, Issued at 143 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026 (Today and tonight)
The upcoming pattern for the weekend and early week will shift over to chillier temperatures and there is a potential for periods of light drizzle and/or rain. A Beach Hazards Statement is in effect this morning through Sunday evening for long period northwesterly swell, an increasing risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents.
It's a good idea to pay extra attention to our neighboring NWS office's forecasts too since e.g. the pattern may affect travel near and across high mountain passes.
Today and tonight: A 500 mb closed low near the Pacific Northwest will move southward and gradually strengthen. The low is forecast to be located 400 miles west of San Francisco tonight. Out ahead of the low, plenty of clouds will accompany steady cooling through the lower levels today. High temps along the immediate coastline ended up slightly below early May normal highs Friday. The longer clouds linger today the the more difficult it'll be e.g. to warm past the mid to upper 50s today along the immediate coastline. Farther inland it'll be easier to reach the 60s and 70s including possibly a few lower 80s well inland in the afternoon. Low clouds move back inland tonight with temperatures lowering to the 50s and 40s. Spotty light drizzle is possible today and/or tonight, best probability is along the immediate coastline.
..issued at 143 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026 (Sunday through Friday)
The 500 mb low is then forecast to move eastward later Sunday and become located over the Central Coast and San Joaquin Valley Monday and Monday night, then forecast to move across southern California Tuesday. A fair amount of dynamic cooling will accompany the 500 mb low for early May as will relatively higher precipitable water (pw) in situ along the west coast; it's residual pw leftover from a recent northward extension far north of Hawaii earlier in the week. The GFS shows up to 0.90" of pw (90th percentile for early May) reaching the Bay Area Monday night and early Tuesday. It's during this time when some model forecasts lean wet and some lean dry. The wet solutions show wetting rain (at least 0.10" or greater) over much of the Bay Area, while drier solutions are closer to a trace to maybe a few hundredths of an inch. It's a low confidence forecast, please stay tuned to the latest updates.
During mid to late week the 500 mb low will have moved eastward away from California. Behind the low, high pressure ridging is forecast to move in. There still may be a weak trough passing across far northern California late next week. Otherwise a dry and warming trend returns.
(18z TAFS) Issued at 1044 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026
MVFR CIGs across much of the region this morning. These conditions will gradually return to VFR by early afternoon for inland terminals. The exception will be coastal TAF sites where we are very likely to see MVFR conditions persist throughout much of the TAF period. Onshore winds return this afternoon before diminishing in the evening. Greater confidence in MVFR CIGs returning early this evening to coastal adjacent valleys and spreading inland across most valleys overnight as the marine layer deepens.
Vicinity of SFO, MVFR. Medium to high confidence of VFR conditions returning by early afternoon with onshore winds also increasing. MVFR CIGs are forecast to return this evening and persist through Sunday morning before clearing occurs early afternoon. There is less than a 20% probability for IFR CIGS early Sunday morning. Onshore winds will once again increase Sunday afternoon.
SFO Bridge Approach, May see an earlier clearing across the approach Sunday morning. Otherwise, similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, MVFR. Medium to high confidence for MRY to remain MVFR while SNS returns to VFR for a brief period this afternoon. Onshore winds will also increase before diminishing after sunset. MVFR CIGs are forecast to return early evening and persist through Sunday morning with a 20%-30% probability of IFR CIGs.
(today through Thursday) Issued at 1044 AM PDT Sat May 2 2026
A fresh to strong NW breeze will continue across the northern most outer waters through this afternoon, diminishing to moderate to fresh afterwards. Seas subside this afternoon and into Sunday as winds continue to diminish. Moderate seas and a gentle to moderate NW breeze prevail Sunday into the early work week.
Ca, Beach Hazards Statement through Sunday evening for CAZ006-505- 509-529-530.
PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT this afternoon for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
