Technical NOAA Weather Discussion

FXUS66 KMTR 131724
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1024 AM PDT Sun Sep 13 2026

...New AVIATION...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026

 - Breezy onshore winds persist through Sunday afternoon

 - Temperatures near seasonal averages through the upcoming week

 - Dry offshore winds for the higher terrain Sunday night into
   Monday night

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 858 AM PDT Sun Sep 13 2026

Mostly clear skies across the region with patchy stratus observed
along the San Mateo Coast and over portions of the Santa Clara
Valley. Expect temperatures to warm into the 70s to low 80s today
across the interior with highs in the 60s prevailing closer to the
coast. Gusty offshore winds return tonight across the higher
elevations of interior Napa County and within the Altamont Pass
where gusts to around 40 mph are likely. Otherwise, the forecast
remains on track with sunny weather on track for today.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026
(Tonight through Sunday)

Skies are generally clear, save for the Pacific coast of San Mateo 
County where some low clouds have developed overnight, and will 
generally remain so through the day on Sunday. There is a low 
confidence of stratus development near the northern end of the Santa 
Lucias that could impact the southern Monterey Bay region early 
Sunday morning, but if this develops it should mix out soon after 
dawn.

The weather pattern remains dominated by a cutoff low coming into 
Oregon, which interacts with a broad area of zonal flow and slight 
ridging across the Southwest to create a strong pressure gradient 
over the northern half of California and Nevada. At 9 PM the SFO-WMC 
gradient was measured at 9.7 mb, and there are still a couple of 
hours where the gradient could strengthen further before the cutoff 
low's motion starts to relax the gradient. Wind gusts across the 
region have peaked at around 20 to 35 mph, with the most favored 
locations seeing wind gusts of over 50 mph. This is expected to 
continue well into the night, with some abatement in the early 
morning hours on Sunday. By the time the sea breeze kicks in Sunday 
afternoon, the pressure gradients will relax, but remain rather 
strong and some elevated winds are still possible before the winds 
finally turn light in the late evening hours. Widespread gusts will 
likely reach 20 to 30 mph with favored locations along the coast and 
through gaps, passes, and valleys reaching 40 mph.

Morning lows will generally hover in the upper 40s to the 50s 
across the region. Sunday's highs range from the middle 70s to the
lower 80s inland, the middle 80s in the warmest reaches of 
southern Monterey County, the middle 60s to the middle 70s near 
the Bays, and the lower to middle 60s close to the Pacific coast.

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 1022 PM PDT Sat Sep 12 2026
(Monday through next Saturday)

The trough axis continues moving into the northern Plains by Monday, 
relaxing the pressure gradients and diminishing the potential for 
strong winds. Some troughing influence will remain along the West 
Coast through at least the middle of the week and there may even be 
a pulse of energy coming off the back of the first trough that would 
reinforce the pattern, keeping temperatures near to below seasonal 
averages. High temperatures will range across the 80s inland, the 
lower 70s to the lower 80s close to the bays, and the middle 60s to 
the lower 70s near the Pacific coast. The widespread marine layer 
stratus deck should return Monday night into Tuesday, and will 
develop each night and morning before mixing out through the 
afternoon hours. Friday into the upcoming weekend, model ensembles 
are showing a chance for some sort of ridge influence across the 
region, thus reflecting the probability for a slight warming
trend. 

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1023 AM PDT Sun Sep 13 2026

VFR conditions persist at most terminals this morning except for 
patchy coastal stratus along the San Mateo County coastline. 
Onshore winds increase late this morning and will mix out the 
stratus. These stronger winds will prevail through the evening 
before easing into the night and into Monday morning. There is 
moderate confidence for stratus to return to the coast late 
tonight into early Monday morning. Any stratus that does develop 
with dissipate by late Monday morning with increasing onshore 
winds by the afternoon. 

Vicinity of SFO...VFR. Northwesterly winds increase throughout 
the morning and into the afternoon with gusts up to 33 kt 
expected. Winds ease late in the night with some offshore wind 
potential early Monday morning before returning to onshore by mid-
to-late morning. 

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO. 

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR. Northwesterly winds increase 
throughout the morning and into the afternoon with gusts up to 
around 25 kt. Winds ease after sunset and potentially become 
variable early Monday morning. There is also moderate confidence 
for IFR-MVFR conditions to develop early Monday morning.

&&

.MARINE...
(Today through Friday)
Issued at 858 AM PDT Sun Sep 13 2026

Hazardous conditions for small craft prevail through the middle of
the week. Northwest winds strengthen through tonight with gale
force gusts across the southern inner coastal waters and the
Monterey Bay. A few gale force gusts are possible across the
northern inner coastal waters. Winds will remain elevated through
midweek before diminishing late week. Moderate seas will build to
between 8 and 10 feet and become rough by Monday in response to
the stronger winds.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 422 AM PDT Sun Sep 13 2026

Patchy coastal stratus has developed overnight. 925 mb relative 
humidities are higher over the Timber and Plaskett fires early 
this morning. Tonight into Monday night, a light to gentle 
offshore breeze (with occasionally moderate gusts) is forecast to 
develop in the higher terrain as the mid/upper level trough axis 
shifts into the northern Rockies. As such, areas above the marine 
layer often experience nocturnal drying that will likely continue 
through early this upcoming week.

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this 
     evening for SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.

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

     Gale Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening 
     for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Monday for Pt Arena to Pt 
     Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Monday to 3 AM PDT Tuesday for Pt 
     Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

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

     Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT 
     Tuesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

     Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Tuesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt 
     Pinos 10-60 NM.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...DialH
LONG TERM....DialH
AVIATION...RGass
MARINE...RGass

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Sun Sep 13 10:30:03 PDT 2026
From the National Weather Service