, Issued at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026 (This evening through Friday night)
Stratus continues to retreat to the coast this afternoon with sunny sky conditions returning to the interior. Thus, temperatures are forecast to reach the low 60s to middle 70s near the coast, 70s to lower 80s bayside, and 80s to lower 90s across the interior valleys. The southern portion of the Central Coast has the greatest potential to exceed 100 deg F in places such as Lockwood, Bradley and Parkfield.
For tonight, stratus looks to return back to the coast late this evening and fill locally inland into the coastal adjacent valleys. However, the pattern aloft looks to be the same as this morning, so expect some disruptions in the cloud deck at times. Patch fog is also likely along the coast and in the Russian River Valley.
Friday is looking like a repeat of today's afternoon temperatures. The noteworthy thing to mention is the high level clouds forecast by late Friday afternoon/evening. This is a result of monsoon moisture advecting northward around the mid/upper level high pressure over the Four Corners Region. However, the moisture will be high enough aloft to just produce high level clouds.
..issued at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026 (Saturday through next Wednesday)
The ridge over the Southwest is continuing to shift towards to Four Corners and will build in strengthen over the weekend. Meanwhile, the mid/upper level trough off of the Pacific Northwest coast will also strengthen. This will keep a shallow marine layer in place while also allowing for a slight warming trend across the interior into early next week. Additionally, this will work the keep the high pressure over the Four Corners/Southwest region. Still 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. Looking at the 8-14 day Temperature Outlook from the Climate Prediction Center, we are likely to see above average temperatures across the region with the high pressure shifting further westward across southern California.
(00z TAFS) Issued at 439 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026
VFR conditions are expected until later tonight for all terminals other than Monterey Bay with stratus ceilings arriving sooner that far south. Drier air working on a 1200ft-1600ft compressed marine layer depending on your location, continues to complicate the forecast for the extent and timing of MVFR/IFR ceilings later tonight.
Vicinity of SFO, VFR until after midnight when MVFR ceilings are expected to fill in. Lower confidence in the potential for IFR ceilings in the hours surrounding sunrise Friday and have left them out of the TAF for the time being. Gusty onshore wind at KSFO will ease somewhat after sunset but remain breezy through the TAF period with lighter winds at KOAK.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar as SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, Breezy onshore flow will ease after sunset when MVFR ceilings will develop and eventually drop to IFR/LIFR after midnight with clearing expected by later morning/early afternoon.
(tonight through next Tuesday) Issued at 439 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 2026
NW winds prevail as moderate to fresh breezes with strong gusts. Moderate wind driven seas continue into the weekend as a long period S to SW swell from Hurricane Fausto approaches our coastal waters, persisting into early next week.
Issued at 114 PM PDT Thu Jul 23 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 upcoming 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 catching 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 Friday for Mry Bay.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday 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.
Gale Warning until 9 AM PDT Friday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
