FXUS66 KMTR 161152
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
452 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026

...New AVIATION, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1201 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026

 - Above normal temperatures continue into Saturday before 
   cooler, below normal weather returns Sunday into next week

 - Critical to near critical fire weather conditions continue 
   across the higher elevations of the Bay Area and Central Coast 
   due to very dry conditions and offshore flow through Saturday

 - Pattern change expected early to mid next week with periods of
   breezy onshore winds and light, accumulating rain
   

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1201 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026
(Today and tonight)

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through 11 AM Friday for the 
North Bay Interior Mountains due to moderate offshore winds and 
critically dry conditions overnight. Minimal to no overnight 
humidity recovery is expected with humidity values between 15 to 25% 
expected. Winds across the North Bay Interior Mountains have picked 
up across the highest peaks and will spread into the remainder of 
the NB Interior Mountains tonight. Offshore gusts are expected to 
peak between 20 to 30 mph with stronger gusts possible across the 
highest ridgelines. Gusts between 40 to 60 mph have been observed 
across the highest peaks (3500+ ft) in northern Sonoma and Napa 
counties. As offshore winds pick up across the rest of the NB 
Interior Mountains, humidity values will drop with rapid fire spread 
possible should a fire start. Winds are expected to decrease by late 
morning with the Red Flag Warning set to expire at 11 AM. Although 
the winds will have decreased, very dry conditions (RH 10-20%) will 
persist through the rest of the day with poor overnight recoveries 
expected Friday into Saturday. As such, near critical fire weather 
conditions will continue across the higher elevations of the Bay 
Area and Central Coast through Saturday. If you are participating in 
any activity involving flames outdoors, be very careful and do not 
allow sparks/embers to escape. Listen to all guidance from local 
officials.

Upper level ridging continues with widespread above normal 
temperatures and Moderate HeatRisk peaking today. Minimal relief is 
expected along the coast due to upper level ridging mixing out the 
marine layer. Interior highs peak in the upper 80s to low 90s with 
coastal highs in the 70s to low 80s. Portions of the Santa Cruz 
Mountains and the southern Santa Clara Valley may reach the upper 
90s. Expect hot conditions and patchy Moderate HeatRisk to continue 
into Saturday although a few degrees cooler than on Friday. If 
you're not a fan of hot weather, you're in luck as a pattern change 
is expected Sunday into next week (see Long Term discussion). 

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 1201 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026
(Saturday through Thursday)

Temperatures return to more seasonal temperatures by Sunday as upper 
level ridging is replaced by broad troughing. High temperatures cool 
into the 70s to low 80s across the interior while the coast drops 
back into the 50s to 60s thanks to the return of the marine layer. 
Upper level troughing impacts become more pronounced over the course 
of the next week as a deep upper level low becomes cut-off from the 
jet stream and lingers along the Central/Southern California 
coastline through late next week. At the same time, a surface low 
pressure system originating from the Gulf of Alaska will move 
southwards along the California coast next week. This system will 
bring a much cooler airmass into the region and see a return of fall 
temperatures in the 60s to 70s and morning lows in the 40s to low 
50s. Recent guidance has trended towards the low staying offshore 
rather than moving onshore next week. The current forecast shows the 
highest rain totals along the Santa Lucia Range and Santa Cruz 
Mountains where totals are between a quarter to half an inch. For 
the lower elevations expect up to a tenth of an inch across the Bay 
Area and up to a quarter of an inch across the Central Coast. 
Periods of gusty onshore winds are likely along the coast, the 
higher elevations, and across mountain gaps/passes next week. Winds 
don't look to be widespread enough to necessitate a Wind Advisory 
but favored windy locations (Altamont Pass) will definitely be 
gusty. Another item to watch is the potential for thunderstorms with 
this system. NBM guidance has consistently maintained a low chance 
(<15%) of thunderstorms across the region. In favor of thunderstorms 
is the fact that this is a cold core low which is bringing in cooler 
air and may be more favorable for ice crystal development/eventual 
lightning development. Anti-thunderstorm development is the new more 
offshore track of the low which keeps the best MUCAPE and CAPE 
values offshore. This may be a setup where we see some sort of 
convective activity over the marine environment but it doesn't make 
it onto land (if the current track holds).

Bottom line: expect a pattern change to occur next week with below 
normal temperatures, potential for light rain, breezy to gusty 
onshore winds, and a low potential for thunderstorms.

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 451 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026

Another night of VFR conditions as the picture from space is clear 
over the Bay Area and Central Coast. The challenge for this TAF 
cycle is capturing the winds, with offshore flow setting up this 
morning. Along the coasts, we should see a push of diurnally driven 
onshore winds for a few hours this afternoon. Winds may be more 
light and variable in some spots tonight, though weak offshore winds 
are expected to return. As noted by the prior meteorologist, we'll 
need to keep an eye open for KHAF tomorrow morning. In these 
offshore flow set ups winds can sometimes align for the E to NE and 
increase as they surface toward the ocean.


Vicinity of SFO...No major changes as offshore winds set up this 
morning, generally around 10kt or less. Then this afternoon, onshore 
winds return lingering into the evening. Tonight, winds may be more 
light and variable. 

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Offshore winds are expected for through the 
morning with onshore winds by late morning or early afternoon. 
Onshore flow should continue through the early evening, before 
another round of offshore winds returns late evening and into early 
Saturday morning. VFR conditions will prevail. 

&&

.MARINE...
(Today through Wednesday)
Issued at 258 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026

Gentle to moderate northerly breezes will prevail over the
coastal waters today and become moderate to fresh on Saturday.
These winds hold into the early portion of the week. The
increasing winds will bring a fresh swell and steeper wind waves.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 451 AM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026

The Red Flag Warning for the North Bay Interior Mountains remains in 
effect this morning due to moderate offshore winds and very dry 
conditions. This included the very poor overnight humidity recovery 
between 13 and 23 percent. The Red Flag Warning is set to expire at 
11AM, as winds decrease. Conditions will remain very dry, with RH 
values around 10-20% forecast for the rest of the day and poor 
overnight recoveries tonight into Saturday. These conditions, 
combined with warmer weather, will lead to near critical weather 
conditions for the higher elevations of the Bay Area and Central 
Coast through Saturday. We will begin to see a reprieve in 
conditions Saturday into Sunday, as the upper level pattern shifts 
to broad troughing. Temperatures become more seasonal and we should 
start to winds become onshore, improving RH conditions as well. 


&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Red Flag Warning until 11 AM PDT this morning for CAZ504.

PZ...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...Kennedy
LONG TERM....Kennedy
AVIATION...KR
MARINE...KR

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Prepared by Boulder-Creek.com Weather at: Fri Oct 16 06:30:04 PDT 2026