textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 121 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

- A series of troughs will bring cooler weather and cloudier skies through Wednesday

- Strong winds expected along the coast and higher terrain Wednesday through Friday

- Offshore winds will bring warmer and drier weather into the weekend

SHORT TERM

Issued at 121 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026 (This evening through Tuesday)

Mostly to party cloudy sky conditions are being observed this afternoon in wake of the exiting mid/upper level trough that brought light precipitation to the region. Maximum temperatures are forecast to be in the low-to-mid 60s (isolated spots across the interior Central Coast may reach the lower 70s). Overnight, expecting low clouds to return to much of the region and spread inland into early Tuesday morning.

By Tuesday afternoon, temperatures will warm slightly (by a few degrees or so) as a weak shortwave ridge returns to the region. However, temperatures look to remain around or slightly above seasonal averages.

LONG TERM

Issued at 121 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026 (Tuesday night through next Sunday)

Another trough is forecast to move across the region on Wednesday morning, brining a slight chance of light rain to the North Bay. However, the precipitable water values do not appear to be high enough for widespread rainfall with the frontal passage. In wake of the frontal passage, northwesterly winds will increase with gale force gusts likely across the ocean, near the coast, and in the higher terrain through Friday. Additionally, much drier conditions are forecast through late week, driest in the higher elevations.

The mid/upper level pattern then shifts to more of an inside slider type event bringing offshore flow to the region by Friday and Saturday. This would bring offshore flow to the region with temperatures warming into the low to mid 70s across much of the region during this upcoming weekend. Please keep up to date with the latest forecast information throughout the week.

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 419 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

It's VFR under diurnal surface warming and boundary layer mixing under a weak subsidence temperature inversion aloft. Post sunset loss of daytime surface heating will lead to diminishing strato-cu clouds over land. Onshore winds and the onset of radiative cooling will then bring increasing maritime low clouds /IFR-MVFR/ to the coastline and partially inland tonight and Tuesday morning. Low clouds will mix out by late Tuesday morning and early afternoon for a return to VFR.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR continues through early-mid evening due to plenty of mixing in the boundary layer. Then there's an increasing probability of low clouds /MVFR/ developing tonight/early Tuesday with tempo 09z-12z then prevailing MVFR until 19z Tuesday. VFR Tuesday afternoon and evening. West wind 5 to 15 knots, strongest in the afternoon to mid evening hours.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR continues through early to possibly mid evening, then increasing probability of low clouds /MVFR/ tonight and Tuesday morning. VFR by late morning Tuesday. Onshore winds 10 knots diminishing and becoming light southeasterly tonight and Tuesday morning. Onshore winds redevelop Tuesday afternoon.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Saturday) Issued at 326 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

Gentle northwest winds will increase to a moderate to fresh breeze on Tuesday. Conditions will continue to deteriorate Wednesday through Friday with strong to gale force north winds developing across the waters. These winds will build very rough seas of 12 to 15 feet across exposed waters.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Tuesday to 9 PM PST Wednesday 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-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Gale Watch from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Tuesday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Tuesday to 3 PM PST Wednesday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Gale Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.