San Francisco should see skies clear by late morning and early afternoon Wednesday, with a high around 66 degrees. The latest forecast calls for partly sunny skies Thursday, then clearing, with highs near 68 Thursday and Friday. The bigger concern remains rising water along the Bay shoreline and increasingly dangerous ocean surf later this week. The National Weather Service’s San Francisco forecast gives Wednesday’s updated sky conditions and high.
Sunny Wednesday, Breezier Wednesday Afternoon and Evening
Thursday is forecast to become sunny after a partly sunny start, with a high near 68 degrees; Friday is expected to be mostly sunny, also with a high near 68. The National Weather Service forecast has the updated outlook.
After Hoodline's Tuesday forecast covered the wet commute and weekend warmup, the latest outlook adds a longer-running shoreline concern through Monday.
High Tides Keep Bayfront Areas On Alert
A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect from 6 a.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Monday.
At the San Francisco tidal gauge, high tide is expected around 8:35 a.m. Thursday, 9:08 a.m. Friday, 9:38 a.m. Saturday, 10:06 a.m. Sunday and 10:35 a.m. Monday; Wednesday morning’s high tide has passed. Anyone driving near the Bayfront should allow extra time, avoid barricades and never drive through water of unknown depth. The National Weather Service lists the updated tide times and travel precautions.
San Francisco’s shoreline flooding is not just a rainy-day problem: the city’s emergency planning identifies high tides, storm surge and Pacific wave action as coastal-flood drivers, with storm impacts most typical from November through February. For this advisory, the National Weather Service says low-lying shoreline areas could see up to 1.6 feet of inundation above ground, with up to 1.2 feet of surge adding to astronomical tides. The city’s flood plan outlines those coastal hazards, and the current advisory gives the inundation and surge estimates.
Beach Hazards Could Return Later This Week
A Beach Hazards Statement is now in effect for Pacific Coast beaches from 5 a.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Saturday, with sneaker waves and strong rip currents possible and breaking waves of 12 to 16 feet expected. The National Weather Service statement gives the current timing and surf hazard.
Beachgoers should stay out of the water and keep away from jetties, piers, rocks and other waterside infrastructure.
Sneaker waves can arrive after a stretch of smaller surf, making a beach appear safer than it is. The National Weather Service notes that lulls of 10 to 20 minutes can precede a larger wave, which may surge much farther up the beach than expected. That makes distance from the water especially important during the statement period; the agency advises beachgoers to remain out of the water and away from rocks, jetties and piers. NWS guidance explains how sneaker waves can catch people off guard.
Saturday Looks Like The Warmest Day
The forecast now calls for a sunny high near 73 degrees Saturday, followed by mostly sunny skies and highs near 72 Sunday, 70 Monday and 70 Tuesday. The pleasant inland weather may be ideal for outdoor plans, but Bayfront and ocean outings will still require attention to tide and surf conditions. The National Weather Service’s seven-day forecast gives the updated temperatures and outlook.
