Bay Area residents can look forward to a reprieve from the recent heat as temperatures are expected to settle around seasonal averages this weekend, according to the latest update from the National Weather Service San Francisco CA. After several days of sweltering heat, cooler weather is sliding in, courtesy of an upper-level shortwave trough sweeping through the region today. Inland regions should anticipate highs in the comfortable low to mid-80s, while the SF Bay itself is predicted to remain in the mid to upper 70s, with coastal areas sticking to the low 60s.
While the cooling trend is a welcome change for many, it carries with it the caveat of increased cloudiness and the return of coastal strata. Swirling "otter eddies" around the Monterey Bay, a reference made by the National Weather Service to the visible swirl of clouds on satellite, will play a part in maintaining the cooler coastside temps. The weekend's temperature drop is expected to dive, by as much as 5-10 degrees lower than normal in certain spots, especially during the early parts of the day.
Looking ahead to next week, forecasters are predicting a bit of a seesaw in the weather pattern. A transient low-pressure system will come into play mid-week, keeping things cooler to start, but as it moves eastward, a slight ridge will bring a tad of warmth back into the picture. "Low to mid 90s for the inland regions Monday and Tuesday are forecast, with mid 60s to the lowest 70s at the coast," according to the National Weather Service synopsis. However, don't expect temperatures to reach the previous week's peaks.
For those taking to the skies, the Aviation section of the forecast cautions that hazy conditions are likely to persist throughout much of the day, which could impact visibility. Fog is expected to roll into the North Bay and Monterey Bay areas until mid-morning, at least. Air traffic around SFO should proceed with minimal disruption, with VFR conditions lasting into Friday night and winds picking up Saturday late morning after a night of moderate marine influence.
Mariners aren't left out of the forecast, with the National Weather Service issuing a heads-up for reduced visibility due to areas of fog and drizzle, specifically mentioning trouble spots along Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast. Moreover, Small Craft Advisories are placed for waters north of the Greater Farallones into Friday afternoon, with winds and rough seas expected to persist and potentially strengthen by Sunday.
