Bay Area/ San Francisco

Drizzly Wake-Up Soaks San Francisco As Afternoon Winds Whip The Bay

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Published on April 01, 2026
Drizzly Wake-Up Soaks San Francisco As Afternoon Winds Whip The BaySource: Tobias Kleinlercher / Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Today started on a gray note for San Francisco, with cool, mostly cloudy skies and temperatures hanging in the mid‑50s. A band of light rain is sliding across the city throughout the day, slicking up streets and slowing the commute. The damp pattern should pick up a bit tonight, then ease off tomorrow.

Morning Commute

Spotty showers are in play early, with rain likely between 8 AM and 5 PM today. The more persistent rain is expected to move in by mid‑morning and hang around through the afternoon, so both the morning and evening rush hours could be slower than usual, according to the National Weather Service.

Where The Rain Will Fall

Most neighborhoods are on track to see only a few tenths of an inch of rain. The higher totals should land over the North Bay and other elevated spots, with some interior ranges possibly picking up around an inch. Peninsula and Santa Cruz Mountain communities may see up to about a half‑inch, while inland valleys are expected to stay on the lighter side, per NWS San Francisco.

Afternoon Winds And Marine Advisories

Southwest winds will crank up through Wednesday, with sustained speeds of 8–16 mph and gusts into the 20s across the city. Ridge tops and higher terrain could see gusts near 40 mph. Small craft advisories are posted for portions of the coastal waters and parts of the Bay later today, so mariners and ferry riders should brace for choppy conditions, according to the National Weather Service.

Weekend Outlook

A warming trend is expected to kick in on Friday, as offshore flow returns, with highs near 73°F on Friday and upper‑70s possible into the weekend for many inland areas. That setup should bring drier, sunnier weather and easing winds across most of the Bay Area, per NWS San Francisco.

Quick Tips

Grab a compact umbrella and a light layer if you are heading out, and budget a little extra time for driving or transit on wet roads. If your plans involve the water, double‑check the latest small craft advisories before you go, since ferries and small boats are likely to have a rougher ride than usual.