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

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727 FXUS66 KMTR 211737 AFDMTR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Francisco CA 1037 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 ...New AVIATION, MARINE... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 1224 PM PDT Mon May 20 2024 Typical summer-like pattern to persist throughout the first half of the week. Temperatures are forecast to dip below seasonal averages by the upcoming weekend as an upper level trough impacts the region. && .UPDATE... Issued at 822 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 Clear skies over most of the region this morning with the exception of Monterey Bay and within the Salinas Valley. Satellite shows low stratus pretty socked in, but most of that will clear out by late morning. Get ready for some warm temperatures today! Forecast remains on track on expecting temperatures up to mid 80s inland. North Bay is already seeing around 3-4 temperatures higher compared to yesterday morning. If you plan to enjoy the warm temperatures, be sure to hydrate! SO && .SHORT TERM... (Today and tonight) Issued at 321 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 Similar to the past few days, stratus is confined to coastal regions with the highest concentrations in the Monterey Bay, portions of the Central Coast, and the Salinas Valley with dissipation expected by mid-morning. The main story for tomorrow continues to be the high temperatures and minor heat risk expected throughout the Bay Area and portions of the Central Coast. Temperatures are still expected to peak Tuesday before a slight cool down begins Wednesday. Inland high temperatures will be 5 to 8 degrees above average with increasingly northerly flow bringing drier and warmer conditions. Temperatures will range from the 70s to 80s inland with peak temperatures in the mid to upper 80s across the North Bay and portions of the East Bay. Along the coast, onshore flow continues which will keep high temperatures seasonal to slightly below average with highs ranging from the upper 50s to mid 60s. Minimum RH values will be between 15-35% inland with drier conditions extending closer to the coastline as offshore flow aloft continues. Areas directly adjacent to the will see minimum RH values between 50-75% with onshore flow increasing atmospheric moisture. Given Tuesday`s warmer and drier conditions, minor heat risk is expected for almost all of the Bay Area and Central Coast. People who are extremely sensitive to heat should take precautions while outdoors and remember to drink plenty of water. && .LONG TERM... (Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 321 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 Temperatures cool slightly Wednesday and Thursday before a more substantial cool down begins Friday into the weekend as upper level troughing moves into the Bay Area. High temperatures are expected to be on average 5 to 10 degrees below average next weekend with widespread highs in the mid 60s to low 70s inland. Coastal highs will range from the mid 50s to low 60s. Ensemble guidance is starting to agree that some light precipitation (generally less than 0.1") may occur as upper level troughing moves through next weekend. The Climate Prediction Center continues the trend of below average temperatures and slightly above average precipitation through the end of the month. To put this into context, May traditionally marks the beginning of the dry season for our region as the Pacific High shifts southward and deflects surface low pressure systems northwards of us. Most stations typically observe little to no precipitation from late May through August so any rainfall at all can be considered above average. To sum it up, any precipitation that does occur this weekend is expected be light and non-impactful but can be considered above average given that we typically see && .AVIATION...
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(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1020 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 Currently VFR at all terminals with stratus hugging the coastline from the San Francisco Peninsula down to Point Conception. Moderate- high confidence of VFR through the TAF period at all terminals with the exception of the Monterey Bay terminals of MRY and SNS. Vicinity of SFO...Currently VFR with offshore flow. VFR through the TAF period. Winds will transition to become breezy out of the west by this afternoon with gusts up to 25 knots to be expected. Confidence is moderate that the terminal will evade a ceiling; however, there will likely be low clouds in the FL010-FL030 range between 10Z and 16Z. Winds will become breezy out of the west again tomorrow afternoon with gusts up to 25 knots to be expected. SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO. Monterey Bay Terminals...Currently VFR with westerly flow at MRY and VFR with northerly flow at SNS. Moderate-high confidence that MVFR stratus will return to both terminals overnight, with lower confidence on if ceilings will dip into IFR territory. Winds will remain breezy through the TAF period and out of the west/southwest for MRY and out of the west/northwest for SNS.
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&& .MARINE...
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(Today through Sunday) Issued at 1020 AM PDT Tue May 21 2024 Building surface high pressure over the Eastern Pacific Ocean will continue to allow for strong northwesterly winds to prevail through Thursday, with gale force gusts across the outer coastal waters. Expect hazardous conditions and steeper wind waves during the week. Winds diminish heading into the weekend as surface high pressure over the Eastern Pacific Ocean weakens and retrogrades to the west.
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&& .MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Wednesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM PDT Wednesday for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 3 PM PDT Wednesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm. Gale Warning until 3 PM PDT Wednesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM. Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM. && $$ SHORT TERM...Kennedy LONG TERM....Kennedy AVIATION...Sarment 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