, Issued at 308 PM PDT Fri Aug 21 2026 (This evening through Saturday night)
The forecast is on repeat today. Satellite imagery shows high clouds streaming overhead and the stratus a bit more dispersed along the coast. Expect these conditions to continue this afternoon, with the marine layer making a return later this evening and overnight. Guidance shows the marine layer should be around 1000-1500ft across our service area, which should lead to another night and morning of cloudy skies for the majority of the valleys. Low clouds continue to clear by mid to late morning, with a few high clouds potentially lingering into Saturday. With stratus clearing potentially a bit earlier and less high clouds, highs should be similar to Thursday, perhaps a few degrees warmer.
..issued at 308 PM PDT Fri Aug 21 2026 (Sunday through next Thursday)
The extended forecast looks similar, as we remain caught in the quasi-zonal to weak troughing while high pressure holds to the east. Temperatures should cool a few degrees on Sunday and then moderate into early next week. Models and ensembles show ridging trying to build slightly to the west, which would lead to warming for mid to late next week. Some caveats to what might happen will be the Pacific. The Tropical Weather Outlook from the National Hurricane Center shows three potential disturbances well south of Baja. Could influence how the high behaves.
(00z TAFS) Issued at 727 PM PDT Fri Aug 21 2026
It's VFR except for patchy coastal stratus and fog /IFR/ along San Mateo County and an area of stratus and fog /IFR/ along Monterey County. Mid and high clouds, including wildfire smoke over the north Central Coast, are moving northeastward over the forecast area. An area of cooler near surface air will arrive from the northwest tonight and Saturday morning resulting in a return of stratus, fog /IFR-LIFR/ and possibly a few patches of drizzle.
Vicinity of SFO, Moderate to high confidence VFR continues through at least 05z this evening due to an earlier erosion of stratus, but also including a higher amount of water vapor in the mid to upper levels slowing radiative cooling tonight. NAM model output does show near surface cooler air arriving overnight, this will support redevelopment of stratus /MVFR/ including possibly IFR early Saturday morning; not advertised in the 00z TAF, however may include IFR in 06z TAF issuance. West wind gusts to 25 to 30 knots otherwise decreasing wind to 10 to 15 knots tonight and Saturday morning. Westerly wind increasing to 20 to 28 knots Saturday afternoon to mid Saturday evening.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, Some erosion of stratus is taking place to the northwest across the Monterey Bay however orographic upslope cooling of air parcels upon arrival vicinity KMRY is occurring supporting a stratus /MVFR-IFR/ ceiling. Stratus /IFR/ is forecast to reach KSNS during the evening as well. Wildfire smoke so far is aloft. A few patches of drizzle are possible tonight and Saturday morning. Conditions improve to MVFR-VFR by late Saturday morning and afternoon. West to northwest winds 5 to 15 knots.
(tonight through next Wednesday) Issued at 308 PM PDT Fri Aug 21 2026
Widespread moderate to fresh northwest breezes prevail through the weekend with slight to moderate seas. Locally strong breezes with occasional near gale force gusts are expected in the coastal jet regions of Point Sur and Point Reyes. Hazardous conditions for small crafts are expected this afternoon for the bay waters and immediate coastal waters.
Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory from 2 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
