San Francisco is headed into a sunny but cool Friday, with temperatures climbing to about 67 degrees before west winds strengthen through the afternoon. The city stays comfortable through the weekend, but anyone heading to the coast will need to treat the surf as the real weather story.
The National Weather Service has issued a Beach Hazards Statement for Pacific Coast beaches through Monday evening, warning of sneaker waves, strong rip currents and breaking waves reaching around 10 feet. The safest move is to stay out of the water and away from rocks, piers, jetties and other shoreline infrastructure, according to the National Weather Service San Francisco.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up Across San Francisco
Friday afternoon brings west-southwest winds of 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph, while skies remain sunny. Temperatures fall back toward the mid-50s Friday night, followed by a mostly sunny Saturday with a high near 66 and a sunny Sunday topping out around 67.
The latest outlook adds a significant coastal safety concern to the warmup described in an earlier Hoodline forecast. Even with blue skies, west winds and long-period swell can make exposed beaches and waterfront areas feel considerably rougher than the city streets.
Labor Day Warms Up After Early Fog
Labor Day should bring sunshine and temperatures around 71 degrees. Tuesday's daytime conditions are unspecified, while a slight chance of light rain arrives Tuesday night into Wednesday, when the high is expected to be around 72.
Beachgoers Face A Dangerous Holiday-Weekend Setup
The incoming swell is tied to tropical activity in the eastern Pacific and can push waves much farther up the sand than expected. Officials advise beachgoers never to turn their backs on the ocean; anyone caught in a rip current should swim parallel to shore until the pull eases, then head toward land.
