101
FXUS66 KMTR 200402
AFDMTR

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
902 PM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026

...New UPDATE, MARINE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 1247 PM PDT Wed Mar 18 2026

 - Early season, long duration heat wave continues to bring
   record- breaking temperatures and Moderate HeatRisk through
   Friday

 - Elevated potential for grass fires through the week due to
   warm and dry conditions with periods of moderate offshore winds

 - Gradual cooling trend begins this weekend

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 853 PM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026

The forecast remains mostly on track, however adjusted max
temperatures for portions of the South Bay that haven`t been
getting as hot as their surrounding areas, likely due to the
seabreeze not making it as far south as central San Jose and
mixing the warmer inversion temperatures just above down to the
surface. The Heat Advisory will expire at 8 PM PDT tomorrow
evening, and we`re currently not anticipating extending it into
the weekend. Despite the cool down of about 10 degrees area wide
on Saturday, max temps will remain 10-15 degrees above normal
through the extended forecast.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 105 PM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026
(This evening through Friday)

Definitely a day of nuanced details and micro-climates around the
Bay Area and Central Coast. In the big picture it`s still hot
around the region with temperatures well above for late March. The
details however show many locations are running colder than
yesterday and some of these locations will fall short of their
forecast high temperature. The shallow marine layer from early
this morning was enough to cause havoc on max temps with any
marine influence. All that being said, did tweak a few
temperatures this afternoon, but didn`t completely give up on hope
for a warm up. A quick shift of the wind direction could allow
for a late day bump in temps. The airmass does support it as the
OAK sounding was 19.55C at 850mb at 12Z this am.

For tonight through Friday...marine layer from this morning has
faded and pretty much dissipated per satellite. Offshore flow is
gradually developing just above the surface. This will persist
overnight and actually strengthen a bit leading to better mixing
and some drying flow in the BL. Hi-res guidance shows this as well
with lower moisture at the surface. Some patchy clouds are
possible near the coast, but thinking less than last night.
Friday will be a transition day as the anomalously upper ridge
begins to slowly ease eastward. 500mb heights may decrease
slightly, but 850mb will likely reach their peak. As such, inland
areas have the potential of seeing some of their warmest temps
yet. Just like today however, coastal areas will be tricky again
with subtle temp differences due to marine influence late in the
day. Will keep Heat Advisory as is for now. Even if a few spots
near the coast/bays fall a little short of forecast highs heat
impacts are a cumulative effect.

&&

.LONG TERM...
Issued at 105 PM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026
(Friday night through next Wednesday)

The large area of high pressure continues its eastward push
Friday night into Saturday as an upstream trough/cold front moves
in. At the surface, local WRF model shows the rebuilding of the
marine layer Friday night. The cold front is expected to push
through day putting an end to the heat wave and bringing much
needed relief. The fropa will bring a 5 to 10 degree drop on
Saturday with an additionally 5 degrees on Sunday. Despite the
temp drop for Saturday and Sunday, temperatures will still be well
above normal for March. Temperatures moderate through the first
half of next week, but stay above normal with zonal flow over the
region. Previous forecast had precip brushing the N Bay around the
25th of March, but latest guidance continues with a drier
solution. If this chance of precip is looking less when does
confidence increase? Longer range ensemble forecast show a few
members producing rain around the beginning of April. As they say,
April showers bring May flowers. We`ll see...

&&

.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 432 PM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026

VFR for most sites through the TAF period. Winds remain breezy
through the early evening before weakening overnight. WRF guidance
shows some potential for another shallow (250 ft) marine layer to
develop again tonight. The HREF signal is not quite as strong as it
was last night but coastal sites (HAF, MRY, potentially SNS) may see
patchy stratus development overnight. Onshore winds strengthen again
by late tomorrow morning with winds peaking between 10-15kt.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR. Winds are expected to shift onshore this
afternoon/evening before weakening and becoming variable/offshore
again overnight. LAMP guidance shows a low potential for low lying
clouds to develop tonight but confidence is low due to high pressure
suppressing the marine layer. Onshore winds strengthen to around 15
kts tomorrow afternoon/evening. Main change to the TAF was to push
back the return of onshore winds tomorrow to closer to 00Z as they
have been returning later than originally forecast.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Light, onshore winds continue through this
evening before winds shift offshore overnight. Low chance of stratus
developing at MRY overnight as a shallow marine layer attempts to
redevelop. HREF guidance shows a patch of stratus in the Monterey
Bay tonight but the cloud cover signal is not very widespread -
keeping confidence lower. Winds shift onshore again tomorrow
afternoon with breezier conditions expected at SNS.

&&

.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Wednesday)
Issued at 853 PM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026

A gentle to moderate northwesterly breeze continues across the
coastal waters. Northwest winds start to increase tonight across
the outer waters before spreading across the inner waters Friday
into the weekend. Hazardous seas return by Friday night due to
strengthening winds. Gale force gusts are expected across the
outer waters late Saturday into early Sunday.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Issued at 421 AM PDT Wed Mar 18 2026

The following are the record high temperatures at the long term
sites for March 18th, 19th and 20th.

Location             Mar 19      Mar 20

Santa Rosa         83 in 2004  84 in 2004
San Rafael         81 in 1964  82 in 1960
Kentfield          83 in 1996  82 in 2001
Napa               86 in 1914  86 in 2004
Richmond           80 in 1996  81 in 2004
Livermore          82 in 2015  87 in 1915
San Francisco      80 in 2010  78 in 2004
SFO Airport        78 in 2010  78 in 2004
Redwood City       81 in 2010  82 in 2004
Half Moon Bay      79 in 2010  75 in 2010
Oakland Museum     81 in 1984  78 in 2001
San Jose           82 in 1988  78 in 2004
Salinas Airport    87 in 1997  80 in 1934

The following are the record high temperatures at the long term
sites for the entire month of March.

Location

Santa Rosa       91 on March 16, 2004
San Rafael       88 on March 25, 1952
Kentfield        91 on March 28, 1923
Napa             92 on March 17, 1914
Richmond         88 on March 18, 2026
Livermore        90 on March 25 and 26, 2025
San Francisco    87 on March 11, 2005
SFO Airport      85 on March 25, 1952 and March 17, 2026
Redwood City     93 on March 17, 2026
Half Moon Bay    83 on March 31, 2000 and March 17, 2004
Oakland Museum   89 on March 17, 2026
San Jose         89 on March 14, 2015
Salinas Airport  93 on March 18, 2026

&&

.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM PDT Friday for CAZ006-502>506-508>510-
     512>518-528>530.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Friday to 9 AM PDT Saturday for
     Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

     Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PDT Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt
     Reyes 10-60 NM.

&&

$$

SHORT TERM...MM
LONG TERM....MM
AVIATION...Kennedy
MARINE...Kennedy

Visit us at www.weather.gov/sanfrancisco

Follow us on Facebook, X, and YouTube at:
www.facebook.com/nwsbayarea
x.com/nwsbayarea
www.youtube.com/nwsbayarea