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

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918
FXUS66 KMTR 030516
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
916 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

...New UPDATE, MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 121 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

 - A series of troughs will bring cooler weather and cloudier
   skies through Wednesday

 - Strong winds expected along the coast and higher terrain
   Wednesday through Friday

 - Offshore winds will bring warmer and drier weather into the
   weekend

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 901 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

Forecast remains on track tonight with overnight lows expected to
be primarily in the 40s except for some higher elevation areas in
the East Bay Hills and southern Monterey County and San Benito
County where temps will drop into the upper 30s. Patchy fog may
also develop in the North Bay valleys and portions of the South
Bay. Tomorrow offers a subtle increase of a couple of degrees from
todays highs, before dropping slightly through the middle of the
week. A steady fetch of offshore flow develops late this week and
will provide sunny skies and warm temperatures all weekend long,
be excited if you have outdoor plans.


&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 121 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026
(This evening through Tuesday)

Mostly to party cloudy sky conditions are being observed this
afternoon in wake of the exiting mid/upper level trough that brought
light precipitation to the region. Maximum temperatures are forecast
to be in the low-to-mid 60s (isolated spots across the interior
Central Coast may reach the lower 70s). Overnight, expecting low
clouds to return to much of the region and spread inland into early
Tuesday morning.

By Tuesday afternoon, temperatures will warm slightly (by a few
degrees or so) as a weak shortwave ridge returns to the region.
However, temperatures look to remain around or slightly
above seasonal averages.

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 121 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026
(Tuesday night through next Sunday)

Another trough is forecast to move across the region on Wednesday
morning, brining a slight chance of light rain to the North Bay.
However, the precipitable water values do not appear to be high
enough for widespread rainfall with the frontal passage. In wake of
the frontal passage, northwesterly winds will increase with gale
force gusts likely across the ocean, near the coast, and in the
higher terrain through Friday. Additionally, much drier conditions
are forecast through late week, driest in the higher elevations.

The mid/upper level pattern then shifts to more of an inside slider
type event bringing offshore flow to the region by Friday and
Saturday. This would bring offshore flow to the region with
temperatures warming into the low to mid 70s across much of the
region during this upcoming weekend. Please keep up to date with the
latest forecast information throughout the week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 419 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

It`s VFR under diurnal surface warming and boundary layer mixing
under a weak subsidence temperature inversion aloft. Post sunset
loss of daytime surface heating will lead to diminishing strato-cu
clouds over land. Onshore winds and the onset of radiative cooling
will then bring increasing maritime low clouds /IFR-MVFR/ to the
coastline and partially inland tonight and Tuesday morning. Low
clouds will mix out by late Tuesday morning and early afternoon
for a return to VFR.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR continues through early-mid evening due to
plenty of mixing in the boundary layer. Then there`s an increasing
probability of low clouds /MVFR/ developing tonight/early Tuesday
with tempo 09z-12z then prevailing MVFR until 19z Tuesday. VFR
Tuesday afternoon and evening. West wind 5 to 15 knots, strongest
in the afternoon to mid evening hours.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR continues through early to possibly
mid evening, then increasing probability of low clouds /MVFR/
tonight and Tuesday morning. VFR by late morning Tuesday. Onshore
winds 10 knots diminishing and becoming light southeasterly tonight
and Tuesday morning. Onshore winds redevelop Tuesday afternoon.

&&

.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Sunday)
Issued at 901 PM PST Mon Mar 2 2026

Northwest winds will increase to a moderate to fresh breeze on
Tuesday. Conditions will continue to deteriorate Wednesday through
Friday with strong to gale force north winds developing across
the waters. These winds will build very rough seas of 12 to 15
feet across exposed waters.

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Tuesday to 9 PM PST Wednesday for
     Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60
     NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60
     NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

     Gale Watch from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning for
     Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60
     NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Tuesday for Pt Pinos to Pt
     Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Tuesday to 3 PM PST Wednesday for
     Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

     Gale Watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning for
     Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...RGass
LONG TERM....RGass
AVIATION...Canepa
MARINE...DialH

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