Technical NOAA Weather Discussion

FXUS66 KMTR 161747
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1047 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025

...New AVIATION, MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 412 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025

 - Dense Fog Advisory for portions of the Central Coast until 10AM

 - Above normal temperatures with Moderate HeatRisk persists today
   and Wednesday

 - Isolated to scattered thunderstorms possible Thursday into 
   early Friday

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 412 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025
(Today and tonight)

Areas of dense fog have developed overnight from the San Francisco 
Peninsula Coast south through Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, the Salinas 
Valley and the Big Sur Coastline, with a Dense Fog Advisory out 
until 10am. Otherwise we're looking at another day with temperatures 
well above normal and widespread moderate HeatRisk, expect daytime 
highs today to be slightly higher than yesterday. Remember to remain 
hydrated with plenty of water and electrolytes, limit time outdoors 
during peak heating if possible, and never leave children or pets 
unattended in vehicles.

Keeping with the warm trend, overnight lows into Wednesday morning 
will continue to be above normal as well, with some elevated areas 
in the Bay Area, East Bay Hills, Diablo Range, and Santa Lucias 
remaining in the 70s with poor RH recovery.

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 412 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025
(Wednesday through Monday)

Wednesday will be the last day of the three day heat wave, with 
temperatures similar to todays highs and widespread Moderate 
HeatRisk. A pattern shift for Thursday and Friday into the weekend 
will continue to bring cooler temperatures, rainfall chances and 
elevated thunderstorm chances. However, there has been a not so 
subtle shift in guidance across the board in the most recent 
updates. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms remain in the forecast 
for now from the Bay Area south through the Central Coast during the 
day Thursday into early Friday. The upper level pattern has shifted 
quite a bit from Monday afternoons forecast update to this morning. 
An unusual synoptic pattern (a double Omega Block across CONUS?),
agreed upon in numerous forms of deterministic guidance has the 
remnants of Mario becoming the more dominant feature as it lifts 
north into SOCAL. As a result, the bulk of rainfall and 
instability has taken a notable shift east and south away from our
forecast area. That doesn't mean we won't see any showers or 
thunderstorms over the next 72 hours, but confidence is lower than
it was yesterday and the trend appears to be drier. There is time
for the forecast to whiplash back to wetter and more unstable for
our area, especially across the Central Coast. But for now 
(including most recent 06Z GFS update, and slower northerly 
progression of 06z HRRR), it appears that Mario gets absorbed 
inland across SOCAL under the negatively tilted ridge axis from SE
Oregon to southern Arizona. PWATs will still be well above normal
and even if we don't see any rainfall it will feel muggy. We 
often say 'check back for updates', today is definitely one of 
those days.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1046 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025

VFR conditions have returned to most sites away from the immediate 
coast with KHAF still seeing LIFR ceilings/visibilities that should 
scattered out by 22Z. Onshore winds will increase this afternoon 
before easing after sunset and more so into Wednesday morning. High 
confidence of VFR conditions prevailing through the TAF period for 
the Bay Area terminals and LIFR conditions for the Monterey Bay 
terminals (and KHAF). 

Vicinity of SFO...VFR. High confidence for onshore winds to increase 
this afternoon before easing into early Wednesday morning. High 
confidence for VFR conditions to prevail through the TAF period with 
increasing onshore winds once again Wednesday afternoon.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR. Onshore winds increase this afternoon 
before easing after sunset. High confidence for LIFR conditions to 
return to the region late evening and continue through about 16Z 
Wednesday. 

&&

.MARINE...
(Today through Sunday)
Issued at 1046 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025

A gentle to moderate northerly breeze will prevail today,
increasing to become fresh to strong for the northern outer waters
Wednesday night into Thursday. Moderate seas will prevail today,
building to become rough for the outer waters Wednesday through
Friday. Isolated thunderstorms are possible Wednesday night and
Thursday with isolated rain showers lingering through Saturday.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 624 AM PDT Tue Sep 16 2025

Near critical fire weather conditions for Tuesday thanks to hot,
dry, and afternoon breezy onshore winds. To start the day active
thermal belts in place with mild and dry conditions over the
higher elevations. Overnight humidity recovery was moderate to
poor with the highest peaks not even reaching 30% RH overnight.
Ample sunshine and a warm airmass will yield temperatures well 
into the 90s and low 100s across the interior. Compound the heat 
with low humidity this afternoon in the teens to 20% range and 
typical gusts up to 20-25 mph will result in near critical fire 
weather conditions. Thereafter the forecast focus shifts to low 
confidence high impact scenario as tropical moisture brings a 
chance for elevated/high-based thunderstorms. The biggest concern 
will be the chance for dry lightning Wednesday into Thursday, 
which comes on the heels of a few days of hot/dry across the 
interior. We'll continue to assess the situation and coordinate 
with fire partners Tuesday morning before making any decisions 
regarding any Fire Watches. 

MM

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
PZ...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...JM
LONG TERM....JM
AVIATION...RGass
MARINE...RGass

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Tue Sep 16 14:30:02 PDT 2025
From the National Weather Service