San Francisco woke up today to a quick-hitting front that dropped a few brief showers, then moved along and handed the day over to sunshine and a stiff breeze. Highs are expected to top out around 65°F inland, with waterfront neighborhoods stuck in the 50s. A stronger offshore push will crank up the heat to the 70s Friday and near 80°F by Saturday, but the headline for now is gusty northwest winds and choppy, hazardous conditions on the bay and offshore waters.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Northwest winds will build through this afternoon, generally 12 to 23 mph, with gusts reaching the 20s at bridge crossings and on exposed ridgelines. Tomorrow is on track to be the windier day as high pressure settles offshore, with gusts of 40 to 50 mph possible in the North Bay interior mountains and 30 to 40 mph in the East Bay hills and the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is a good day to secure outdoor furniture and keep an eye out for falling branches. Commuters on exposed routes should be ready for brisk crosswinds during the evening drive.
Marine Advisories And Ferry Riders
Small craft advisories are posted for parts of the bay and nearby coastal waters: San Francisco Bay north of the Bay Bridge from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT today and Monterey Bay from 11 AM today through 3 AM tomorrow. Mariners and ferry operators should expect rough seas and strong northerly breezes and may want to delay nonessential trips. According to the National Weather Service, seas and winds will gradually ease as the weekend approaches.
Weekend Warmup
High pressure and offshore flow will bring dry, warmer weather tomorrow into the weekend, with highs near 73°F and around 80°F Saturday in inland neighborhoods, while coastal spots stay noticeably cooler. Winds should relax over the weekend, creating a more comfortable window for outdoor plans, although it can still be breezy in exposed locations. A pattern change later next week introduces a slight chance of light rain, mainly for the North Bay, Monday through Wednesday, April 6 to 8.
