textproduct: San Francisco Bay Area

KEY MESSAGES

Updated at 1204 PM PST Thu Jan 15 2026

- Elevated risk for sneaker waves and rip currents at Pacific coast beaches through late this evening

- Cool mornings, but very mild afternoons into the weekend

- Morning fog across the delta and interior valleys

SHORT TERM

Issued at 1204 PM PST Thu Jan 15 2026 (This evening through Friday)

Lingering patchy fog continues as of early this afternoon across the valleys of Sonoma County, West Delta, and portions of the East Bay Valleys but is forecast to mix out here shortly. However, because of this, temperatures in the North Bay and East Bay valleys remain relatively cool and are not likely to reach their forecasted high temperatures this afternoon. However, the Central Coast remains warm where temperatures are likely to reach the lower 70s to upper 70s in the higher train. In these areas, HeatRisk is low for today as cool overnight temperatures forecast tonight will limit moderate levels.

Tonight, expecting slightly warmer temperatures compared to previous nights, but by just a few degrees. There remains moderate probability for patchy to areas of dense fog across the North Bay Valleys, West Delta, and East Bay Valleys. Additionally, there may be fog development off of the Santa Cruz and Monterey ci coastlines. Temperatures are largely forecast to be in the upper 30s to lower 40s in much of the North Bay, East Bay, South Bay valleys, and southern Salinas Valley. Elsewhere, low temperatures tonight and into early Friday morning look to be between the mid- to-upper 40s. In the higher elevations above 1,000 ft, temperatures are likely to be warmer as offshore flow persist. In these areas, look for upper 50s to mid 60s for overnight lows.

For Friday, we are expecting similar conditions as today, yet a cool down by generally 2-4 degrees. However, similar to today, temperatures may not warm as much as currently forecast in areas where fog lingers into late morning or even early afternoon.

LONG TERM

Issued at 225 AM PST Thu Jan 15 2026 (Friday through Wednesday)

There hasn't been much in the way of changes in the mid to long term forecast. The ridge of high pressure narrows into the weekend, and allows for some slight cooling in high temps, while morning lows don't really see much movement. The orientation of the ridge could allow for a very weak onshore flow at the immediate coast in the late weekend. That, along with a slight easing of pressure shows signs for a return of a very shallow marine layer by Sunday. The marine layer and a feed of Tule Fog could offer some foggy mornings Sunday and into the next work week. However, the lingering dry conditions along with some thermal interference from passing high clouds could limit fog development. So that'll be something that will need finer tuning as the higher resolution models come into range.

The trend of cooling daytime temperatures looks to continue through the next work week, with overnight lows only seeing slight variations.

In the long, long-term forecast, models are coming to better agreement on the breaking of our current ridge pattern toward the end of the next work week. A strong trough deepens from the north, with its axis falling well to our east, but it looks to be enough to flatten the ridge over the West Coast. Some model outputs place a weak low or a cold front through the area during this flattening, which could bring some rain. It won't be heavy rain by any means according to these models, but other models are placing the weak low much farther inland, which could mean stronger offshore winds and increased dry conditions. This all to say that while the longer term forecast starts to show a slightly clearer picture, there can still be some interesting variations that could lead to very different weather. So be sure to keep checking as more updates roll in!

AVIATION

(00Z TAFS) Issued at 351 PM PST Thu Jan 15 2026

High pressure continues to result in mainly offshore winds. North to northeast winds will be periodically breezy to gusty in the Bay Area hills and mountains. VFR continues in the 00z TAFs except for areas of hazy conditions reducing surface (and slantwise visibility especially at sunset/sunrise) visibility to MVFR. Patchy fog /VLIFR- IFR/ also developing tonight and Friday morning.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR. Mainly light wind.

SFO Bridge Approach...Slantwise visibility reduced especially at sunset/sunrise, otherwise similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR. Onshore winds 5 to 10 knots shifting to east to southeast winds 5 to 10 knots tonight and Friday morning, winds shifting back to onshore 5 to 10 knots late Friday afternoon.

MARINE

(Tonight through next Tuesday) Issued at 339 PM PST Thu Jan 15 2026

Dry weather will continue through early next week. Surface high pressure over the Great Basin will result in gentle offshore breezes. Moderate seas will prevail through early next week.

BEACHES

Issued at 328 AM PST Thu Jan 15 2026

Hazardous beach conditions continue at all Pacific Coast beaches today. Hazards include sneaker waves, strong rip currents, and large breaking waves. Sneaker waves are potentially deadly waves that suddenly surge much farther up the beach than expected, overtaking the unaware. They can sweep beach-goers into the ocean, roll logs and heavy debris along the beach, knocking over or pinning down unsuspecting beachgoers, and can result in cold water immersion, which can be deadly with sea surface temperatures hovering around 55 degrees. Remain out of the water, stay off of waterside infrastructure such as jetties, piers, and rocks, and never turn your back on the ocean.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

CA...Beach Hazards Statement until 9 PM PST this evening for CAZ006- 505-509-529-530.

PZ...None.