Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Issued by NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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337 FXUS66 KMTR 151620 AFDMTR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Francisco CA 920 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 ...New UPDATE, MARINE... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 203 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Gusty winds and cooler temperatures today as a potent upper low digs into the west coast. Below normal temperatures last through mid week with a second upper low moving in. Gradual warmup into next weekend. && .UPDATE... Issued at 911 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Widespread stratus continues across the inland valleys, with the colder temperatures and deeper marine layers slowing the dissipation of the stratus, perhaps sometime in the afternoon if at all. The cold front is making its way through the SF Bay Area, with gusty winds already observed and continuing to build through the day. A few hundredths of an inch of drizzle have already fallen in terrain-favored locations in the Bay Area. More rain is expected through Monday morning. For more information, see the previous discussion. DialH && .SHORT TERM... (Today and Monday) Issued at 203 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Hints of the approaching system beginning to show up this morning in the form of gusty winds and very light, isolated showers. As of writing, the initial cold front is located over Mendocino county, and will continue to move southward through the Bay Area by about midday today. There is some evidence of light showers with rain making it to the ground as some Alert CA cams in Mendocino county show a few drops on the lenses. Current thinking for rainfall across the Bay Area hasn`t changed much. Still on the order of a few hundredths to a tenth or so for those that are lucky enough to see rain (generally coastal and terrain enhanced areas). Winds will continue to increase through the day today, and should peak by late tonight/early Monday morning as the trough axis swings inland. Most areas will likely see gusty winds to an extent through this afternoon and evening, but the strongest winds will be in the favored NW flow coastal areas (e.g. Sonoma coast, Golden Gate, and Santa Cruz Co coast west of Capitola) and NW/SE oriented valleys and gaps (e.g. Salinas Valley, East Bay Valleys, and the San Bruno Gap near SFO). Will other locations generally see 25-30 mph winds, these favored areas have to potential to see 35-40 mph, with occasional gusts of 45-50 mph. We are holding off on a Wind Advisory on this shift since we will only touch the lower criteria in a few isolated areas for a relatively short period of time. Winds begin to diminish early Monday morning, and will give way to what should be a very pleasant, cool day across much of the region with highs ranging from the upper 50s to mid-70s. && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through Saturday) Issued at 203 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 By midweek, we could be looking at a deja vu situation, but with slightly less wind. Another cold-core system is poised to slide down the west coast and basically follow in the footsteps of the system that is moving in today (as far as we`re concerned for our region). A bit less dynamic in the upper levels, we wouldn`t expect as much wind from the midweek system, but we do have another shot for some light rainfall Wednesday. Still nothing astonishing as far as rainfall totals go. Perhaps a few hundredths here and there. Nevertheless, great for putting a slight damper on our local fire season. After the Wednesday system departs, the pattern begins a swing back towards slight ridging with temperatures increasing to around normal by the weekend. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 359 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Stratus has filled into most terminals this morning, bringing a spread of IFR and MVFR CIGs. However, as a low pressure system approaches, expecting most CIGs to raise to become MVFR given the ample lifting factor. SF Bay and Monterey Bay terminals are likely to see MVFR CIGs persist throughout the TAF period given ample onshore flow and strengthened winds as the gradient tightens. Winds will be predominantly W/NW and moderate and gusty for most terminals today. These stronger winds will persist through the late night, and will be slow to diminish into Monday morning. Light rain chances begin to arrive towards the end of the TAF period for select terminals. Vicinity of SFO...Currently IFR CIGs, but expected to become MVFR CIGs within the next hour or two. Winds are beginning to strengthen out of the west and will continue to do so throughout the day today, becoming strong and gusty in the afternoon with gusts reaching 35+ kts. Stratus and MVFR CIGs are thought to last through much of the day given the strengthened onshore flow. Moderate confidence on MVFR CIGs lasting through the day. It is not until the extended portion of the TAF that winds begin to decrease below 10 knots. SFO Bridge Approach...Low coastal clouds are likely to filter into the SF Bay overnight bringing low CIGs. Monterey Bay Terminals...IFR CIGs will continue to lift through the morning to eventually become MVFR. MVFR conditions are expected to last throughout the remainder of the TAF period with moderate-high confidence. Moderate confidence is only because there is some chance that CIGs could lower early Monday morning to become borderline IFR. However, highest confidence is currently in CIGs maintaining MVFR status late this morning and beyond. Winds will strengthen through the late morning to become NW and gusty, lasting through the late night. Rain chances approach early Monday morning. && .MARINE... (Today through Friday) Issued at 911 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 Back to back early season cold fronts will move through the coastal waters today and Wednesday resulting in widespread strong northwesterly breezes with near gale force gusts. In addition, there is also up to a 10% chance for thunderstorms which could produce lightning, locally heavy rainfall, and locally stronger winds. Seas will remain rough outside of protected waters through the forecast period. && .MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Monday for Mry Bay-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge. Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm. Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm. Gale Warning until 3 PM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10- 60 NM. Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT Monday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM. && $$ SHORT TERM...Behringer LONG TERM....Behringer AVIATION...AC MARINE...Sarment 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