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

Current Version |  Previous Version |  Text Only |  Print | Product List |  Glossary Off
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
-- Highlight Changed Discussion --
-- Discussion containing changed information from previous version are highlighted. --
757 FXUS66 KMTR 221038 AFDMTR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Francisco CA 338 AM PDT Sun Sep 22 2024 ...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .SYNOPSIS...
-- Changed Discussion --
Issued at 337 AM PDT Sun Sep 22 2024 Temperatures will continue to warm this afternoon, with highs in the low 90s inland across the North Bay, East Bay and higher elevations above the marine layer extending south into Monterey County and San Benito County. The heat builds further Monday and Tuesday, with areas of moderate HeatRisk possible for inland locations not under the influence of the marine layer.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .SHORT TERM...
-- Changed Discussion --
(Today and tonight) Issued at 337 AM PDT Sun Sep 22 2024 Low level ridging below a slow developing upper level weakness in the H50 height fields will result in warmer temperatures today and then climb even higher tomorrow to start the work week with moderate HeatRisk possible for inland locations away from the marine layer. Deterministic guidance has consistently advertised the weakly forced upper level disturbance, though the exact location and evolution over the next couple days has been difficult to pin down. It has likely limited the impacts of the heat somewhat over the next few days, but highs on Monday will still be in the mid 90s to near 100 inland across the North, South and East Bay, also farther south into Monterey County above the marine layer and San Benito County.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .LONG TERM...
-- Changed Discussion --
(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 337 AM PDT Sun Sep 22 2024 The potential for moderate HeatRisk will extend into Tuesday under a stagnant airmass between a developing upper low offshore to our west and building ridge over the Intermountain West. By Wednesday, the offshore upper low merges with a strengthening trough over the Pacific Northwest. The upper troughing to our north will spread cooler temperatures aloft over our region, resulting in lower surface temperatures closer to normal for this time of year for Wednesday and beyond, while another upper level disturbance develops offshore of SOCAL and remains quasi-stationary into next weekend.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1111 PM PDT Sat Sep 21 2024 The marine layer depth currently varies from 900 feet to 1700 feet per Bodega Bay, Fort Ord and Point Sur profilers. Coastal stratus and fog /LIFR-IFR/ are redeveloping and will move inland tonight and Sunday morning. Northerly and southerly pressure gradients (and corresponding wind directions) juxtaposed over the coastal waters within a stationary surface trough have eased since earlier in the day; gradients were under-forecast by the meso-scale models and with plenty of stratus/fog to our southeast along the CA coast the SMX-SFO pressure gradient may continue Sunday. Currently the 2.7 mb SFO-SAC pressure gradient (onshore wind) is the predominating gradient across the forecast area. Precipitable water on the Saturday evening Oakland upper air sounding was a little above mid September normal, however there still should be decent radiative cooling tonight to daybreak Sunday helping with stratus and fog development (favorable due to lengthening night time hours). Stratus and fog /VLIFR-IFR/ mixes out back to the coastline and bays late Sunday morning and afternoon. Elsewhere MVFR-VFR conditions Sunday. Vicinity of SFO...VFR except IFR ceiling is forecast 09z 18z Sunday. Onshore wind 5 to 15 knots. SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO. Monterey Bay Terminals...LIFR-IFR in stratus and fog tonight and Sunday morning, conditions improving to MVFR-VFR by late Sunday morning and early afternoon. Light and variable winds tonight and Sunday morning becoming onshore 5 to 15 knots by late morning and afternoon. && .MARINE... (Tonight through next Friday) Issued at 844 PM PDT Sat Sep 21 2024 The pressure gradient between subtropical high pressure over the Eastern Pacific Ocean and low pressure over the West Coast will support strong northwesterly breezes and rough seas in the outer waters through Monday. Northwesterly breezes decrease and seas abate beginning Tuesday. Seas rebuild to become rough in the outer waters towards the end of the forecast period. && .MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
-- Changed Discussion --
CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
-- End Changed Discussion --
&& $$ SHORT TERM...JM LONG TERM....JM AVIATION...Canepa 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