Bay Area/ San Francisco
AI Assisted Icon
Published on January 13, 2025
Bay Area Gears Up for Windy, Frosty Weather as NWS Issues Advisories for Multiple RegionsSource: Supercarwaar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bay Area residents are bracing for weather conditions early this week, from strong gusty winds across the North Bay Interior Mountains to frost advisories impacting multiple regions. According to NWS San Francisco, a Wind Advisory will be in place through Tuesday morning, with potential gusts reaching up to 55 mph. Additionally, a Frost Advisory is scheduled from 1 AM to 9 AM Monday for regions including the Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia range, among others.

These advisories come with many warnings, notably the perilous conditions they could lead to for the unsheltered populations and those lacking adequate heating resources. The NWS San Francisco stresses the importance of protecting people, pets, plants, and pipes from the impending cold. Alongside these advisories, minor coastal flooding is expected around high tide in Bayshore locales along San Francisco and San Pablo Bay, with a specific advisory in place until 1 PM PST this afternoon for specific zones.

Delving deeper into the week's weather outlook, NWS details dry conditions with mostly clear skies expected to persist. The clear skies resulting from a Rex Block pattern are forecast to enhance radiational cooling at night, with "minimum temperatures will range from the mid 30s inland to mid 40s near the coast," as outlined in the Area Forecast Discussion by National Weather Service San Francisco CA. Daytime temperatures, meanwhile, are predicted to hover in the low to mid-60s for most of the area.

Looking ahead, the dry spell continues through the end of January, with the Downtown San Francisco area recording just 0.19 inches of precipitation to date, a stark contrast to the over 2 inches typically expected by this time of the month. "The extended guidance and CPC outlooks suggest there is a good chance this next omega block keeps us dry through the following week and possibly all the way to the end of the month," as per the same Area Forecast Discussion. This unusually dry weather amplifies concerns over fire potential, especially across the Central Coast Zone where "the Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center has placed the Central Coast Zone (coastal Monterey County) in a low risk of significant fire potential starting Sunday," according to the discussion.

Aiding the visibility for commuters and travelers in the region, the aviation forecast looks promising, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) expected to prevail throughout the TAF period. However, gusty wind events around the San Francisco Bay may impact airport operations briefly. Further clarifying the marine conditions, the NWS San Francisco warns of hazardous conditions for small crafts through the afternoon, with "elevated wave heights between 10 to 15 feet expected." Improvements are expected as the week progresses, with winds and seas easing into Thursday and Friday.

For a detailed daily breakdown, the 7-day forecast for San Francisco indicates sunny conditions with consistent highs in the low 60s, with night-time temperatures dipping into the mid-40s. We may see some early morning patchy fog at the end of the week, particularly on Thursday and Friday. The upcoming weekend remains unclear, with no significant change in the overall dry pattern expected.