The Bay Area woke up to a blanket of fog this Tuesday morning, with advisories and discussions from the National Weather Service (NWS) warning commuters to take extra precautions. The NWS San Francisco cautioned that visibility was down to a quarter-mile or less in the North Bay valleys, advising drivers to "slow down, use low beam headlights and leave plenty of distance ahead of you," in a dense fog advisory effective until 11 a.m.
The substantial fog coverage, as reported by NWS Bay Area's X feed, was likely to lift by late morning, revealing clearer skies. However, conditions were expected to see a repeat, with patchy valley fog anticipated to redevelop tonight and into Wednesday morning, according to a statement obtained by the Area Forecast Discussion of the National Weather Service.
Dense fog advisory is in effect for the North Bay valleys until 11 am today. If out on the roadways this morning, please drive with extra caution, slow down, use low beam headlights and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. Poor visibility in fog will lift by late morning. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/pzS8eTMRLq
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) December 12, 2023
Dry weather is on the week's menu, with a gentle warming trend forecasted by the NWS, leading to temperatures possibly climbing well above seasonal norms. As the weekend approaches, however, change looms on the horizon; "A chance of rain this weekend," says the NWS, though confidence in this precipitation forecast is described as low beyond the five-day mark.
For those planning to be seaside or navigating the coastal waters, the marine report notes northerly winds, with diminishing northwesterly swells expected through tomorrow, according to a report by the National Weather Service. Mariners are also advised of a small craft advisory until 9 p.m. PST for the coastal zones from Pt. Pinos to Pt. Piedras Blancas, cautioning smaller vessels of potentially hazardous conditions at sea. Swell activity is predicted to build again late Wednesday into Thursday.
As for beachgoers, high tides are anticipated through mid-week, but no coastal flood advisories are currently in place. Despite this, the NWS urges the public to "continue to closely monitor the tides," particularly around coastal Marin County, where high tides are slightly higher and crest just above 6.5 feet. By late this week, these tides are expected to subside. Furthermore, detailed forecasting for the North Bay Interior Valleys from NWS also warns of patchy, dense fog tonight and tomorrow morning, hinting at potential visibility issues for early risers.
