Issued at 900 AM PDT Sun Mar 22 2026
Satellite imagery shows some lingering stratus in the Salinas Valley between Gonzales and King City, in addition to a little otter eddy just off of Point Pinos and extending into parts of the Monterey Peninsula. The rest of the Bay Area and Central Coast is mostly clear and should stay so through the day. The forecast for rather warm temperatures is on track with no updates required at this time.
DialH
, Issued at 223 AM PDT Sun Mar 22 2026 (Today and tonight)
The skies are still mostly clear early this morning, although a marine layer has returned to the coast and we could get a sunrise surprise of low stratus later this morning. GFS LAMP guidance shoes a 40-60% chance of low ceilings forming at MRY between 6-9 AM before clearing out in the late morning. Probabilities are similar at the other coastal locations, but the temperate still has to drop another 5 degrees or so for the air in the boundary layer to become saturated. Any low clouds will clear by the afternoon as high cloud coverage starts to increase. Temperatures are currently 5-10 degrees cooler than this time yesterday, but max temps in the afternoon will only end up a couple degrees cooler than yesterday. That's still roughly 15 degrees above normal. While the seasonally extreme heat wave is over, 850 mb temperatures are still above the 90th percentile for this time of year and unseasonably warm weather continues.
..issued at 223 AM PDT Sun Mar 22 2026 (Monday through Saturday)
The overall pattern is dominated by zonal flow, with the Bay Area situated between the subtropical jet to the south and polar front jet to the north. This will keep the weather pretty benign. Temperatures will continue to run above normal, but noticeably cooler than last week. Ensemble clusters agree that broad, low- amplitude ridging is likely this weekend, but an embedded short wave trough will likely counteract some of those effects. The next chance for rain is around the middle of next week, and while it's still long-range, the probability has been increasing.
(18z TAFS) Issued at 1117 AM PDT Sun Mar 22 2026
Satellite imagery this morning shows some high clouds passing over the region, with some patches of stratus lingering around the Central Coast. Nearly all TAF sites are reporting VFR at this time, with the exception being KHAF, where MVFR visibility is occuring. Checking the surrounding cameras there this seems legitmate and the question becomes, how long does this stay put. Opted to hold reduced MVFR cigs through the early afternoon, with perhaps a period of VFR conditions into the evening before faltering some overnight. Low to moderate confidence for KHAF. High confidence in VFR conditions elsewhere.
Vicinity of SFO, Onshore winds will gradually increase this morning and into the afternoon, peaking around 15-18kt. Gusts up to 21kt will be possible with winds easing to less than 10kt around 8Z. Breezy onshore winds are expected to return Monday afternoon.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, Currently, VFR conditions prevail at the TAF sites around Monterey Bay. A pesky patch of stratus lingers in the Bay, hugging the coastline down to Point Sur State Historic Park. KMRY as a result, has brought in a SCT006 group in for the last observation, though there is uncertainty with how long this will last. Conditions should remain VFR through the period. There is a small chance for stratus returning to the terminals around or just after sunrise. Opted to hint at that possibility rather than bringing them fully down.
(today through Friday) Issued at 858 AM PDT Sun Mar 22 2026
Fresh to strong northerly winds continue to affect the outer waters with near gale force gusts lingering. Within 10NM moderate to fresh northerly winds are expected. Hazardous seas continue, with winds decreasing into Monday, and seas gradually subsiding as a result.
Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
