The Fourth of July comes as a mixed bag this year for the Bay Area, with record-breaking heat hitting cities like Concord over the weekend, according to San Francisco Chronicle. Coastal cities like San Francisco and Santa Cruz, on the other hand, will see the typical stubborn marine clouds and fog that often shroud their celebrations. The foggy forecasts challenge fireworks aficionados to navigate hazy skies in pursuit of their visual delights.

Highs in the 80s and clear skies will dominate areas from Santa Rosa to Dublin to San Jose, while the coastal cities will remain in the 60s. The fog will make a quick appearance across the bay towards Oakland during the evening of the Fourth of July, possibly reaching as far inland as Santa Rosa by 10 p.m.

In anticipation of foggy conditions during the fireworks, organizers have learned from previous experiences like the 2022 show in San Francisco that was heavily impacted by fog, as per KRON4. This year, they have made plans to mitigate the fog's effect by including lower-level fireworks and extending the range of heights for the display. However, Lawrence Karnow, KRON4 Chief Meteorologist, still warns that the low clouds and fog may obscure fireworks in cities like San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland.

But not all hope is lost for the Bay Area's fireworks enthusiasts. South Bay cities and East Bay towns farther inland past Oakland and Berkeley are likely to enjoy clear skies for their shows. Karnow states, "KRON4 confirms that most of the valleys should be clear for the fireworks, with East Bay cities like Livermore, Concord, and Danville experiencing warm and clear conditions. The Santa Clara Valley should also be a great place to see fireworks without worrying about fog."

Looking at the week ahead, a cooldown following the hottest weekend of the year is expected, with temperatures remaining above normal on Monday, July 3rd. Then, they are set to return to seasonal norms for Tuesday’s holiday. Afternoon onshore breezes will increase throughout the week, and the marine layer will become deeper and more expansive as the week progresses.