Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service San Francisco CA

1002 pm PDT Fri Jun 12 2026

Update

Issued at 920 PM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026

Infrared satellite imagery shows the June Gloom stratus re- establishing itself along the Pacific Coast. Already seeing a finger of stratus push its way through the Golden Gate and into Berkeley. Highs today were predominately cooler in many communities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Central California Coast. Most notably, Downtown San Francisco dropped from a high of 89 deg F on Thursday to a high of 66 deg F today.

One update to pass along from the afternoon. The Heat Advisory for the South Bay and interior East Bay has been extended through tomorrow where widespread Moderate Heat Risk will persist. More details will come with the full AFD update in several hours.

Short Term

, Issued at 1230 PM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026 (This afternoon through Saturday)

The upper-level pattern continues to be influenced by a ridge over the eastern Pacific. This maintains the above normal high temperatures observed over the last several days and today, leading to a moderate risk for heat related illnesses for the eastern areas. The Heat Advisory for the interior East Bay and South Bay will end this evening.

GOES-West visible satellite imagery shows the stratus continues to move back over the marine environment clearing most of the cities along the Pacific Coast. Otherwise sunny skies across the area. Stratus will continue to push westward for the next several hours eventually moving back inland this evening into the overnight period following typical June stratus patterns.

High tide flooding will continue to occur nightly along the Bayshore through the middle of next week. The combination of an upcoming new moon and lunar perigee on Sunday, about 7 inches of additional tidal anomaly from a combination of storm surge, thermal expansion of the Eastern Pacific, and about 2 inches inches of Sea Level Rise since the vertical datums were established in the 80s and 90s will add up to bring tides up to 2.0 feet above normal through early next week. While lower than the historic tidal flooding in January (peaked at 2.6 ft) the tides this weekend could end up being the highest observed in the Summer, beating the current record of 1.7 ft from July 2022.

Long Term

..issued at 1230 PM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026 (Saturday night through next Thursday)

A short-wave trough will cut along the outer periphery of the eastern Pacific ridge over the weekend. This will promote a cooling trend for interior locations into the second half of the weekend lessening the risk for heat related illnesses to minor. Coastal locations can expect the usual June stratus. While temperatures will return closer to middle- June climatology, the main hazards into early next week will be the southerly swell along the coast, plus coastal flooding associated with the high tides.

Aviation

(06z TAFS) Issued at 946 PM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026 Extensive stratus continues to blanket the coastal zones and adjacent valleys, locking these locations under a mix of LIFR ceilings. Surface visibilities have also declined with the densest pockets along the immediate coast. This marine stratus deck is projected to to hold firmly through the night before the diurnal clearing trend commences. Deep interior locations will remain decoupled from the marine influence which will maintain clear VFR conditions through the TAF period. Intermediate sites, including KSTS, KSFO, and KOAK have moderate confidence in IFR/LIFR ceilings developing overnight before clearing mid-morning.

Vicinity of SFO, VFR conditions prevail late this evening with stratus entering through the Golden Gate. Moderate confidence in IFR ceilings developing early morning as low stratus expands through SF Bay. The marine layer will remain shallow, keeping ceilings low but also allowing stratus to burn off by mid morning (15-17Z). Light NW winds generally less than 10 kt will prevail overnight into the morning, increasing to 10-20 kt in the afternoon.

SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.

Vicinity of SJC and OAK, VFR conditions prevail late this evening with stratus entering through the Golden Gate. Moderate confidence in IFR ceilings arriving at KOAK 08-11Z. VFR conditions should return 15-17Z as a shallow marine layer burns off. Confidence is low that stratus will push all the way to KSJC, therefore VFR conditions are forecast through the morning. Winds will be light overnight, then pick up again in the afternoon out of the west to northwest 10-18 kt.

Monterey Bay Terminals, Marine layer restrictions are firmly established across the Monterey Bay terminals with both KMRY and KSNS currently locked under IFR/LIFR ceilings. Visibilities are expected to remain wider-ranging but there is potential for visibilities to range between IFR/MVFR through the overnight hours. Diurnal warming tomorrow will mix out cloud cover through the late morning to early afternoon. Winds will follow a typical coastal regime with KMRY light and variable overnight while SNS remains better established from the northwest down the valley. MRY will range back from the northwest in the late morning and afternoon as the onshore flow becomes re-established.

Marine

(tonight through next Thursday) Issued at 946 PM PDT Fri Jun 12 2026

A gentle southerly breeze and moderate to rough seas with a low south southwest swell persist across most of the coastal waters. However, small craft advisory conditions linger in the northern outer waters where winds remain northerly through early Saturday morning. Otherwise, the winds will remain fairly consistent through the weekend as the seas subside.

Beaches

Issued at 1230 PM PDT Thu Jun 12 2026

Long period southerly swell will continue through the weekend, especially for south and southwest facing beaches. Hazardous beach conditions are advertised, specifically for moderate to steeply sloped beaches along the Pacific Coast of the North Bay, San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties. Hazardous beach conditions will expand to include Pacific coast beaches along the central coast and the Bay Area coast starting Saturday evening through Tuesday morning. Be sure check beach conditions before you head out. Sneaker waves will run up the beach much farther than other waves, potentially catching beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the water. 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!

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, Coastal Flood Advisory until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for CAZ006-506- 508.

Beach Hazards Statement from late Saturday night through late Tuesday night for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.

Coastal Flood Advisory from 7 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Tuesday for CAZ505-509-529-530.

Heat Advisory until 7 PM PDT Saturday for CAZ510-513>515.

PZ, Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 9 PM PDT Saturday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

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