, Issued at 1206 PM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026 (This evening through Saturday night)
Stratus has cleared to the coast and out over the Pacific this afternoon. As such, temperatures are forecast to reach the 60s to lower 70s in the west/northwest facing locations near the coast, 70s to lower 80s across the bayshore and Santa Cruz region, 80s to lower 90s across the interior, and mid-to-upper 90s across the warmest spots in the interior Central Coast.
For tonight into Saturday morning, the marine layer is forecast to compress slightly to around 1,000 feet as high pressure over the Desert Southwest continues to strengthen. However, stronger winds above the marine layer will mix down and make for a difficult cloud cover forecast. That said, look for similar conditions as this morning with less of an inland extend into the interior valleys tonight. Patchy fog is also likely along the coast, in the Russian River Valley, and into Santa Rosa/Petaluma region. Looking like a rinse and repeat for Saturday and Saturday night.
..issued at 1206 PM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026 (Sunday through next Thursday)
The ridge over the Southwest is forecast to strengthen into early next week as the trough off of the Pacific Northwest coast weakens slightly. This will keep a shallow marine layer in place while also allowing for a slight warming trend across the interior into early next week. The ridge over the Southwest looks to expand westward into southern California allowing for additional warming across the interior mid-to-late next week. Given the shallow marine layer forecast to remain intact, expecting typical ebb and flow of stratus returning to the coast late in the evening and into the valleys overnight. Stratus will retreat to the coast by mid-to-late morning each day. There is the potential by late next week to see more widespread Moderate HeatRisk across the interior.
(18z TAFS) Issued at 1037 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026
Outside of HAF, VFR is anticipated to prevail this afternoon at all terminals. Stratus continues to erode even across the San Mateo peninsula and there's some confidence that cigs will lift at HAF. Satellite imagery indicates a disorganized marine layer and this increases the degree of uncertainty with regard to the return of stratus tonight into Saturday morning. Confidence is highest that LVK, SJC, and APC. Local effects along the Russian River Valley should support the development of IFR ceilings/visibility at STS, though the duration may be shorter than the previous night. Stratus should develop along the immediate Pacific Coast between 00Z-03Z with HAF having the greatest potential for MVFR and IFR ceilings. The wind field should support MVFR to IFR ceilings at OAK, but confidence is low to medium. If the marine layer struggles to develop, VFR may prevail through the entire TAF period. Otherwise, onshore breezes will increase this afternoon, with gusts of 20-25 knots, especially HAF, APC, and OAK.
Vicinity of SFO, Clouds will continue to scatter this afternoon, with VFR and winds elevating to near 20 knots. Peak wind gusts are advertised to approach 30 knots, with a reasonable worst case scenario gust forecast of 32-35 knots. Confidence in the ceiling forecast is low, and it's possible that VFR may prevail through the entire TAF set. This seems a little too optimistic, however, and there's enough indication that some stratus will push through the San Bruno Gap and impact the terminal near or just after sunrise Saturday (though it may be intermittent). The latest TAF set has pushed the onset time for MVFR back by a few hours. Depending on when coastal stratus develops, additional refinements to timing are likely. Winds will rebuild through the day on Saturday, but peak magnitudes are expected to be closer to 25 knots.
SFO Bridge Approach, The potential to remain VFR with just a few clouds is higher compared to SFO. Otherwise, conditions will be similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals, VFR currently with a delay in the return of MVFR and IFR ceilings tonight. Ceiling onset has been pushed back as there's indication that coastal stratus may be slower to re-develop. There's low confidence in the onset time of MVFR stratus at MRY. While MVFR stratus may arrive prior to 07Z, it is anticipated to be intermittent. There's around a 60% chance for cigs to lower into the IFR category at MRY. The potential for IFR farther east drops down to under 50% at SNS and at this time MVFR, should it transpire, is anticipated to be the predominant flight category. VFR should make a return prior to the end of the current valid TAF set, but trends will be monitored. Otherwise, largely typical onshore breezes are forecast with speeds between 8 and 12 knots.
(today through Wednesday) Issued at 1037 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026
Moderate to fresh northwest breezes with strong to near gale-foce gusts will continue through the weekend. Moderate wind driven seas will also prevail, resulting in potentially hazardous boating conditions, even across the portions of SF and Monterey Bays. Long period southerly swell from tropical cyclone activity will arrive tonight and persist into the beginning of next week.
Issued at 830 AM PDT Fri Jul 24 2026
Hurricane Fausto in the tropical Eastern Pacific will generate a long period southwesterly swell which is forecast to reach the coastline of the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast this weekend. As such, sneaker waves and strong rip currents are the primary concerns. However, breaking waves can reach up to 10 feet along some south and southwest facing beaches and break points (like Santa Cruz, Pacifica, and parts of Stinson or Ocean Beach). Sneaker waves can have 20+ minutes in between the larger sets (breaking waves) with significant "flat/calm looking" times between them. This can potentially catch beachgoers by surprise and resulting in people being swept into the cold water; hence the name "sneaker". 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! A Beach Hazards Statement is in effect from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon for all beaches along the Pacific Coast.
RGass
Ca, Beach Hazards Statement from Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.
PZ, Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay.
Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 9 PM PDT Saturday for Mry Bay.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.
