The National Weather Service in San Francisco has stated that the sweltering heat the Bay Area has been experiencing is set to take a dip over the weekend. According to a recent Area Forecast Discussion, "a nice cool down this weekend, with near normal temps by early next week" is on the horizon, offering residents a much-needed respite from the scorching temperatures. The mercury has stubbornly climbed well above normal levels in the past few days, prompting the NWS to issue an Excessive Heat Warning and Heat Advisories, which remain in effect until 8 p.m. tonight.
As per the National Weather Service, the shift in weather is due to "the persistent high pressure responsible for all the recent heat" currently centered over Utah and slowly beginning to migrate east towards the Four Corners region. In a cooling trend, many Bay Area residents will likely welcome, and forecasters expect a 10-degree drop in highs from today to tomorrow afternoon. An "offshore upper level low will advect cooler low level temperatures and moisture as slowly lifts north," setting the stage for a more comfortable climate.
Looking into next week, it seems the cooler conditions will not last long. The National Weather Service anticipates that the area of high pressure over the desert southwest will begin to amplify again across western CONUS after the upper-level low/trough shifts north over water. This could kick off another warming trend towards the end of the week, potentially leading to temperatures rising sharply once again.
Meanwhile, the aviation community will need to remain alert for less-than-ideal conditions. IFR and LIFR CIGS are hugging the coast and the Monterey Bay terminals, with pockets of fog and mist expected to disrupt visibility until mid-morning. Winds are forecasted to stay light through most of the morning and into the afternoon before incrementing as the day progresses. For sailors, the National Weather Service warns of breezy to gusty north-to-northwest winds, which continue over the northern outer waters through Saturday afternoon, posing challenges and necessitating caution. Small craft advisories remain in place until 9 AM PDT Saturday, suggesting choppy seas, especially over the outer coastal waters, with peak wave heights between 12 to 14 ft expected over the far northern outer coastal waters.
