, and the return of stratus. The marine layer should get to about 1000ft for the next few nights, with it a 500-1000ft marine layer by midweek for those along the coast. This is when we start to see high pressure over the Desert Soutwest build into southern and central California and begin pushing the trough and making it a bit more compact. Onshore flow should help moderate temperatures near the coast, as we go from a trough to quasi-zonal flow. Warmer temperatures will be expected inland, but overall temperatures will continue to increase as we head into the weekend. Widespread Moderate HeatRisk continues to look likely for interior locations.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 938 PM PDT Sat Jul 25 2026

Currently VFR (except for HAF which is IFR) with stratus beginning to develop along the coast. Stratus will continue to expand through the night with high confidence in the coastal terminals becoming IFR. With a compressed marine layer around 1,100 ft, ceilings will likely be IFR/low-end MVFR and difficult to penetrate inland. Moderate confidence on it reaching bayshore terminals, low confidence on it reaching interior terminals. Widespread VFR is expected by tomorrow afternoon. Diurnal winds will prevail.

Vicinity of SFO...Currently VFR with westerly flow. Moderate (60%) confidence on a ceiling returning tonight, likely IFR/low-end MVFR, with VFR by late morning.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Currently VFR with southerly flow at MRY and VFR with northwesterly flow at SNS. High (80%) confidence on ceilings returning tonight, likely IFR, with VFR by tomorrow afternoon.

MARINE

(Today through Friday) Issued at 302 AM PDT Sun Jul 26 2026

Fresh to strong northwesterly breezes across the inner and outer waters and the afternoon sea breeze will result in hazardous conditions for small craft through Wednesday. Frequent gale force gusts are expected along the coastal jet region of Big Sur. Moderate seas will prevail through Tuesday, building to become rough in the outer waters Wednesday. Long period southerly swell from distant tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific Ocean will continue.

BEACHES

Issued at 911 AM PDT Sat Jul 25 2026

Tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific are generating a long- period southwesterly swell which has reached the coastline of the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast. As such, sneaker waves and strong rip currents are the primary concerns. However, breaking waves can reach up to 10 feet along some south and southwest facing beaches and break points (like Santa Cruz, Pacifica, and parts of Stinson or Ocean Beach). Sneaker waves can have 20+ minutes in between the larger sets (breaking waves) with significant "flat/calm looking" times between them. This can potentially catch beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the cold turbulent ocean; hence the name "sneaker". 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! The Beach Hazards Statement has been extended through Wednesday afternoon for all beaches along the Pacific Coast.

RGass

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...Beach Hazards Statement through Wednesday afternoon for CAZ006- 505-509-529-530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 3 PM PDT Monday for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0- 10 nm.

Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.