Bay Area residents, brace yourselves for a chilly end to the work week. According to the National Weather Service San Francisco, a Frost Advisory remains in effect through 9 AM this Friday for the Bay Area and Central Coast interior portions.

The high clouds, courtesy of an upper-level low off the California/Mexico border, are doing us a bit of a favor. While the clouds can lead to more colorful sunrises and sunsets, their presence also means temperatures may stay a touch warmer than if the skies were clear. "The thicker the clouds, the less outgoing longwave radiation is emitted, thus temperatures run relatively warmer," the National Weather Service explained. However, they also warned, "The thinner the clouds, the more outgoing longwave radiation is emitted, thus temperatures run relatively cooler."

Looking ahead, there's good news for those yearning for a break from the cold. The same source promises a slight warming trend starting Saturday and next week. With high confidence in their long-term forecast, the global ensemble clusters indicate that ridging will dominate the pattern, allowing us to enjoy near-normal temperatures again.

Pilots can expect a smooth ride in terms of travel conditions for the weekend holiday traffic. VFR, or Visual Flight Rules, is expected to prevail with only light to moderate surface winds reported, as per the National Weather Service. The marine forecast is similarly placid with "light to moderate northerly winds resulting in a mellow sea state," which should remain through the weekend. But for early next week, boaters should be aware that a longer-period swell is forecasted, suggesting that those on the water might need to be a bit more cautious.