Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Graphics & Text |  Print | Product List |  Glossary On
Versions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
603
FXUS66 KMTR 220913
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
213 AM PDT Wed May 22 2024

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 1237 PM PDT Tue May 21 2024

Summer-like pattern to persist through Thursday. Temperatures are
forecast to dip below seasonal averages by the upcoming weekend
as an upper level trough impacts the region.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 212 AM PDT Wed May 22 2024

Stratus is slowly creeping its way up along the coast from Monterey
Bay through Half Moon Bay. An otter eddy has developed over the
Monterey Bay with stratus cycling cyclonically over the bay. Stratus
coverage is expected to fill in and become more widespread over the
Monterey Bay by the early morning hours. Morning lows will be
slightly cooler than yesterday with more widespread low temperatures
in the upper 40s to mid 50s. High temperatures today will be 3 to 5
degrees cooler than observed yesterday with inland highs in the
upper 70s to low 80s and coastal highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.
Increasingly onshore flow along the coast will help to bring in
moister, cooler air and begin a weak cooling trend. Minor heat risk
continues today and tomorrow for most of the interior Bay Area and
interior portions of the Central Coast. For those who are extremely
sensitive to heat, remember to take breaks while outdoors and to
drink plenty of water.

Broad upper level troughing continues through Thursday with weak
upper level offshore flow contributing to drier conditions inland.
Minimum relative humidity values on Wednesday will be slightly
higher than yesterday as stronger onshore flow along the coast will
bring in increased moisture. Inland daytime RH values will rise by
at least 10% with values ranging from 30 to 45 percent expected. The
driest conditions (daytime RH values around 30%) are collocated with
decent upper level offshore flow over the North and East Bay
Mountains. Along the coast, stronger onshore flow will keep daytime
RH values ranging from the mid 60s to low 80s with moister
conditions extending farther northward today.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 212 AM PDT Wed May 22 2024

A weak cooling trend continues through Thursday before a more
significant temperature drop begins Friday as stronger upper level
troughing dips southward and a weak surface low pressure system
moves inland. High temperatures on Friday and Saturday will be 5 to
15 degrees below average. Inland areas will see highs extending from
the low 60s to low 70s while coastal areas see highs in the mid 50s
to low 60s. Ensemble guidance continues to indicate that light, non-
impactful precipitation is possible with this system but values
continue to be less than a tenth of an inch. Precipitation chances
remain low overall but the most likely scenario suggests light
drizzle along the coast and maybe a trace of rain inland. Stratus
coverage is expected to become more widespread beginning over the
weekend as this system moves through and increased onshore flow
develops. This will follow a typical "May Gray" pattern where
gloomier, overcast conditions are expected throughout the morning
before overcast conditions clear out mid to late morning.

While below average temperatures are expected to continue through
the end of the month, a weak warming trend will begin Sunday as
upper level ridging builds over the West Coast. Temperatures will be
slightly below average to seasonal with inland regions warming back
into the 70s and low 80s and coastal regions continuing to linger in
the upper 50s to mid 60s.


&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1043 PM PDT Tue May 21 2024

VFR through the TAF Period for all but the Monterey Bay, where
periodic IFR/MVFR ceilings initially will become more prevalent
later tonight into late Wednesday morning. Expect winds to become
light to moderate overnight for most areas. Moderate winds build
into Wednesday afternoon, with gusty winds expected along the
immediate coast, in portions of the North Bay, and around the SF
Bay.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR through the TAF period. Expect moderate west
winds overnight. Gusty westerly winds arrive Wednesday afternoon
with peak gusts around 26 kts. These winds reduce into the early
night, but stay moderate.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO

Monterey Bay Terminals...Periodic IFR/MVFR ceilings early will
become more prevalent later tonight into late Wednesday morning.
Expect light winds overnight with more moderate westerly winds
arriving Wednesday afternoon and lasting into the night.

&&

.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Monday)
Issued at 853 PM PDT Tue May 21 2024

The strong and gusty northwest winds continue over the coastal
waters through the mid week, with gale force gusts across the
outer waters. Expect hazardous conditions and steeper wind waves
with these strong winds. The pattern changes and winds are
expected to reduce into the late week

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this
     evening for Mry Bay.

     Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT this morning for Pigeon Pt
     to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

     Gale Warning from 9 AM this morning to 3 AM PDT Thursday for
     Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pt Reyes to
     Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM this morning to 3 AM PDT Thursday
     for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras
     Blancas 0-10 nm.

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

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Kennedy
LONG TERM....Kennedy
AVIATION...SPM
MARINE...Murdock

Visit us at www.weather.gov/sanfrancisco

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/nwsbayarea
www.twitter.com/nwsbayarea
www.youtube.com/nwsbayarea