548 FXUS66 KMTR 122014 AFDMTRArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Francisco CA 114 PM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025
...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...
.KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 112 PM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025
- Drier and slightly warmer weather today and Saturday.
- Much warmer conditions early next week with inland Moderate HeatRisk possible.
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.SHORT TERM... Issued at 112 PM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025 (This evening through Saturday)
Stratus lingers across the coastal regions, with the inland areas mostly clear save some fair weather cumulus on the ridgelines of the interior mountains. The upper level low that brought us the cooler temperatures and showers has started to move off to the east, behind which a narrow but stout ridge is building into the West Coast. This is resulting in a warming and drying trend through the weekend, with high temperatures today ranging from the upper 70s to the middle 80s, up to the upper 80s to the lower 90s in the warmest spots, the lower to middle 70s near the Bays, and the middle to upper 60s at the Pacific coast. Stratus will expand inland overnight, before retreating to the coast again on Saturday morning. Highs on Saturday will be similar to today`s.
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.LONG TERM... Issued at 112 PM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025 (Saturday night through next Thursday)
The ridge erodes on Sunday with the passing of an upper level trough across the Pacific Northwest, but any cooling effects will be limited to a couple degrees across the far northern reaches of Sonoma and Napa County, and there is no rainfall in the forecast. Ridging returns to the western US on Monday, with highs reaching the upper 80s to the middle 90s inland. Close to the Bays and the coast, the temperatures remain rather uncertain, dependent on the strength of any offshore flow that develops in the region. The current forecast for Tuesday, currently expected to be the warmest day of the next week, has high temperatures reaching the middle 70s to the middle 80s near the Bays, and the upper 60s to lower 70s along the Pacific coast. Strong offshore flow can easily add 5 degrees or more to those readings. Moderate HeatRisk is possible across the inland valleys into the middle of next week, meaning that a moderate risk for heat-related illnesses exists for vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with certain chronic illnesses, and people working or living outdoors without adequate shelter or hydration.
From the previous forecaster: Next Thursday and beyond get pretty interesting on the long range forecast. Kind of fantasy land at this point, but there are signs we`ll need to watch for another round of tropical/monsoonal moisture surge. It`s too early for details, but longer range global ensembles/cluster show transport flow that would bring decaying tropical system moisture with a hint of monsoonal. GFS model for instance handled the early September lightning event better than others. It`s fantasy land picture for the 19-20th of Sept shows showers and thunderstorms over Central California. At this point, it worth keeping and eye on. Timing would be bad from a fire weather stand point as warmer weather develops over the weekend and peaks early next week.
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.AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1052 AM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025
A mix of IFR/MVFR conditions this morning with a moderate to high probability of VFR expected to return to the Bay Area terminals by this afternoon. Lower confidence for the Monterey Bay terminals where MVFR ceilings have a moderate (30-60%) probability of lingering through much of the day, however still expected a few hours of VFR conditions to return in the current TAFs. Onshore winds increase this afternoon and ease late this evening and more so into Saturday morning. Moderate to high confidence for IFR/MVFR late this afternoon or early evening across the Monterey Bay terminals and MVFR returning late this evening for the Bay Area terminals. Ceilings potentially lower to LIFR around the Monterey Bay terminals and IFR for the Bay Area Terminals early Saturday morning before lifting by Saturday afternoon. Onshore winds increase once again Saturday afternoon.
Vicinity of SFO...MVFR/VFR ceilings currently with a high confidence of improving to VFR by late morning or early afternoon. Onshore winds increase this afternoon and begin to ease into Saturday morning. Moderate to high confidence for an early return to MVFR late this evening, potentially (lower confidence) lowering to IFR early Saturday morning. Ceilings will then lift mid-to-late morning across the region, however moderate confidence for MVFR to linger through 21Z Saturday or potentially longer.
SFO Bridge Approach...MVFR ceilings forecast return later tonight (generally around or after 06Z) and clear sooner Saturday morning (between 18Z-20Z). Otherwise, similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...There is moderate confidence (30-60%) for MVFR ceilings to persist through much of the day today (especially at MRY), however still expected a few hours of VFR conditions to return in the current TAFs. Onshore winds increase this afternoon and diminish after sunset. High confidence for an early return late this afternoon of IFR/MVFR ceilings with a low to moderate potential for LIFR ceilings early Saturday morning.
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.MARINE... (Today through Wednesday) Issued at 824 AM PDT Fri Sep 12 2025
Breezy NW winds and fresh gusts are expected today with locally stronger gusts possible across the northern outer waters and along the Big Sur coastline. Rough seas persist across the outer waters while more moderate seas persist across the inner waters. Winds decrease Saturday as fresh to strong gusts become more localized across the southern coastal waters. Another round of widespread fresh to strong NW winds begins Sunday into next week with the strongest winds located across the far northern outer waters.
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.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay- Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Saturday for Mry Bay- Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Saturday to 3 AM PDT Sunday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Saturday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
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SHORT TERM...DialH LONG TERM....DialH AVIATION...RGass MARINE...RGass
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