Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service San Francisco CA

1200 pm PDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Short Term

, Issued at 1200 PM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026 (This evening through Monday night)

The weather pattern across California is generally dominated by troughing across the Western United States which will promote seasonally cool temperatures along with gusty northwest winds during the afternoon and evening hours. High temperatures today will range from the upper 70s to the middle 80s in the inland valleys, up to the upper 80s in the warmest spots of southern Monterey County, the upper 60s to upper 70s close to the Bays, and the lower to middle 60s along the Pacific coast. Wind gusts will reach the 20 to 30 mph range this afternoon and evening along the coast, through gaps and passes, within the Salinas Valley, and at favored ridgelines.

Tonight through Monday, a smaller-scale low pressure system breaks away from the upper level trough near Oregon and travels southwards paralleling the coast, reaching the vicinity of the SF Bay Area by Monday afternoon. Lows on Monday morning will hover in the upper 40s and the 50s, and some stratus development is possible along the coast from San Mateo County southward, inland across the Monterey bay region into the Salinas Valley and the Morgan Hill-Hollister corridor, and portions of the East Bay west of the Berkeley-San Leandro Hills. Daytime highs on Monday should be largely similar to those seen today, with perhaps a few degrees of warming in the interior North and East Bays and a few degrees of cooling across the warmest spots of southern Monterey County.

The risk of minor coastal flooding continues through Monday night along low-lying areas in the Pacific coast and the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays. The combination of thermal expansion within the Pacific ocean, a full moon on Monday, and southerly swell will account for a little over half a foot of surge over the astronomical tide. Around 0.7 feet of inundation over normally dry ground (6.49 ft MLLW) is forecast at high tide at the San Francisco tide gauge at around 10:55 PM tonight. In addition, long-period southerly swell will continue to increase the risk for sneaker waves and strong rip currents along the Pacific coast, particularly at south and southwest facing beaches. A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect through Wednesday morning, see the BEACHES section for more details. Never turn your back to the ocean!

Long Term

..issued at 1200 PM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026 (Tuesday through next Saturday)

Troughing continues to impact the region into the middle of the week with highs in the inland valleys hovering near to around 10 degrees below the seasonal averages, ranging in the middle 70s to the middle 80s through Thursday. A more robust marine layer could deck should develop Monday night through Tuesday morning, and will mix out into the afternoons before building back each evening and overnight.

The trough begins to fill in Thursday and Friday, and more zonal flow is expected for the upcoming weekend, allowing a gradual warming trend to start in time for Independence Day. Towards the beginning of next week, ensemble model clusters show agreement towards a ridge building up across the Western United States, with the interaction between the ridge and any troughing over the Eastern Pacific, which would modulate how impactful the ridge ends up for our region, still to be determined.

Aviation

(18z TAFS) Issued at 1054 AM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Widespread VFR lasts into the night. Winds increase across the region into the afternoon becoming moderate to breezy. Winds will reduce into the night, becoming light for most areas into Monday morning. Cloud cover returns to the Monterey Bay and HAF into the late night with MVFR CIGs. This cloud cover erodes into the mid morning on Monday, leading to widespread VFR again.

Vicinity of SFO, VFR through the TAF period. Breezy west winds build into the mid afternoon with gusts around 22kts expected. Gusts cut off into the night and winds reduce slightly. Expect winds to become light into early Monday with breezy west winds returning that afternoon.

SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals, VFR lasts into the night. Expect moderate winds to build in the afternoon across the area with gusty conditions affecting SNS. Winds reduce into the evening as come low clouds begin to flow through the area. MVFR CIGs fill over the terminals into the late night. These CIGs look to erode into late Monday morning at SNS and slightly beyond the TAF period for MRY.

Marine

(today through Friday) Issued at 1054 AM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026

Strong northwest winds will continue to result in hazardous seas for small craft across the waters well into the work week. Gale force gusts will continue over the northern outer waters until early Monday morning before winds reduce. Long period southwest swell will persist through the extended forecast.

Beaches

Updated at 1225 AM PDT Sun Jun 28 2026

A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect for the Pacific Coast Beaches through Wednesday morning as long period southerly swell returns to the coast, creating an increased risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, especially for south and southwest facing beaches. Hazardous beach conditions are advertised, specifically for moderate to steeply sloped beaches along the Pacific Coast of the North Bay, San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties. Sneaker waves will run up the beach much farther than other waves, potentially catching beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the water. Rip currents are strong enough to pull the strongest swimmers away from shore. Swim near a lifeguard if possible. Stay back from the beach, and away from jetties, piers, beachside rocks, and other infrastructure near the water. Never turn your back to the ocean!

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, Beach Hazards Statement through late Tuesday night for CAZ006- 505-509-529-530.

PZ, Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Tuesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10- 60 NM.

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