The Bay Area braces for another round of nature's whims as weather advisories take effect this weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Wind Advisory from Friday night through Sunday morning for several regions, including the North Bay Interior Mountains, East Bay Hills, Santa Cruz Mountains, and the Eastern Santa Clara Hills. North to Northeast winds are expected to blow fiercely at 20-30mph, with potential gusts reaching up to 50mph.
Residents in bayshore locations along San Francisco and San Pablo Bay should prepare for minor coastal flooding during high tide on Saturday morning. "San Francisco high tide is 6.80 feet at 8:34 am Saturday," the National Weather Service warned, highlighting a potential need for additional advisories around the time of high tide through next Tuesday. Motorists are advised to exercise caution and avoid driving around barricades or through waters of unknown depth.
As if the wind and water weren't enough, a Frost Advisory is also in effect from 1 AM to 9 AM Saturday for the southern Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia range, along with the interior mountains of Monterey and San Benito Counties. The bone-chilling forecast predicts temperatures sinking to the low to mid-30s, posing risks for those without shelter or adequate heating. The advisory includes a call to protect people, pets, plants, and pipes from the cold snap.
The clear skies we're slated to enjoy come at the cost of plummeting regional temperatures. "Many areas will drop into the mid 30s for several days this week," according to the NWS San Francisco synopsis. This frigid forecast is compounded by the persistent offshore winds set to blow through the region, denying us even a wisp of rain to alleviate dry conditions. With January's rainfall potentially averaging around 10% if no respite comes in the month's final week, the outlook is quite stark.
For those mariners set to venture into the waters, the NWS has flagged the expectation of strong northerly winds through much of today, with gale-force gusts likely over the weekend in the northern outer waters. The advisory, which spans through Thursday, suggests seas remain elevated into the upcoming workweek but forecasts a reduced wind speed and calmer conditions in the latter half of the week.
