, Issued at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026 (Tonight through Sunday)
Skies are generally clear, save for the Pacific coast of San Mateo County where some low clouds have developed overnight, and will generally remain so through the day on Sunday. There is a low confidence of stratus development near the northern end of the Santa Lucias that could impact the southern Monterey Bay region early Sunday morning, but if this develops it should mix out soon after dawn.
The weather pattern remains dominated by a cutoff low coming into Oregon, which interacts with a broad area of zonal flow and slight ridging across the Southwest to create a strong pressure gradient over the northern half of California and Nevada. At 9 PM the SFO-WMC gradient was measured at 9.7 mb, and there are still a couple of hours where the gradient could strengthen further before the cutoff low's motion starts to relax the gradient. Wind gusts across the region have peaked at around 20 to 35 mph, with the most favored locations seeing wind gusts of over 50 mph. This is expected to continue well into the night, with some abatement in the early morning hours on Sunday. By the time the sea breeze kicks in Sunday afternoon, the pressure gradients will relax, but remain rather strong and some elevated winds are still possible before the winds finally turn light in the late evening hours. Widespread gusts will likely reach 20 to 30 mph with favored locations along the coast and through gaps, passes, and valleys reaching 40 mph.
Morning lows will generally hover in the upper 40s to the 50s across the region. Sunday's highs range from the middle 70s to the lower 80s inland, the middle 80s in the warmest reaches of southern Monterey County, the middle 60s to the middle 70s near the Bays, and the lower to middle 60s close to the Pacific coast.
..issued at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026 (Monday through next Saturday)
The trough axis continues moving into the northern Plains by Monday, relaxing the pressure gradients and diminishing the potential for strong winds. Some troughing influence will remain along the West Coast through at least the middle of the week and there may even be a pulse of energy coming off the back of the first trough that would reinforce the pattern, keeping temperatures near to below seasonal averages. High temperatures will range across the 80s inland, the lower 70s to the lower 80s close to the bays, and the middle 60s to the lower 70s near the Pacific coast. The widespread marine layer stratus deck should return Monday night into Tuesday, and will develop each night and morning before mixing out through the afternoon hours. Friday into the upcoming weekend, model ensembles are showing a chance for some sort of ridge influence across the region, thus reflecting the probability for a slight warming trend.
(06z TAFS) Issued at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026
Generally VFR conditions persist through the TAF period, barring the immediate coast and some favored foothill regions where MVFR-IFR stratus has set up on the western side of the San Mateo Peninsula and the hills east of HWD, persisting into the morning hours. Strong and gusty onshore winds continue well into the night, with some abatement in wind speeds Sunday morning before winds tick up again Sunday afternoon into the evening hours, when winds will begin to diminish.
Vicinity of SFO, High confidence that VFR conditions persist through the TAF period. Strong west to northwest winds gusting to 35 kt will continue past midnight, with a slight decrease in wind speeds early Sunday morning before the strong gusts resume Sunday afternoon and evening.
SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, VFR through midnight, low to moderate confidence in patchy MVFR stratus in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning. Gentle west winds will persist overnight through Sunday morning before strong and gusty northwest winds resume on Sunday afternoon.
(tonight through next Friday) Issued at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026
Hazardous conditions for small craft prevail through the middle of next week. Fresh to strong winds gradually increase through the night with widespread strong winds developing through Sunday. Widespread near gale force gusts are likely Sunday into early Monday with gale force gusts expected along the inner waters from Pigeon Point to Point Piedras Blancas, the Monterey Bay, and in portions of the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays where terrain promotes wind funneling. Winds remain elevated through midweek before decreasing mid to late week. Moderate seas will build to between 8 to 10 feet and become rough by Monday in response to the stronger winds.
Ca, None. PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Sunday for SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.
Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Sunday for SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Sunday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Sunday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT Sunday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Sunday to 9 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.
