Thursday brings a weak cold front and increased cloud cover across the Bay Area. An afternoon high around 76°F is expected before temperatures ease later. The bigger story is the shift ahead: northwest winds increase Thursday, morning fog returns by Friday, and a warmer Labor Day stretch is taking shape.
The National Weather Service says the front will bring northwest wind gusts up to 25 mph for most areas on Thursday, with stronger gusts of 30-40 mph in favored gaps, passes and the Salinas Valley. Rain should cross the Golden Gate by midday, and a good portion of the Bay Area could see rain, although amounts outside coastal mountains would likely be only a few hundredths of an inch.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Thursday evening should turn clearer as skies clear from north to south and winds diminish after frontal passage, with a low potential for drizzle affecting Monterey Bay terminals late Thursday evening. The overnight low is expected to settle around 58°F, so anyone heading out late may want a light layer more for the wind than for truly chilly temperatures.
Friday brings patchy fog before 8 a.m., followed by sunshine and a high near 74°F. Northwest winds could gust as high as 20 mph, while Friday night turns mostly clear with a low around 55°F.
A Foggy Morning, Warmer Holiday Weekend
The timing of the marine layer remains uncertain, while Sunday is expected to be sunny. Temperatures rebound through the weekend. The warm-up becomes more noticeable by Labor Day, when temperatures should return to normal. The forecast extends through next Wednesday.
The coast comes with a separate warning for the holiday weekend. The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazards Statement from Friday through Monday, citing sneaker waves, strong rip currents and breaking waves that could reach 10 feet; beachgoers are urged to stay out of the water unless they are expert swimmers and never turn their backs on the ocean.
