, Issued at 115 PM PDT Sat May 16 2026 (This evening through Sunday)
Low pressure along the British Columbia coastline early this afternoon will push into the Intermountain West throughout the evening and into the overnight. This will tighten the pressure gradient across the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast. Thus, expecting the strongest winds to be along the coast and in the higher terrain across the region. Therefore, a Wind Advisory remains in effect through 5 AM Sunday morning along the coast excluding the Santa Cruz region for northwesterly winds of 20-30 mph with gusts as strong as 55 mph (especially along the immediate coast and in the higher terrain).
For Sunday, expecting another disturbance rotate through the large scale trough and dig into the Great Basin once again. This will maintain a moderate to strong pressure gradient across the region with winds becoming offshore (northerly or northeasterly) in the higher terrain. Forecast temperatures for Sunday will be similar to or slightly warmer than today.
..issued at 115 PM PDT Sat May 16 2026 (Sunday night through next Friday)
A broad trough will remain over the Intermountain West through the early part of the workweek, yet is forecast to shift farther to the east. This will weaken the pressure gradient from much of the Bay Area and Central Coast by Monday night and into Tuesday. The one caveat, how deep will the marine layer be heading into early week. Temperatures have the potential to be 10 degrees F cooler along the coast and into the adjacent coastal valleys where low clouds (if they develop) will be slow to dissipate.
By midweek, high pressure will begin to build in from the eastern Pacific leading to an inland warming trend. Meanwhile, as the marine layer is likely to deepen during this timeframe, cooler conditions will prevail near the coast and their adjacent valley locations. By the end of the week, ensembles are hinting at another trough approaching the West Coast and cooling temperatures regionwide. However, less confidence in the extended.
(18z TAFS) Issued at 1054 AM PDT Sat May 16 2026
A strong surface high pressure system over the eastern Pacific to northernmost CA is resulting in a strong northerly 8.2 mb ACV-SFO pressure gradient including a moderate 3.0 mb SFO-SAC onshore pressure gradient. Strong and gusty northwest winds continue over the coastal waters including gusty winds that'll overlap the immediate coast in response to these surface gradients. Plenty of turbulent mixing and drying within the boundary layer will result in VFR. Windswept seas leading to sea spray and sea salt aerosols will also result in areas of reduced visibility in haze /MVFR/ near the coastline. Surface winds at the inland terminals have the highest probability of easing tonight and Sunday morning before resuming Sunday under peak diurnal mixing.
Vicinity of SFO, VFR. West wind 25 to 35 knots through 07z tonight ease to 15 to 20 knots before increasing to 20 to 30 knots Sunday afternoon.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, VFR except for areas of haze /MVFR/ today. West winds 15 to 25 knots, easing to 10 to 15 knots tonight and Sunday morning.
(today through Thursday) Issued at 1027 AM PDT Sat May 16 2026
Strong surface high pressure will remain nearly stationary over the eastern Pacific through the middle of next week. This will result in widespread gale force to storm force northwesterly wind gusts across the coastal waters. Storm warnings lower to gales for Sunday. Expect rough seas through the weekend with up to 19 ft waves during the strongest winds, but seas will ease into the work week.
Issued at 140 AM PDT Sat May 16 2026
A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect for west facing beaches along the Pacific Coast through 9 AM Monday due to strong winds over the marine environment leading to hazardously strong wind waves and overall rough seas. Dangerous swimming, boating, and surfing conditions can be expected. Large breaking waves can overpower swimmers resulting in significant physical injury and increase the risk of drowning. Gusts will stay strong along the immediate coast, causing blowing and drifting sand and increased sea spray. Water rescue attempts may be hampered by reduced visibilities from the sea spray. Remember, NEVER turn your back on the ocean.
Ca, Beach Hazards Statement through Monday morning for CAZ006-505- 509-530.
Wind Advisory until 5 AM PDT Sunday for CAZ006-505-509-530.
Coastal Flood Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 3 AM PDT Tuesday for CAZ506.
PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Sunday for SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.
Gale Warning from 3 AM to 9 PM PDT Sunday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.
Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT Sunday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning until 3 PM PDT this afternoon for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Storm Warning until 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10- 60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning from 3 AM Sunday to 3 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10- 60 NM.
