textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 327 AM PST Tue Feb 17 2026

- Winter Weather Advisory Central Coast Mts and Santa Clara Hills today through 4 PM Wednesday with accumulating snow

- Cold Weather Advisory North Bay and southern Salinas Valley midnight tonight through 9 AM Wednesday morning

- Extreme Cold Warning Los Padres NF/Santa Lucia mtns and interior Monterey and San Benito counties midnight tonight through 9 AM Wednesday morning

- Rain and low snow levels continue this week as additional storm systems arrive

- A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect through 3 PM today for minor high tide flooding - Much colder late Thursday and Friday morning

SHORT TERM

Issued at 421 AM PST Tue Feb 17 2026 (Today and tonight)

Large, deep, cold troughing over the west coast isn't going anywhere soon. West to northwest winds continue to transport colder air into the Bay Area and the north Central Coast this morning. The colder air is picking up sea surface heat -even with cool sea surface temps in the mid to upper 50s that's milder compared to air temperatures aloft. Onshore winds continue to bring showers and cold air aloft continues to result in low snow levels. Recent check of air temps at Mt St Helena, Mt Diablo, Mt Umunhum, Mt Hamilton and Chews Ridge vary from 29F to 34F supporting snow. Best chance of accumulating snow is the Santa Clara Hills and across the north Central Coast mountains where a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 4 pm Wednesday.

Low temperature forecasts warrant a Cold Weather Advisory for the North SF Bay Area and the southern Salinas Valley midnight tonight through 9 AM Wednesday morning. An Extreme Cold Warning was issued for the Los Padres NF/Santa Lucia mtns and interior Monterey and San Benito counties midnight tonight through 9 AM Wednesday morning.

Light measurable precipitation and a continuation of onshore winds are forecast tonight and Wednesday morning with a temporary greater influx of maritime influence possible late tonight and early Wednesday which may cause some upward fluctuations in temperatures, but nonetheless cold conditions will be hazardous to sensitive populations such as unhoused individuals, pets and livestock. Cold conditions may damage or kill sensitive crops, plants, and vegetation if appropriate precautions are not taken. Prolonged exposure to the cold conditions will lead to hypothermia for people, pets, and livestock.

LONG TERM

Issued at 421 AM PST Tue Feb 17 2026 (Wednesday through Monday)

Currently it looks like the coldest weather this week will be from late Thursday into Friday morning based on recent guidance. If clearing takes place and there are light winds this combination is more ideal to allow temperatures to lower due to nocturnal radiative cooling. May need to issue additional cold weather advisories/extreme cold warnings. This will also be the best chance for a dry break in the weather. When the weekend arrives so too will be the potential for additional rain and wind with another large cold pool of air tapping Pacific moisture.

MARINE

(Today through Sunday) Issued at 432 AM PST Tue Feb 17 2026

Light showers move through the waters with more consistent rain arriving later this morning. Strong westerly winds are expected today with gale force gusts expected late morning and into the afternoon. Winds slacken some late Wednesday into early Thursday but quickly become strong again with near gale to gale force gusts returning. Rough to very rough seas will prevail through the week. Thunderstorm chances linger into the mid week.

BEACHES

Issued at 448 PM PST Mon Feb 16 2026

The combination of spring tides and storm surge are bringing minor high tide flooding to the San Francisco Bay and Monterey Bay through Tuesday. Up to 1.0 ft of inundation is expected in the San Francisco Bay, with up to 1.5 ft in the Monterey Bay. At the San Francisco tidal gauge, high tide is expected at 10:58 AM Tuesday. High tide timing varies up to 90 minutes earlier or later along the Pacific Coast and throughout the San Francisco Bay, respectively.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...Coastal Flood Advisory until 3 PM PST this afternoon for CAZ006- 506-508-529-530.

Cold Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Wednesday for CAZ504-506-516.

Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Wednesday for CAZ514.

Winter Weather Advisory until 4 PM PST Wednesday for CAZ517-518.

Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to 9 AM PST Wednesday for CAZ517-518.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Wednesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.

Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PST this morning for Mry Bay- Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning from 9 AM this morning to 3 PM PST this afternoon for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning until 3 PM PST this afternoon for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning from 9 AM this morning to 9 PM PST this evening for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.