Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service San Francisco CA

351 pm PST Mon Feb 23 2026

Short Term

, Issued at 200 PM PST Mon Feb 23 2026 (This evening through Tuesday)

High clouds streaming over the region ahead of the incoming weather system. Comfortable temperatures in the 60s across the region with the thickest clouds over the North Bay. Moist and mild southerly flow this evening in warm frontal structure but no excessively strong winds forecast given the lack of cold advection. A few stray showers late this afternoon and early evening near the Mendocino county line otherwise mainly dry through 10 pm tonight. Warm frontal light rains develop overnight across the North Bay, especially Sonoma county and the coastal hills down to Marin. Clouds and southerly winds will keep temps mainly in the 50s overnight. Wet roads for the early morning commute mainly for areas north of the Golden Gate.

Long Term

..issued at 200 PM PST Mon Feb 23 2026 (Tuesday night through next Sunday)

Weak to moderate AR and associated warm frontal structure will keep steady rains pointed from San Francisco northward from 12-18z Tuesday morning with the heaviest rains continuing across Sonoma county. Light rain will gradually shift southward across San Mateo county and the Santa Cruz mountains during the day Tuesday with some light rain pushing into the East Bay. The Santa Clara Valley and points southward will see little or no rain with this system on Tuesday. Rain will continue through the evening commute for much of the Bay Area with wet roads but generally light winds. Rainfall totals by late Tuesday night of 1-3 inches for the North Bay with some some localized 4 inch totals in the Sonoma hills and around Mt Tamalpais. Rain amounts around 1 inch in San Franciso/Oakland with amounts tapering off to around 0.25 for San Jose. Santa Cruz mountains may top off around 1.5 inches but the weakening nature of the system looks to keep amounts generally light for the Santa Cruz mountains with only 0.10-0.25 for the Santa Lucia hills in Monterey County. So in general expect beneficial late February rains from this system with the only place for some possible nuisance flooding across portions of Sonoma county. However, no signs of the system stalling or intensifying beyond Tuesday evening so confidence remains high for no widespread flooding impacts.

Any lingering showers end by 12z Weds with perhaps some soupy morning fog in the moist airmass. High pressure then builds with highs warming back into the 60s and lower 70s with mild overnight lows generally in the 50s at least through Saturday.

Next feature of interest is a weak cutoff low that could impact the region later Sunday into Monday. The main impact would to drop temperatures back down to more seasonable levels with a slight chance of instability showers though no significant rainfall is forecast. Long range trends beyond that keep the pattern somewhat active but not seeing any signs of notable March storms or rainfall.

Aviation

(00z TAFS) Issued at 351 PM PST Mon Feb 23 2026

VFR continues with exception of a few areas of low clouds /MVFR- IFR/ along the immediate coastline this afternoon. Cloud layers increase southward tonight with rain developing north to south tonight and Tuesday as well. Conditions MVFR-VFR Tuesday with southerly winds, then winds shifting to westerly Tuesday evening and night.

Vicinity of SFO, VFR tonight, MVFR in rain Tuesday. Light northeast wind into the evening becoming light southeasterly tonight and Tuesday morning. South-southeasterly wind increasing to 15 to 25 knots Tuesday, decreasing to 10 knots Tuesday evening.

SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals, VFR tonight and Tuesday. Variable to onshore winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southeasterly 5 to 10 knots tonight and Tuesday morning. Southeasterly winds 7 to 15 knots Tuesday.

Marine

(tonight through next Saturday) Issued at 340 PM PST Mon Feb 23 2026

Light rain and breezier winds are approaching the northern waters and will spread farther south Monday night through Tuesday night. Winds stay breezy as the rains pass through the water, but ease by Wednesday. Dry weather prevails late for the second half of the week with light seas.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 3 PM PST Tuesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 AM to 3 PM PST Tuesday for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PST Tuesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

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