Bay Area residents are prepping for a surge in heat as the National Weather Service in San Francisco has issued a Heat Advisory commencing from 11 AM Wednesday to 11 PM Thursday. The advisory comes as high pressure takes hold, ushering in elevated temperatures, particularly away from the coast, where they are pegged to be 10-20 degrees above normal. According to NWS San Francisco, those sensitive to the heat should take cooling breaks, stay hydrated, and avoid the afternoons when the sun beats down vehemently.
While coastal areas may find some reprieve, the raised temperatures further inland mean an increased moderate HeatRisk. This added heat carries implications for heightened fire weather conditions, especially in the interior locations where the relative humidity dips and the winds serve as bellows. As per the Area Forecast Discussion by NWS, "poor relative humidity recoveries and light northerly/offshore flow" are on the cards for the mornings. And while a cooling trend is aspected come Friday, those sweltering in the interior Central Coast may still feel the sear well into the week's end.
The weather outlook also hints at the potential for thunderstorms, although their likeliness remains low given the prevailing hot and dry antecedent conditions. "At this time the atmosphere in our area does not look to stack up in terms of instability and moisture", notes the Area Forecast Discussion report, meaning thunderstorm activity is expected to steer clear of the Bay Area vicinity for now.
Mariners are also advised to stay sharp, as the Marine forecast outlined by the National Weather Service predicts "breezy and gusty west to northwesterly winds" that continue over southern coastal zones. The warning extends to seafarers of rough seas primarily accruing to the northern outer waters. A Small Craft Advisory stands for certain zones until 9 AM PDT this morning, highlighting the choppy Maritimes that may greet vessels venturing near Pt Arena to Pt Reyes.
