Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service San Francisco CA

855 pm PST Thu Feb 26 2026

Update

Issued at 841 PM PST Thu Feb 26 2026

Increased temperatures slightly for Friday afternoon but otherwise the forecast remains on track this evening. The pleasant warmup we've been seeing the past couple of days peaks tomorrow with highs in the upper 60s to mid-70s along the coast and mid-70s to mid-80s most other locations. The warm temperatures and light winds should make for another pleasant day across our area. Saturday will be very similar to today, then a subtle pattern change brings cooler temperatures for Sunday into the beginning of next week along with a slight chance of light rain with up to a few hundredths of an inch of rain at most expected where it does rain.

Short Term

, Issued at 1203 PM PST Thu Feb 26 2026 (This evening through Friday)

Now that the low clouds and areas of dense fog are improving, expecting the warm up to persist across the region through the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be in the upper 60s to lower 70s across much of the North Bay and San Francisco Bay Area with interior areas of the Central Coast likely to warm into the upper 70s (cannot rule out a few of the warmest locations reaching or exceeding 80 deg F).

Tonight, we are expecting less widespread coverage of fog as the high pressure aloft continues to build and precipitable water values (PWAT) of 1"-1.15" shift northward across the North Bay. This is where we have the greatest potential for patchy fog early Friday morning. In addition, mid-to-high level clouds will increase throughout the night and linger into the upcoming weekend.

By Friday, forecast to be the warmest day across the region, temperatures will likely warm into the low-to-mid 70s across the North Bay, East Bay and San Francisco with the San Francisco Bayshore warming and the rest of the region warming into the mid-to- upper 70s. The greatest potential for areas to exceed 80 deg F is in the Santa Cruz Mountains and interior portions of the Central Coast. These temperatures are some 10-15 degrees F above average with the higher terrain up to 20 degrees.

Long Term

..issued at 1203 PM PST Thu Feb 26 2026 (Friday night through next Wednesday)

Temperatures cool slightly on Saturday, but only by a few degrees ahead of an approaching mid/upper level cut off low. The low pressure system will move into northern California and Oregon by Sunday evening and into early Monday morning. This will bring cooler, unsettled weather across the Bay Area and Central Coast. Afternoon temperatures both Sunday and Monday look to trend closer to seasonal averages. As far as precipitation goes, we are not expecting much rain at all from this system as probabilities remain very low for widespread rain. However, the North Bay and the coastal ranges look to have the greatest potential for for receiving rain from Sunday afternoon through Monday morning.

Confidence beyond Tuesday lessens, yet shortwave ridging across the region is expected to warm temperatures slightly. However, troughiness looks to return for the latter half of the upcoming week. However, widespread rainfall is not looking likely.

Aviation

(06z TAFS) Issued at 855 PM PST Thu Feb 26 2026

Widespread VFR lasts into the night with high clouds building once again. Light to moderate winds become lighter into the night with directions at most sites going variable. Pockets of inconsistent fog will be possible in some of the more interior sites into Friday morning but look to erode into the late morning, leading to widespread VFR. Winds build slightly into Friday afternoon but become weak again that evening and night.

Vicinity of SFO, Expect light to moderate northwest winds well into the night before winds become light and variable. As the winds weaken, some pockets of mist will affect visibilities. VFR returns in the late morning as moderate northwest winds return. Winds reduce again and become light and variable into the night.

SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals, Winds become light and variable into the night with some slight reductions in visibilities possible, particularly in the Salinas Valley. Visibilities improve into Friday afternoon as light to moderate north to northeast winds build. These winds become light again into that evening.

Marine

(tonight through next Wednesday) Issued at 841 PM PST Thu Feb 26 2026

Mostly light to moderate winds are expected across the waters through the weekend and into the next work week. Localized fresh gusts will affect the southern waters on Friday but look to dissipate into the weekend. Low to moderate seas continue into next week. Drizzle to light rain will be possible across the northernmost waters this weekend.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, None. PZ, None.

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