As San Francisco Bay Area residents brace themselves against the unremitting grasp of strong gusty winds, the National Weather Service (NWS) San Francisco has reminded them to secure loose outdoor objects and practice caution with potential ignition sources. According to the NWS San Francisco, residents should expect "widespread wind gusts of 25-35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph in the highest terrain and through gaps and passes" until Monday morning.
Alongside the wind advisory, there is an escalated threat for grass fires, particularly this weekend and Monday, as reported by NWS San Francisco. With the gusts facilitating lower humidity, the conditions have become pregnant with the likelihood of fire across areas such as the higher terrain of the North Bay, the East Bay, and southern Monterey & San Benito County. "Use extreme caution with any potential ignition sources," the National Weather Service cautions, underscoring the amplified risk in regions already gasping beneath the pressure of arid weather.
In the domain of San Francisco's marine regions, vessel operators are advised to remain in port or seek safe harbor as hazardous marine conditions are expected to stretch through Monday. The forecast states, gusts of 45 to 50 knots and seas ranging from 8-13 feet are expected, stipulating a clear message to secure vessels for severe conditions and always to wear a life jacket.
Further elaboration from NWS is detailed in an Area Forecast Discussion, revealing that the motives behind the persistent breezy conditions stem from a large-scale subsidence and a strong onshore surface pressure gradient. These gusts, reaching 30 to 40 mph, with some bursts even louder, reaching 50 to 55 mph, are a result of the trough over the Great Basin, and are expected to somewhat pacify by Monday evening, ushering in a warm and dry trend for the rest of the week.
