The San Francisco Bay Area is wrapped in a marine layer's misty embrace this morning, courtesy of the upper-level trough that recently made its way through the region. According to the National Weather Service's (NWS) San Francisco Bay Area branch, this condition has caused a "gloomy morning across the Bay Area and Central Coast." The extensive cloud cover can be attributed to stratus development, keeping temperatures below seasonal averages as we start our week. Breezy onshore flow is expected to accompany these overcast skies, creating gusts reaching up to 30 miles per hour in some areas.
For those hoping for a sunny summer in the Bay, the low clouds are in no rush to dissipate, with NWS reports indicating that "MVFR to IFR conditions are expected to persist through the late morning to early afternoon today." Satellite imagery confirms the persistence of this pattern, suggesting that clarity might only come in brief reprieves later in the afternoon. The marine layer is not just a visual concern. It brings reduced visibility due to fog, mist, and even drizzle, which has, like a skilled painter using watercolors, the power to wet runways and color the region's mornings with shades of gray.
Regarding the temperature outlook, those nestled within inland valleys may feel the mercury rise into the low 90s, particularly in southern Monterey County. However, residents closer to the coast are likely to experience milder highs, ranging from the upper 50s to mid-60s. The weather advisory notes that while low-level clouds keep the coasts cool, those at the highest peaks might find themselves in the warmer embrace of the upper 60s to lower 70s.
As for aviation interests in the Bay Area, aircraft operations may need to account for prevailing MVFR ceilings until the clouds begin to lift later in the day. The NWS San Francisco Bay Area further mentions that as the marine layer deepens, "visibility may drop at times due to fog, drizzle and mist along with wetting the runways as well." For sailors and sea-goers, light to moderate breezes across the marine zones are anticipated, with wave heights that could challenge vessels cresting between 2 and 6 feet. Precautions should be taken by those traversing northern San Francisco Bay, where breezes could prove more tenacious, according to an NWS X update.
The marine layer is very deep this morning after the passage of the upper level trough, resulting in another gloomy morning across the Bay Area and Central Coast. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/AvEXgxSZhk
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) August 18, 2024
Looking ahead, the NWS expects a gradual temperature increase through Tuesday before a slight cooldown later in the week. The long-term marine forecast bodes a choppier sea state near and south of Point Sur into the early week, possibly requiring additional marine advisories.
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