San Francisco's coastal conditions are hitting extremes as the National Weather Service cautions against hazardous marine activity due to gale-force gusts and rough seas. As per the NWS San Francisco, mariners are advised to remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and ensure their vessels are secure in the severe conditions. Gale-force gusts up to 35 knots and towering seas ranging from 10 to 15 feet have been penciled into the forecast, making it imperative for boaters to don life jackets and prioritize safety.
With the mercury set to tip the scales higher than usual, inland areas brace for temperatures teetering a hazardous 10 degrees above normal. Amidst this heatwave, the risk of grass fires has surged, driven by a cocktail of gusty winds and a parched landscape holding humidity levels at a threadbare 15-25%. The National Weather Service's caution extends "through Thursday," and the populace is urged to exercise extreme caution with potential ignition sources.
The broader outlook, as reported by the National Weather Service, sees a transient reprieve in the short term with temperatures expected to return to seasonal norms by Thursday. Nevertheless, this is a brief intermission before a second, more potent trough on Friday ushers in even cooler weather, setting the stage for a weekend moderated by a rebounding upper-level ridge that will push temperatures up again.
Uncertainty casts its long shadow into the forecast for next week as meteorologists track the possibility of an Omega Block pattern taking shape. This phenomenon, characterized by a high-pressure flanked by two low-pressure systems, hints at a potentially stalled weather pattern. Therefore, forecasters are keeping a close eye on its development. In aviation, the clear skies have granted a "high confidence in widespread VFR" conditions and steady onshore winds, a glimmer of predictability amidst a sea of meteorological flux, per the National Weather Service.
