Technical NOAA Weather Discussion

FXUS66 KMTR 040439
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
939 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

...New AVIATION, MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1004 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026

 - Cooler temperatures through Tuesday with a chance for drizzle 
   and light rain, mainly along the coast and the North Bay

 - Warmer and drier conditions return for the middle of the week

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1004 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026
(This afternoon through Monday)

It's a cloudy morning across the Bay Area and Central Coast with the 
stratus deck extending far inland, with a strong upper level low 
moving over the region allowing for remarkable expansion of the 
marine layer, to the point where it no longer makes sense to talk 
about a marine layer depth. KMUX radar returns are also showing 
light rain showers and drizzle across the San Mateo Peninsula, parts 
of Santa Clara County, and the Monterey Bay region, with the 
potential for additional drizzle where the radar beam is 
overshooting the low level processes, such as the North Bay and 
southern Monterey County. Drizzle chances diminish after around 1 
PM, and some breaks in the clouds may develop across the inland 
regions this afternoon, but this is a lower confidence forecast. 
Have decreased the high temperature forecast across the region in 
light of the potential for continued cloudiness through the day. 
Highs in the lower to middle 60s are expected in the Bay Area 
interior valleys, the lower to middle 70s in the southern Salinas 
Valley, and the middle 50s to lower 60s along the coast and Bays. 
Conditions are broadly similar on Monday as the upper level low 
moves over the state, with additional cooling expected in the 
southern parts of Monterey County as highs reach the middle to upper 
60s.

A Beach Hazards Statement remains in effect through 11 PM this 
evening due to long period northwesterly swell, an increasing risk 
of sneaker waves and strong rip currents. See the BEACHES section 
for more information.

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 1004 AM PDT Sun May 3 2026
(Monday night through next Saturday)

The upper level low continues to move across California through 
Tuesday, resulting in a continuation of the cool temperatures, 
extensive stratus decks, and a slight chance for light rain and 
drizzle across the region, but mainly at the coast and within 
topographically favored locations. The latest model output shows the 
low descending into southern California, allowing for a band of 
moisture to wrap around the low and bring some wetting rains to the 
North Bay Monday night into Tuesday morning. The current forecast 
shows rain totals of up to a quarter of an inch in the interior 
regions of the North Bay with totals a few hundredths of an inch 
closer to the coast and extending into the Bay Area. Of note, high 
resolution model output continues to show the possibility of higher 
rain totals, up to around half an inch in the North Bay, which might 
be possible if there are some particularly strong showers across the 
rain band. Flooding concerns remain minimal and focused on areas of 
exceptionally poor drainage or where drainage pipes are blocked or 
clogged. 

By Wednesday, the upper level low moves into the Great Basin and 
southern Rockies with ridging building back behind it, leading to a 
warming and drying trend in the region with highs rising to the 70s 
and 80s inland. The CPC extended outlook shows that temperatures 
above the seasonal averages are likely to persist through the middle 
of May, while precipitation totals lean below the seasonal average. 
For context, the seasonal average high in downtown San Francisco is 
around 64 degrees, while the seasonal average precipitation total 
for the May 10 to 16 period, as covered in the CPC 8-14 day outlook, 
falls a shade under two tenths of an inch for the same station.

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 933 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

Not much of a discernible marine layer per se, but definitely a 
SCT to BKN cloud deck forming over the nearby terrain with some 
impacts to terminals. Tonight through early Monday will keep 
mainly VFR CIGs with heights in the 3000-5000 ft range. Tomorrow 
is a tricky day as moisture to the east streams west increasing 
chc for precip and lower CIGs. Precip initially likely over the N
Bay and then spreading S to SF Bay. Farther south than that is 
outside of the TAF period. Overall conf is medium.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR CIGs looking more likely through much of
Monday. Late Monday into Tuesday precip chc increase with MVFR
CIGs.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...MVFR CIGs slowly developing around the
peninsula. Will have a better shot filling later in the night.   

&&

.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Saturday)
Issued at 933 PM PDT Sun May 3 2026

Light to gentle breezes over the waters as a weak disturbance
moves through the region. The longer period swell that arrive
Sunday will continue to diminish through Monday. Northerly winds
and seas will begin to increase Thursday and into next weekend.

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Beach Hazards Statement until 11 PM PDT this evening for CAZ006-
     505-509-529-530.

PZ...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...DialH
LONG TERM....DialH
AVIATION...MM
MARINE...MM

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Sun May 3 22:30:03 PDT 2026
From the National Weather Service