


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Issued by NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA
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324 FXUS66 KMTR 211141 AFDMTR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Francisco CA 441 AM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 1216 PM PDT Wed Aug 20 2025 - A Heat Advisory is in effect through Friday for much of the interior Bay Area and through Saturday for interior Central Coast. - Temperatures will remain above normal through the weekend. - Elevated fire weather conditions across the interior into the weekend. && .SHORT TERM... Issued at 215 AM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025 (Today and tonight) Pretty quiet overnight with mostly clear skies. Satellite imagery shows less stratus, but still seeing a patch or two near Monterey Bay and SF Peninsula. Other item of note on the satellite is the broad area of upper level clouds streaming in from the south. More on that later. Temperatures will be the big weather impact over the next 24 hours. Wednesday`s interior warmth was only a preview of what we can expect the next few days. The 4-corners ridge that scorched the Desert SW will make its presence known today across a large portion of the forecast area. If you`re near the coast onshore flow will keep temperatures in check thanks to some natural AC off the ocean, but temps will still be above seasonal average. Away from the coast the well above normal 850mb temps (forecast to be above 90th percentile) will yield temperatures in the 90s to lower 100s. Could see a few records fall at our climate sites today. The warmer air aloft has already arrived, as noted by current temps in the 80s for the hills. A mild start to the day combined with daytime interior heat HeatRisk values will be in the Moderate to Major category today. As such, Heat Advisories will go into effect for interior locations and the SF Bay Shoreline. Tonight will feature another night with active thermal belts and mild temps in the hills with little relief. && .LONG TERM... Issued at 303 AM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025 (Friday through Wednesday) A slight adjustment has been made for the Friday forecast. Temperatures near the coast will be within a few degrees of Thursday`s max temps, but interior locations will warm a few more degrees as 850mb temperatures make a run at record values.In some cases, Friday will actually be the hottest day of this round of heat. Saturday will be a transition day as the ridge begins to ease its grip. While temps begin to cool on Saturday far interior locations are still in the triple digits, especially interior Central Coast. Therefore, extended the Heat Advisory for interior Monterey/San Benito counties with HeatRisk staying in the Moderate to Major with a few pockets of Extreme. This blends well with our neighboring counties. Temperatures will remain above seasonal average into next week, but do expect a gradual cooldown Sunday through Wednesday. Temperatures will drop 3 to 5 degrees each day, which will lower HeatRisk concerns each day too. Now for the wrinkle and wildcard in the forecast. The high clouds currently streaming in from the south is upper level monsoonal moisture wrapping around the ridge of high pressure. Models continue to vary on details with the monsoonal moisture and its impacts. However, most show solid upper level moisture, decent lapse rates from 700-500mb, MUCAPE (some CAMS are very high), critical modified Total-totals, and classic inverted V point soundings. One piece of the puzzle is a more pronounced lifting mechanism or trigger. After coordinating with neighboring offices will continue to advertise this as a non-zero chance for thunderstorms. Given the profile developed storms would have a higher chance to be dry. The threat for convection still remains focused on Friday and Saturday over the Central Coast. && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 441 AM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025 Patchy coastal stratus and fog /IFR-LIFR/ continues this morning and redevelops tonight and Friday morning otherwise it`s VFR. Vicinity of SFO...VFR. Northwest to west wind 5 knots increasing to 16 to 22 knots this afternoon to mid evening, then west wind 10 knots shifting to light northeast Friday morning. SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO. Monterey Bay Terminals...Patchy coastal stratus and fog /IFR-LIFR/ this morning and tonight to Friday morning otherwise VFR. Mainly onshore winds 5 to 15 knots. && .MARINE... (Today through Tuesday) Issued at 215 AM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025 Breezy to gusty northwest winds will prevail through Friday morning, especially across the outer waters and coastal jet regions near Point Sur and Point Reyes. This will result in widespread hazardous conditions for small craft. Wind and seas will gradually ease Friday afternoon and evening, leading to calmer conditions over the weekend and well into the next work week. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 305 AM PDT Thu Aug 21 2025 Will continue to carry a headline in the forecast through the weekend for elevated fire weather concerns due to hot/dry conditions day/night with daily sea breeze winds. Critical humidity values will be reached afternoon with little to no relief at night. Winds don`t appear to be strong enough for an extended period of time to warrant a Red Flag. ERC charts will be responding to the warm up. In addition, we are monitoring a surge of monsoonal moisture set to arrive on Friday through the weekend, which will bring a very low, but non-zero, chance for elevated convection across the Central Coast. Greatest concern for any developed storm would be dry lightning. MM && .MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PDT Friday for CAZ504-510-512>515. Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 10 PM PDT this evening for CAZ506-508. Heat Advisory from 10 AM this morning to 9 PM PDT Saturday for CAZ516>518. PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-SF Bay N of Bay Bridge. Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM PDT Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT Friday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PDT Friday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM. Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM. && $$ SHORT TERM...MM LONG TERM....MM AVIATION...Canepa MARINE...Canepa Visit us at www.weather.gov/sanfrancisco Follow us on Facebook, X, and YouTube at: www.facebook.com/nwsbayarea x.com/nwsbayarea www.youtube.com/nwsbayarea