, Issued at 1232 PM PDT Tue Sep 22 2026 (This evening through Wednesday night)
An upper level trough is moving across Nevada this afternoon and will continue to shift into the Great Basin on Wednesday. As such, temperatures this afternoon are forecast to warm into the 60s near the coast, upper 60s to low 70s around the bayshore, and mid 70s to mid 80s across the interior with mostly sunny sky conditions across the interior. Breezy onshore flow will develop in the afternoon and evening hours with gusts of 20 to 30 mph near the coast, in the favored gaps and passes, and down the Salinas Valley.
As the marine layer gradually compresses to around 1,500 feet tonight, we are expecting less of an inland intrusion of stratus. As such, temperatures are expected to cool into the 50s for much of the region overnight. More of a zonal flow is forecast on Wednesday which will lead to a warming trend. Temperatures Wednesday afternoon are forecast to reach into the upper 60s to mid 70s near the coast, upper 70s to mid 80s around the bayshore, and mid 80s to low 90s across the interior. The warmest interior portions of the Central Coast look to warm into low-to-upper 90s. This will result in pockets of moderate HeatRisk across the interior. As a result, drier conditions are forecast in elevations above the marine influences.
Tomorrow night, look for again less inland extent of stratus and the warming trend to continue. Overnight temperatures are forecast to be in the mid 50s near the coast to lower 60s across the interior. However, the warming air mass aloft will result in the higher terrain only cooling into the 70s.
..issued at 1232 PM PDT Tue Sep 22 2026 (Thursday through next Monday)
Thursday looks to be the warmest across the interior with similar temperatures to Wednesday elsewhere. On Friday, a developing trough off of the West Coast will return resulting in a cooling trend and deepening of the marine layer. The coolest conditions are expected Saturday and Sunday as a reinforcing trough deepens off of the California coast with temperatures up to 10-15 deg F below seasonal averages. Temperatures appear to rebound closer to normal for this time of year early next week as the trough flattens and the 500 mb height clusters point to a building ridge over the western United States.
(18z TAFS) Issued at 1107 AM PDT Tue Sep 22 2026
MVFR to IFR ceilings associated with the marine layer will gradually scatter out in the next couple of hours, resulting in widespread VFR conditions at most terminals. Low confidence on whether HAF will see the Sun as there may be a brief period of scattered clouds before becoming BKN again. The usual diurnal onshore wind pattern prevails through the afternoon with a light south to southwest flow overnight across our region. The marine layer will compress overnight. Exactly how much is uncertain. Moderate confidence for STS, LVK, SJC, and SFO to remain VFR through the TAF cycle with advertised SCT decks early Wednesday morning. There is a 60-70% chance for APC and OAK to develop BKN ceilings given their exposed locations, though it may be intermittent depending on the marine layer depth tonight.
Vicinity of SFO, VFR prevails this afternoon with low to medium confidence on the return of MVFR ceilings tonight. Should ceilings develop, they will likely roll in around the time of the SCT decks as advertised. OAK has a higher probability of developing MVFR ceilings early Wednesday morning compared to SFO. Westerly winds increase to moderate this afternoon and ease to a light southwesterly flow Wednesday morning before increasing again.
SFO Bridge Approach, Current satellite imagery shows a final push of stratus across the bridge, but should become VFR in the next hour or so. Patchy cloud cover is possible over the eastern side of the bridge tonight. Otherwise, similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, Borderline MVFR-IFR ceilings linger through the next couple of hours with a brief period of VFR conditions. Medium to high confidence for an early onset of IFR ceilings around 4-7 PM PDT impacting MRY first and then SNS. Low confidence on whether ceilings will drop to LIFR territory early Wednesday morning. For now, the TAF advertises borderline IFR-LIFR with slight impacts to visibility due to mist and/or drizzle. Onshore winds increase to 7-10 kt this afternoon and gradually become light southerly breezes overnight.
(today through Sunday) Issued at 904 AM PDT Tue Sep 22 2026
Fresh northwest breezes with strong gusts gradually diminish across the southern coastal waters by Wednesday morning. Wind driven rough seas abate to moderate for a brief period Wednesday night into Thursday with widespread moderate northwest winds. By Friday, winds increase with building rough seas.
Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Wednesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 AM PDT Wednesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.
