, Issued at 1206 PM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026 (This evening through Saturday night)
Stratus has cleared to the coast and out over the Pacific this afternoon. As such, temperatures are forecast to reach the 60s to lower 70s in the west/northwest facing locations near the coast, 70s to lower 80s across the bayshore and Santa Cruz region, 80s to lower 90s across the interior, and mid-to-upper 90s across the warmest spots in the interior Central Coast.
For tonight into Saturday morning, the marine layer is forecast to compress slightly to around 1,000 feet as high pressure over the Desert Southwest continues to strengthen. However, stronger winds above the marine layer will mix down and make for a difficult cloud cover forecast. That said, look for similar conditions as this morning with less of an inland extend into the interior valleys tonight. Patchy fog is also likely along the coast, in the Russian River Valley, and into Santa Rosa/Petaluma region. Looking like a rinse and repeat for Saturday and Saturday night.
..issued at 1206 PM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026 (Sunday through next Thursday)
The ridge over the Southwest is forecast to strengthen into early next week as the trough off of the Pacific Northwest coast weakens slightly. This will keep a shallow marine layer in place while also allowing for a slight warming trend across the interior into early next week. The ridge over the Southwest looks to expand westward into southern California allowing for additional warming across the interior mid-to-late next week. Given the shallow marine layer forecast to remain intact, expecting typical ebb and flow of stratus returning to the coast late in the evening and into the valleys overnight. Stratus will retreat to the coast by mid-to-late morning each day. There is the potential by late next week to see more widespread Moderate HeatRisk across the interior.
(00z TAFS) Issued at 503 PM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026
VFR at all terminals headed into the evening hours cloud free, with only a sliver of stratus passing south offshore. The marine layer continues to be unorganized. Once we decouple after sunset should begin to see stratus redevelop, but the extent and timing continues to be difficult with very dry air working on top of the marine layer. Overall, where we see MVFR/IFR ceilings develop, should be later than our normal diurnal pattern and clear sooner than normal Saturday morning with Monterey Bay terminals being a potential exception.
Vicinity of SFO, Expecting some stratus to develop in vicinity of the terminals after sunset, however not expecting it to be organized enough until well after midnight. The window should be relatively short compared to normal 'No Sky July' conditions with clearing expected before mid-morning. Gusty winds this afternoon and early evening will ease after sunset, increasing once again Saturday afternoon.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar as SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, Monterey terminals have the best chance of stratus developing after sunset, however confidence is still low on whether it will happen, and if so, when. If/when they develop expect MVFR ceilings to drop to IFR around midnight at KMRY, and could stay socked in until early afternoon with clearing at KSNS expected by late morning.
(tonight through next Thursday) Issued at 503 PM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026
Moderate to fresh northwest breezes with strong to near gale-foce gusts will continue through the weekend. Moderate wind driven seas will also prevail, resulting in potentially hazardous boating conditions, even across the portions of SF and Monterey Bays. Long period southerly swell from tropical cyclone activity will arrive tonight and persist into the beginning of next week.
Issued at 830 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026
Hurricane Fausto in the tropical Eastern Pacific will generate a long period southwesterly swell which is forecast to reach the coastline of the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast this weekend. As such, sneaker waves and strong rip currents are the primary concerns. However, breaking waves can reach up to 10 feet along some south and southwest facing beaches and break points (like Santa Cruz, Pacifica, and parts of Stinson or Ocean Beach). Sneaker waves can have 20+ minutes in between the larger sets (breaking waves) with significant "flat/calm looking" times between them. This can potentially catch beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the cold water; hence the name "sneaker". Rip currents are strong enough to pull the strongest swimmers away from shore. Swim near a lifeguard if possible. Stay back from the beach, and away from jetties, piers, beachside rocks, and other infrastructure near the water. Never turn your back to the ocean! A Beach Hazards Statement is in effect from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon for all beaches along the Pacific Coast.
RGass
Ca, Beach Hazards Statement from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.
PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay.
Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 9 PM PDT Saturday for Mry Bay.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.
