, Issued at 241 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026 (This evening through Wednesday)
The main rain band has been pointed at far northern Sonoma county and points northward into Mendocino and Humboldt counties for much of the day. Heavy rain has been confined to the Sonoma hills with 1-2 inch rain amounts so far with 0.25-0.50 for the Sonoma county valleys. South of Santa Rosa rain amounts have been a tenth or less down through Marin county and towards the Golden Gate. Little or no rain so far today south of San Francisco with amounts generally a trace to a few hundredths.
Even with extensive cloud cover the airmass is warm and mild as temperatures have warmed into the lower 70s for the Central Coast with widespread 60s across the Bay Area. Where rain is falling, in places like Santa Rosa we are seeing readings in the upper 50s.
The short term models are adamant that the front will begin to shift southward over the next several hours with increasing rain coverage for the Bay Area evening commute. However, as the front shifts southward it will lose upper support and the front will weaken with only light rain forecast south of San Francisco this evening and little or no rain for the Santa Clara Valley and interior Central Coast.
The juicy airmass and light winds could lead to some patchy valley fog formation in the valleys overnight and for the start of the Weds morning commute. Temps will remain mild overnight in the 50s for most locations. High pressure rebuilds on Weds with highs well into the 60s and lower 70s for a springlike feel to the day.
..issued at 241 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026 (Wednesday night through next Monday)
Building ridge will keep overnight lows mild for late February in the 50s with patchy valley fog formation. Daytime highs Thursday through Saturday will remain unseasonably mild with highs upper 60s to mid 70s for most of the Bay Area and even close to 80 for interior Monterey county.
Next forecast change of note will occur Sunday and Monday with high confidence for a cooling trend back closer to normal readings. This will be in response to an upper low passing over NorCal in the vicnity of Cape Mendocino. While some light rain showers are possible, confidence is low on any meaningful precip with the main impact to bring a cooling trend back to more normal temperatures. Long range trend for the first week of March doesnt show signs of any moderate to strong storms but the pattern remains somewhat active/progressive with no strong ridging either.
(00z TAFS) Issued at 257 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026
Light rain continues to affect the north bay with the main rain band arriving into the afternoon and spreading south into the late afternoon and early evening. Expect building mid-level clouds as the rain pushes south, and some spotty low clouds, specifically at STS. Southerly winds build just ahead of the rain band, becoming breezy to gusty around the SF Bay. The front itself weakens as it pushes south, with little to no rain reaching the Monterey Bay. Winds become light into the night and cloud cover erodes into Wednesday.
Vicinity of SFO, Light showers are approaching with mostly mid to high level clouds. Winds become breezier and more southerly into the evening as scattered showers arrive. Moderate rains build arrive along the main rain band this evening. Scattered showers linger in the wake of the main rain band into the night as winds reduce. Expect lighter winds into early Wednesday with cloud cover eroding into the midday.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, Higher-level cloud cover builds through the day with moderate northwest winds building into the evening. Slight chances for non- impactful showers arrive into the evening along with scattered mid to low-level clouds.
(tonight through next Sunday) Issued at 257 PM PST Tue Feb 24 2026
Light to moderate rain continues to spread across the northern waters with breezy to locally gusty winds. Rain chances peak in the evening and early night, with showers becoming scattered in the late night. Expect winds to reduce into the evening and overnight hours, leading to mostly light winds into Wednesday. Seas will ease into the mid week but slowly rebuild in the late week.
Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PST this evening for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
