Technical NOAA Weather Discussion

FXUS66 KMTR 012008
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
108 PM PDT Wed May 1 2024

...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM...

.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 107 PM PDT Wed May 1 2024

A ridge of high pressure will keep conditions mild to warm across 
the region throughout late week. Breezy onshore winds will keep 
temperatures cooler near the coast. Wet, unsettled conditions 
returning Friday night into Saturday, much cooler inland Saturday. 
Unseasonably cool daytime highs continuing into early next week then 
gradually warming by the middle of the week.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 107 PM PDT Wed May 1 2024

Dry weather conditions prevail tonight with temperatures falling 
into the mid-to-upper 40's to lower 50's regionwide. Only expecting 
low clouds near the Monterey Peninsula, if at all, as dry conditions 
remain aloft. By sunrise, any low clouds that do develop with 
quickly dissipate. 

Thursday will see stronger northerly winds out over the ocean, peaks 
near the coast, and inland higher terrain with gusts up to 45 mph 
(gale force out over the ocean). Temperatures will likely reach the 
60's near the coast with mid-to-upper 70's to near 80F inland. 
Again, clear sky conditions are expected to persist.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Thursday through Tuesday)
Issued at 133 AM PDT Wed May 1 2024

Dry Thursday and Friday, increasing clouds Friday night with rain
developing over the North Bay, rain spreading southeastward across
much of the rest of the forecast area Saturday. It'll turn noticeably
cooler especially inland Saturday with daytime highs Saturday 10F to
18F cooler inland compared to Friday's forecast highs.

In the last 12-24 hours global and mesoscale models are more in line
focusing on the arrival of a cold core low pressure system from the
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands arriving in northern California Friday
night and Saturday. The southeastward trajectory takes it across 
cooler than normal sea surface temperatures (negative phase PDO) 
at least somewhat minimizing maritime thermal modification along 
the way and for maintenance/development it'll travel through a long
wave trough on the West Coast. The low will brush by and tap higher
levels of water vapor extending far north of Hawaii, however the 
low is forecast to move through our forecast area retaining a strong
mid-latitude influence. Recent precipitable water values on the GFS
have been 1.00" to 1.10" for Saturday, not far from the max moving
average on Oakland upper air sounding climatology in early May. 
Model forecast rainfall amounts vary from 0.25" to 0.70" North 
Bay, 0.15"-0.25" low elevations to 0.40" hills/mountains elsewhere
across the Bay Area to around 0.10" interior north Central Coast 
to 0.33" Big Sur Coast. Wet and cooler weather Saturday, gusty 
northwest winds over the coast temporarily subsiding with the 
passage of a surface cold front/trough. Dry weather returns 
Sunday. The surface pressure pattern looks favorable for gusty 
northwest winds redeveloping over the coastal waters beginning 
next Tuesday. Daytime highs gradually warming by the middle of 
next week.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1056 AM PDT Wed May 1 2024

VFR will prevail with the main aviation weather concern revolving
around wind (gusts and non-convective LLWS). This afternoon, wind
gusts will range between 20 and 25 knots. Tonight, winds will 
subside down below 5 knots at the surface, with increased flow 
between 30 and 40 knots just above the surface at a couple of 
sites. At this time, the most likely terminals to be impacted by 
LLWS will be APC and LVK. Winds at STS are forecast to remain 
above 15 knots which should keep the LLWS potential low, however, 
turbulence is probable to transpire. The LLWS potential diminishes
by mid-morning Thursday.

Vicinity of SFO...Slightly variable wind flow (E to WNW) will 
continue over the next few hours. By 21Z, WNW winds will funnel in
from the San Bruno Gap and increase to near 15 knots with gusts 
to near 25 knots. Crosswind calculations suggest around a 20-25 
knot wind crosswind on SW to NE oriented runways which may result 
in some tricky approaches. Runways should reamin usable. Winds 
abate after nightfall. VFR is forecast to prevail with some high 
cirrus around FL250. Thursday afternoon will feature additional NW
winds, though confidence low in model guidance thanks to 
conflicting messages. Overall, the background pattern suggest a 
gradual easing of the winds, but crosswind magnitudes near 25 
knots may still still result in some tricky approaches. There's a 
slim chance (<10%) that MVFR stratus may attempt to creep in on 
Friday morning, but that's just beyond the current TAF cycle. 
  
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR is also forecast to prevail here, 
though there's a very slim (5%) chance of MVFR cigs at MRY. 
Diurnal breezes are forecast through the period with gusts as 
great as 20 knots. Surface winds subside below 10 knots tonight. 
The greater wind magnitudes aloft (FL020) don't appear to warrant 
inclusion of LLWS in the TAFs at this time, but trends will be 
monitored.

&&

.MARINE...
(Today through Sunday)
Issued at 938 AM PDT Wed May 1 2024

Breezy and gusty winds continue throughout Friday, with gale 
force gusts of 40 to 45 knots possible in the outer waters. 
Strong winds will result in hazardous seas and steep wind waves 
with significant wave heights reaching 10 to 14 feet in the outer 
waters. Conditions gradually improve over the weekend and into 
next week as winds begin to ease. Rain chances begin early 
Saturday as a trough descends over the region. 

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM Thursday to 3 AM PDT Friday for 
     Mry Bay.

     Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-
     10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT this afternoon for Pt Reyes 
     to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

     Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pt Reyes to Pigeon 
     Pt 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt 
     Pinos 0-10 nm.

     Gale Warning until 3 PM PDT Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-
     60 NM.

     Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-
     60 NM.

&&

$$

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

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Wed May 1 14:30:03 PDT 2024
From the National Weather Service