Technical NOAA Weather Discussion

FXUS66 KMTR 261930
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1230 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1220 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

 - Gusty onshore winds through Saturday with east-west mountain
   passes as high as 50+ mph. Winds increase for the waters this
   weekend, with marine impacts through early next week 

 - An upper trough brings cooler temperatures, moisture, and a
   deeper marine layer with AM drizzle Saturday

 - Beach hazards return Saturday morning through Wednesday morning
   for south and southwest facing beaches along the Pacific Coast

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1220 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026
(This evening through Saturday night)

Radar shows ongoing light rain showers across the far interior areas 
as a cold front moves down, associated with the larger upper level 
low propagating across the PacNW. With troughing firmly in place, a 
deeper marine layer allowed for some coastal drizzle this morning 
for a few spots, now currently mixing out. High clouds associated 
with this system continue to move into the region, helping to 
keep interior areas a bit cooler today. Along with these clouds, cooler
850 mb temps will usher in 10-15 degree below normal surface 
temperatures for both this afternoon and Saturday. As the low 
moves slightly southward today and tomorrow, a tighter gradient 
will allow for a significant uptick in onshore winds both days, 
with gusts 50+ mph through west-east passes and mountain 
peaks...20-40 mph wind gusts elsewhere. With better moisture in 
the lower levels, the marine layer on Saturday will remain 
sufficiently deep, and another round of drizzle/light rain 
(<0.05") is expected in the morning.

Winds will increase not only across inland areas, but also over the 
waters. Gusts up to 30-40 kt will be possible with seas of 8 to 10 
ft. Marine hazards are currently in effect through Sunday morning, 
please see the marine discussion for further information.

An uptick in long period southerly swell will result in a high risk 
of rip currents and sneaker waves. Never turn your back to the 
ocean! Beach hazards will be in effect this weekend and into 
much of next week, see the beaches discussion for more
information. 

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 1220 PM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026
(Sunday through next Thursday)

The aforementioned low will move up to Idaho/Montana beginning 
Sunday, but weak troughing will remain in place over California 
through at least the middle of next week as high pressure attempts 
to push in from the west. A very slow increase in heights will 
support the marine layer becoming more compressed each day, but 
could still make it relatively far inland with patchy fog for the 
coastal terrain through at least Tuesday. Temperatures will follow 
suit, slowly warming into the middle of the week, but generally 
should remain at or below normal through the forecast period. Model 
guidance has finally started to catch on to this cooler influence 
from the trough, but forecasted temperatures near the end of the 
period may still be a bit too high depending on how long it takes
for the ridge to push in. 

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1156 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Lower clouds are scattering and eroding for all but the immediate 
coast, while mid and high clouds continue to move through the area. 
Winds increase across the region build into the afternoon becoming 
breezy to gusty with mostly westerly wind directions. Winds reduce 
into the evening as IFR/MVFR CIGs move inland. Pockets of mist and 
drizzle look to affect visibilities along the coast and some 
slightly more inland areas. Breezier winds arrive into Saturday 
morning, scattering cloud cover from the north to the south. The 
North Bay looks to clear in the early morning, the SF Bay in the mid 
morning and the Monterey Day beyond the end of the TAF period. Gusty 
winds will build into that day as cloud cover erodes across the 
region.

Vicinity of SFO...MVFR CIGs last into the afternoon but scatter as 
breezy and gusty west winds arrive. Winds reduce into the evening 
MVFR CIGs return. Mist and drizzle look to affect the terminal in the 
late night, offering slight reductions in visibilities. Cloud cover 
lifts and scatters into the mid morning as breezy west winds arrive. 
Strong gusts build into that afternoon, peaking around 33 kts.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Cloud cover is clearing leading to VFR as 
breezy west winds arrive. Winds will reduce into the evening with 
MVFR CIGs building overland. CIGs fall to IFR overnight with some 
drizzle and mist affecting visibilities.

&&

.MARINE...
(Today through Wednesday)
Issued at 1156 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

Winds have reduced in the outer waters, but continue to be breezy
to gusty along the immediate coast. Winds across the waters will
reduce through the day but begin to strengthen again Saturday
afternoon. These strong winds and rough seas will result in
hazardous conditions for small craft across the waters at times
well into the work week. Expect gale force gusts to develop in the
northern outer waters and along coastal jet regions over the
weekend as well. Long period southwest swell will persist through
the extended forecast.

&&

.BEACHES...
Issued at 110 AM PDT Fri Jun 26 2026

A Beach Hazards Statement has been issued for the Pacific Coast 
Beaches from Saturday morning through Wednesday morning as long 
period southerly swell returns to the coast, creating an increased
risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, especially for 
south and southwest facing beaches. Hazardous beach conditions are
advertised, specifically for moderate to steeply sloped beaches 
along the Pacific Coast of the North Bay, San Mateo, Santa Cruz 
counties. Sneaker waves will run up the beach much farther than 
other waves, potentially catching beachgoers by surprise and 
resulting in people being swept into the water. Rip currents are 
strong enough to pull the strongest swimmers away from shore. Swim
near a lifeguard if possible. Stay back from the beach, and away 
from jetties, piers, beachside rocks, and other infrastructure 
near the water. Never turn your back to the ocean! 

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Beach Hazards Statement from late tonight through late Tuesday 
     night for CAZ006-505-509-529-530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Sunday for SF Bay N of Bay 
     Bridge.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Mry Bay.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for 
     Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 
     0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt 
     Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

     Gale Warning from 3 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Arena 
     to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos 
     to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Pt Reyes to 
     Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 3 PM PDT Saturday for Pt Arena 
     to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for 
     Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Zuber
LONG TERM....Zuber
AVIATION...Murdock 
MARINE...Murdock

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Fri Jun 26 14:30:03 PDT 2026
From the National Weather Service