textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1257 AM PDT Wed Apr 29 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 1257 AM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026 (Today and tonight)

Coastal Stratus is building along the SF Peninsula and around Point Reyes. This cloud cover will be spotty along the coast, will build further into the night, affecting the bays. This is a good indicator that the marine layer is becoming more stable, and looks to stay intact despite the ridging pattern to the north. A big player in retaining the marine layer is the cut off low to the south west which will prevent too much of a climb in pressure and keep the marine zones and immediate coast on the breezier side.

While the marine influence will keep coastal and slightly inland temperatures fairly stable over the next few days, areas further inland will continue the warming trend. Wednesday offers highs in the 60s along the coast, areas inland into the mid to upper 70s and a few spots breaking 80. This looks to be a slight decrease from previous model runs, as the ridge to the north seems to have slightly weekend in the forecast update.

Overnight lows will also see the opportunity to warm, but strong humidity recoveries and increasing marine influence will make the overnight warming trend much more modest.

LONG TERM

Issued at 1257 AM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026 (Thursday through Tuesday)

The warming trend continues Thursday and Friday. For areas in the North Bay and potions of the rest of the SF Bay will see fairly similar temperatures on both days with the warmest interior locations breaking into the lowers 80s. The bigger difference will be felt in the interior south bay and the more interior portions of Monterey and San Benito counties: going from the lower 80s on Thursday to the mid to upper 80s for Friday.

The trend breaks on friday as the ridge pushes east and weakens. High-level clouds build through Saturday as a low pressure and trough builds along the Pacific coast. This low will also call for expanding the marine layer both in height and inland push, and along with increasing onshore flow, will allow for a strong cooling trend through the weekend.

Models are in better agreement for good rain chances, but not a lot in accumulation from this low pressure moving inland. Drizzly conditions look to start Sunday morning with the chances for passing light showers building into that night and lasting into the work week. Models still need to iron out the finer details of the exit of this low, but there is good agreement that rain conditions could last into next Tuesday, before another ridge and warming trend begin.

AVIATION

(06Z TAFS) Issued at 1000 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Starting to see some patchy stratus develop near HAF and Monterey Bay as of the 06Z. Elsewhere VFR with no notable clouds. Winds continue to ease and will do so through the night. Still expecting some patchy stratus to impact terminals Wednesday AM. That being said, if a trend is your friend the 00Z models have trended slightly drier across the N and E Bay for cloud development. Not enough of a trend to remove CIGs, but conf is less. VFR most areas Wednesday afternoon except KHAF.

Vicinity of SFO...No big change from 00Z tafs. MVFR CIGs developing early Wednesday. Lower conf for sure as cigs will be drifting in from the N and barely hitting the terminal.

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...CIGs knocking on MRY's doorstep. SNS CIGs develop later tonight. Both terminals then clear during Wednesday mid morning.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Monday) Issued at 938 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Northerly flow will increase as high pressure builds to the north. Fresh to strong breezes will result in locally hazardous conditions to small craft, especially the outer waters north of Point Reyes. The stronger winds will also produce a fresh swell of 8 to 12 feet through Friday.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon 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 this afternoon 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.