Sunshine and shamrocks were on the docket for the Bay Area this St. Patrick's Day, with the National Weather Service Bay Area forecasting "pleasant" conditions and temps comfortable enough to perhaps sip an outdoor pint. Revelers were treated to sunny skies and afternoon temperatures reaching up to the mid to upper 60s along the coast and low to mid 70s inland.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This afternoon should be pleasant with sunny skies and temperatures from the mid to upper 60s at the coast to the low to mid 70s inland! Fog and stratus return later tonight. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/crj7bo5drs

— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) March 17, 2024

But don't be fooled by the mild weather; the evening promised a return to the mist and murk, with fog and stratus clouds sliding back in "later tonight," the NWS Bay Area tweeted. These conditions will set the stage for a weather story familiar to Bay Area residents, with a "wet and chilly pattern" slated to return by the week's end, as detailed in the National Weather Service forecast discussion.

The short-term outlook remained sunny through the weekend, with clear skies giving way to cooler temperatures after sundown—"Lows tonight and Monday morning cooling to the 40s inland to near 50 coastside and bayside," noted a National Weather Service report. Come late Thursday, however, the forecast predicted rain's arrival, marking a decisive end to the brief glimpse of springtime ease.

Logging onto the sterner sides of meteorology, the NWS discourse on climate data showed rain gauges filling up. At this time last year, locations like Santa Rosa and San Francisco downtown were drowning in record rainfall. Napa State Hospital, for instance, has seen a dip in its usual deluge, recording 20.19 inches so far this water year compared to 28.27 inches this time last year. The forecast discussion hinted at an interesting twist coming up: "The polar jet stream is wavy and broken up over the eastern Pacific... a sign of winter strength if it verifies," hinting at a wintry late-March surprise.

For those heading to the water, a Small Craft Advisory was in effect from Sunday afternoon until evening along the Point Arena to Point Reyes region, indicating that boaters should anticipate moderate to fresh breezes proficient enough to ruffle the waters. "Winds diminish this evening with generally gentle to moderate winds through the next week," the NWS advised, a brief respite before the Bay Area braces for a possible downpour.