Technical NOAA Weather Discussion

FXUS66 KMTR 311139
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
339 AM PST Sat Jan 31 2026

...New AVIATION, MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1245 AM PST Sat Jan 31 2026

 - Pleasant, warm, and dry conditions persist through the next
   week

 - Minor coastal flooding directly along the bayshore along the
   San Francisco, San Pablo, and Monterey Bays through Sunday

 - Hazardous beach conditions due to an increased risk of sneaker
   waves and rip currents for Pacific Coast beaches through Monday

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1245 AM PST Sat Jan 31 2026
(Today and tonight)

Thin high level clouds blanket the satellite imagery, making it hard 
to evaluate the evolution of fog and low stratus across the region. 
Surface observations suggest that patchy fog and mist have 
developed, mainly in the North and East Bay valleys. The thin high 
clouds are lowering confidence in the amount of radiational cooling 
and thus any further expansion of the stratus layer, but expect the 
stratus impacts to persist through the morning. 

The weather pattern continues to center around an upper level ridge 
that is slowly progressing into the Great Basin, giving us another 
day of seasonably warm temperatures. In particular, San Jose 
continues to flirt with a daily record high today; the current 
forecast high of 69 is just two degrees cooler than the record of 71 
set in 1962 and tied in 2015. Elsewhere across the region, high 
temperatures range from the middle 60s in the interior valleys of 
the North and East Bay, the lower 70s in the Monterey Bay region, 
the middle to upper 70s in the South Bay and the interior Central 
Coast valleys, and the lower 60s across the North Bay Pacific coast, 
into the Bayside areas of the North Bay and the far interior 
portions of Contra Costa County. Winds will be light with a 
generally offshore component across the inland regions, while a 
light onshore breeze develops along the coast in the afternoon.

Minor coastal flooding is possible for low-lying areas directly 
along the bayshore of the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Monterey 
Bays near high tide today and Sunday, the result of a combination of 
elevated astronomical tides and storm surge from the system off the 
coast of British Columbia. Note that we are not anticipating major 
coastal flooding impacts like those seen at the beginning of the 
month, and will be limited to those locations that typically see 
impacts from the King Tides. At the San Francisco tidal gauge, the 
maximum inundation is expected to be around 1.3 feet above normally 
dry ground, or 7.20 ft MLLW, at around 9:30 AM today; this figure 
includes impacts from both astronomical tides and storm surge. High 
tide timing varies up to 90 minutes earlier or later along the 
Pacific Coast and through the San Francisco Bay, respectively. 

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 1245 AM PST Sat Jan 31 2026
(Sunday through Friday)

A shortwave trough will brush past the region on Sunday as the ridge 
continues to move off to the east, leading to a more zonal upper 
level pattern across the region. With any rain chances now far to 
the north of our area of responsibility, the most prominent impact 
to the sensible weather will be increased cloudiness, brisker winds, 
and a slight cooling trend across the South Bay into the Central 
Coast. High temperatures for Sunday and Monday will dip into the 
middle 60s to near 70 across the Santa Clara Valley and the Monterey 
Bay region, while the Salinas Valley dips into the lower to middle 
70s.

Upper level ridging redevelops over the West Coast by Tuesday and 
persists into the end of the 7-day outlook, and temperatures should 
rebound to the middle 60s to middle 70s in the interior valleys. The 
very tail end of the outlook does show the ridge beginning to break 
down with an associated slight cooling beginning next Friday, but 
the weather should remain dry. The CPC 6-10 day outlook, covering 
February 5 to 9, continues to show a high likelihood (80-90% 
probability) of temperatures above seasonal averages, and a lean (40-
50% probability) of rainfall totals below seasonal averages for the 
stated period. For context, downtown San Francisco's long term 
averages for this period are for a high of 60 degrees and a rainfall 
total around three quarters of an inch. Beyond that, ensemble model 
means are starting to depict some chances of rain around the 10th, 
but as the previous forecaster noted, the models have consistently 
shown rain at the very end of their runs before backing off as the 
day gets closer, so any increase in forecaster confidence will 
depend on whether the trend for rain around the 10th persists as it 
gets closer.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 339 AM PST Sat Jan 31 2026

Currently a mixed bag of LIFR-VFR at the terminals. High confidence 
in VFR by this afternoon. A decaying cold front will encroach the 
region tonight, leading to cooler and moister conditions and the 
return of onshore flow which will bring renewed chances for sub-VFR 
conditions to all terminals. The TAFs are pessimistic with a 
reasonable earliest arrival of reduced visibilities/cloud decks. 

Vicinity of SFO...Currently MVFR with light easterly winds and mist 
being observed. Aside from the mist this morning, VFR is expected to 
prevail at least through this afternoon. Reasonable worst case 
scenario of sub-VFR conditions returning as early as 06Z tonight. 
Light northerly/northeasterly winds will prevail.

SFO Bridge Approach...MVFR visibilities are being observed along the 
San Mateo Bridge Approach. There's a low probability (less than 35% 
chance) that radiative stratus below FL040 will develop through this 
morning. High confidence in VFR by this afternoon.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Currently VFR and calm at MRY and VFR with 
drainage flow at SNS. Diurnal winds will prevail. Low probability 
(25%) for sub-VFR conditions (likely IFR) to return tonight.

&&

.MARINE...
(Today through Thursday)
Issued at 339 AM PST Sat Jan 31 2026

Moderate seas and a gentle northerly/offshore breeze will prevail
today. Hazardous marine conditions return tomorrow morning and
persist through Monday as seas build to become rough for the
inner waters and outer waters and northerly breezes increase to
become fresh to strong. Conditions improve Tuesday with moderate
seas and a gentle northerly breeze prevailing through Wednesday.

&&

.BEACHES...
Issued at 333 AM PST Fri Jan 30 2026

Hazardous beach conditions will continue through Monday at all
Pacific Coast beaches. Long period westerly swell will bring an 
increased risk for sneaker waves and strong rip currents with 
breaking waves of 14 to 19 feet. Remember: stay off of jetties,
piers, rocks, and other waterside infrastructure, remain out of
the water, and never turn your back on the ocean! 

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 647 PM PST Fri Jan 30 2026

The following are the record high temperatures at the long term 
sites for January 31st.

Location          Jan 31st Record High

Santa Rosa        73 in 1953
San Rafael        78 in 2015
Kentfield         75 in 2015
Napa              77 in 2015
Richmond          75 in 2015
Livermore         79 in 2022
San Francisco     74 in 2015
SFO Airport       74 in 2015
Redwood City      75 in 2015
Half Moon Bay     72 in 2015, 1976, 1962
Oakland Museum    78 in 2015
San Jose          71 in 2015, 1962
Salinas Airport   79 in 1976
King City         85 in 1976 

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Beach Hazards Statement through Monday morning for CAZ006-505-
     509-529-530.

     Coastal Flood Advisory until noon PST Sunday for CAZ006-506-508-
     529-530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 9 AM to 3 PM PST Sunday for Pt Arena 
     to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...DialH
LONG TERM....DialH
AVIATION...Sarment
MARINE...Sarment

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Sat Jan 31 04:30:02 PST 2026
From the National Weather Service