textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 328 AM PST Sat Mar 7 2026

- Warmer today and tomorrow with highs 10 to 15 degrees above average

- Slight cooling into the work week, but another warming trend in the mid week

- Dry conditions through the extended forecast

SHORT TERM

Issued at 328 AM PST Sat Mar 7 2026 (Today and tonight)

Aside from a few breezy spots in the higher elevations in the North and East Bay, winds have mostly subsided. The upper level pattern has flexed into a very tilted ridge and has reduced the pressure gradient, leading to much weaker winds, but still offshore flow.

This reduction in winds with continued offshore will cause temperatures to climb well into the 70s for all but the immediate coast which will stick to the 60s, and a few interior valleys breaking into the 80s. Today looks to be the warmest day of the forecast for Sonoma Co and San Francisco, while Sunday looks to be warmer for the rest of the Bay Area and down the Central coast.

Temperatures will be slow to cool into the night, and overnight lows look to be some of the warmest in the forecast. Most areas will stick to the upper 40s and lower 50s.

LONG TERM

Issued at 328 AM PST Sat Mar 7 2026 (Sunday through Friday)

As mentioned above, Sonoma Co and San Francisco see slightly cooler conditions for Sunday from a modest return of onshore flow in those areas. The rest of the Bay Area and Central Coast will continue to see the warming trend with most areas breaking into the mid to upper 70s and more of the interior valleys and higher elevations breaking into the 80s. This will place high temps just below 15 degrees below average for most of the region.

Relief from the warmth comes in the form of the upper level pattern continuing to shift. The ridge pushes south and restores zonal flow to Northern California. This won't be particularly strong, but a zonal pattern means onshore flow. Along with the change in flow, pressure will reduce, allowing for a return of a shallow marine layer into Monday morning, and chances for fog. Monday afternoon will see highs drop roughly 5 degrees for much of the area, with continued cooling expected for Tuesday. Humidities will also see some improvements for the early work week, easing fire weather concerns.

The cooling trend be short lived as the zonal flow pattern turns back into a gentile, but much larger, ridge pattern into the mid week. Since the gradient of the ridge will be gentle, temperatures will build at a slow pace, but the fact that this will be a much larger ridge means it'll be much slower for it to exit. The second half of the work week will be a slow warming and drying trend with weakening winds for all but the outer marine zones.

Again the size of the ridge will make it difficult to push out of the region. This will be coupled with the fact that it will be sitting at a south enough latitude to avoid the more active portion of the jet stream in the Pacific Northwest. This means this ridge could last well into the mid month, causing warm temperatures and limited cloud cover. Cold fronts and low pressures will push plenty of rain through Washington and Oregon, while this ridge prevents those chances from making it this far south. Some of the very long term models hint at the ridge breaking in the second half of the month, but it could last longer than that.

AVIATION

(12Z TAFS) Issued at 328 AM PST Sat Mar 7 2026

Currently VFR at all terminals. High confidence in VFR through the TAF period. Northerly winds, gusty at times, are expected for Bay Area terminals through the afternoon with diurnal winds returning tonight. LLWS was included in the Bay Area TAFs through this morning to capture northerly/northeasterly winds around 35 knots at FL020.

Vicinity of SFO...Currently VFR with southerly flow. High confidence in VFR through the TAF period. Northerly/northeasterly winds will prevail through the afternoon, diurnal winds will return tonight.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Currently VFR and calm at MRY and VFR with drainage flow at SNS. High confidence in VFR through the TAF period. Diurnal winds will prevail.

MARINE

(Today through Thursday) Issued at 328 AM PST Sat Mar 7 2026

Hazardous marine conditions will linger in the northern outer waters due to strong northerly breezes. Moderate seas in the inner waters and rough seas in the outer waters will prevail over the weekend. Widespread hazardous conditions return Monday as northerly breezes increase to become strong to near gale and seas build to become rough to very rough.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.