, Issued at 1149 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026 (Tonight through Friday)
Very similar conditions to last night at this time, and very similar night ahead. Coastal Stratus is building along the SF Peninsula and around Point Reyes. This cloud cover will begin to push inland over the next few hours filling around the bays as pockets of fog form in the valleys across the region.
Again this is a good indicator of the marine layer staying intact despite the ridging pattern to the north. This ridge has been responsible for the warming trend for the more inland areas, while a cutoff low to the south has allowed for the marine layer stick around and keep the coast on the cool side. The pressure gradient between the ridge and low has been a big factor in the breeziness in the marine environment and the immediate coast.
Thursday sees the marine influence keeping coastal and slightly inland temperatures similar to previous days, with a few spots being slightly cooler as coastals stratus lingers into the afternoon in a few spot. The more inland areas not affected by the marine layer will continue the warming trend. Highs in the far interior look to peak in the low to mid 80s, and the coast will stay around 60 degrees, and all the areas in between will stick to the 70s.
..issued at 1149 PM PDT Wed Apr 29 2026 (Friday night through next Wednesday)
Coastal cloud cover will linger into the afternoon again on Friday, and the marine layer stays strong, so the coast will stay on the cool side. The beginning of a shift in the upper level pattern will prevent the North Bay from continued warming, with most areas seeing similar highs to Thursday, if not slightly cooler. Other more inland areas will see the warming trend peak expect more areas to break into the 80s and the mid to upper 80s in the far interior with maybe a few spots breaking 90 degrees in southern Monterey Co.
The pattern change really goes in effect Friday night as the ridge pushes east and another low pressure and trough builds along the Pacific coast. Higher clouds will build that night, and the reduction in pressure will allow for the marine layer to expand and push farther inland. These factors, along with increasing onshore flow, will allow for a strong cooling trend through the weekend.
Along with cooling temperatures, the low pressure looks to move inland over the Bay Area Sunday night. This will start with drizzly conditions early Sunday with chances for scattered light rain possible later that night as the low centers over the region. Light rain and widespread drizzle chances look to last through most of Monday with some potential for the low to slow its momentum and offer precip chance into Tuesday before exiting.
While rain chances are good, overall rainfall amounts will be light. Most areas will only see trace amounts to a few hundredths of an inch of rain from this system.
Behind it, most models hint at another ridge building quickly in the midweek. Cloud cover will erode, the marine layer will compress, and temperatures will warm again.
(12z TAFS) Issued at 431 AM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026
Stratus is a bit more widespread this morning with localized fog being reported at STS. For interior airports, stratus and fog looks to clear by late morning (17-18Z) while coastal sites may stay overcast through the entire day. Confidence is highest that HAF will stay overcast today while MRY and SNS look to have a brief period of clearing during the afternoon/evening hours. Bumped winds up during the afternoon/evening hours to better account for WRF guidance and gustier winds yesterday. A deeper marine layer is expected to develop tonight which will bring an earlier return of stratus for most airports. Initial guidance is supporting a mix of IFR-MVFR CIGs tonight but leaned more towards MVFR CIGs in the 12Z TAFs given models tendency to overdo IFR-LIFR conditions.
Vicinity of SFO, MVFR CIGs to prevail through late morning before clearing through the late evening. Breezy W to NW winds return this afternoon. Models support gusts to around 25-26 knots during the afternoon/evening hours before winds diminish overnight. MVFR CIGs return tonight and continue through the end of the TAF period. Not anticipating major reductions in visibility this morning or tonight.
SFO Bridge Approach, MVFR CIGs are starting to fill in across the SF Bay but the current stratus pattern remains patchy on satellite. High resolution guidance keeps stratus remaining patchy over the bay through late morning before clearing. Similar to SFO, stratus is expected to be widespread tonight with MVFR CIGs likely to impact the bridge approach tonight.
Monterey Bay Terminals, IFR. CIGs have been lingering on the MVFR- IFR border this morning but IFR CIGs are expected to prevail through late this morning. Kept the TAF slightly more optimistic with a brief period of clearing late morning/early afternoon at both sites. Some models suggest that MRY (higher potential) and SNS could stay overcast (MVFR) through the entire afternoon/evening. For now, kept with LAMP guidance showing a brief period of clearing before MVFR- IFR CIGs return overnight.
(today through Tuesday) Issued at 431 AM PDT Thu Apr 30 2026
A fresh to strong northwest breeze continues over the coastal waters into this weekend. Winds will be strongest over the northern outer waters where winds will result in moderate seas building to between 10 to 12 feet. Winds decrease and seas abate by late Saturday with conditions improving through the weekend.
Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT this morning for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Friday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
