Swell Matrix

Area Forecast Discussion

National Weather Service San Francisco CA

409 pm PDT Wed Oct 14 2026

Short Term

, Issued at 219 PM PDT Wed Oct 14 2026 (This evening through Thursday night)

Weak offshore flow today offers little to see on satellite with bright sunny skies area wide. Offshore ridging over the EPAC is helping to lift temperatures to near normal for most locations today. We're seeing breezy winds across higher elevations, that have peaked between 20-25 MPH so far this afternoon. We're not expecting winds to exceed those speeds for the remainder of the day. While we don't have a a FWW or RFW out, we are messaging elevated fire weather concerns across our area, especially where the gustiest winds are at higher elevation locations in the North Bay and East Bay Hills due to critically dry fuels today and through the remainder of the week. Expect another night of clear skies as offshore erodes any marine layer influence overnight. Radiational cooling with the clear skies will result in some cool spots in interior valley locations, while at higher elevations we'll see warmer spots from thermal belting above 1000ft.

Long Term

..issued at 219 PM PDT Wed Oct 14 2026 (Friday through next Tuesday)

Elevated to near critical fire concerns continue through the remainder of the week into the beginning of the weekend on Saturday with similar warm, dry and windy conditions especially at higher elevations. The offshore flow, thermal belting and warmer daytime temperatures will result in continued poor overnight recovery and even worse daytime retention through Saturday across the interior. By Sunday, a notable pattern change will shift us back to widespread onshore flow, while a cold front drops temperatures considerably by Sunday afternoon into the beginning of next week. The trough associated with the pattern change will also bring increasing chances for scattered light rain beginning later Monday into Tuesday. The position of the upper level low dropping out of the Gulf of Alaska will determine where the most rain falls, currently focused primarily on the Central Coast with less than a 0.25" between late Monday and Wednesday expected at most.

Aviation

(00z TAFS) Issued at 409 PM PDT Wed Oct 14 2026

Generally VFR conditions prevail through the TAF period, with some high resolution models depicting patchy coastal stratus developing tonight. Low confidence in model output that shows HAF getting fog and low stratus tonight. If it does happen, the most likely period for development would be 03-07Z before offshore winds mix out the lower layers. Gentle to moderate onshore winds will continue through the evening hours, with light winds overnight before a moderate offshore push in the interior Thursday morning, balanced by a gentle onshore flow developing in the afternoon.

Vicinity of SFO, VFR at the terminal through the TAF period. Moderate northwest winds continue into the evening hours, with light winds overnight turning offshore Thursday morning before moderate northwest flow resumes in the afternoon.

SFO Bridge Approach, Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals, Moderate to high confidence of VFR through the TAF period. Gentle to moderate northwest winds persist into the evening hours, with light to gentle offshore winds overnight before the moderate northwest flow resumes Thursday afternoon.

Marine

(tonight through next Monday) Issued at 409 PM PDT Wed Oct 14 2026

Seas will continue to subside through the night with moderate seas expected for the offshore zones through the week while nearshore waters observe moderate to slight seas. During this time frame gentle to fresh northerly breezes persist. Moderate to fresh northerly winds return for the weekend, which should lead to building seas.

Watches, Warnings, Advisories

Ca, None. PZ, None.

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