FXUS66 KMTR 032118 AFDMTR Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service San Francisco CA 118 PM PST Tue Mar 3 2026 ...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM... .KEY MESSAGES... Updated at 117 PM PST Tue Mar 3 2026 - Moderate to strong winds expected along the coast and across higher terrain Wednesday through Friday - Offshore winds will bring warmer weather this weekend && .SHORT TERM... Issued at 117 PM PST Tue Mar 3 2026 (This evening through Wednesday) Mostly sunny skies have returned to the region this afternoon, except for coastal locations of Marin County and the San Francisco Peninsula. As such, temperatures are forecast to warm up to around 10 degrees F above seasonal averages in the warmest interior valleys has a short wave ridge builds ahead of an approaching mid/upper level trough. A rather dry cold front is forecast to move through the region on Wednesday morning with increasing north to northwest winds developing by the late morning and more so by the afternoon. There remains a slight chance for light rain across far northern Sonoma County, yet not expecting much if any measurable rainfall. The strongest winds tomorrow will remain over the coastal waters, along the coastline, and in the higher terrain with gusts up to 35-45 mph. However, at this time, we do not anticipate a Wind Advisory as widespread coverage does not appear to be great enough. Temperatures Wednesday afternoon will be near seasonal averages in wake of the frontal passage with clearing skies. && .LONG TERM... Issued at 117 PM PST Tue Mar 3 2026 (Wednesday night through next Monday) Moderate winds are forecast to resume Wednesday night into Thursday and will limit the cooling potential. As such, expecting upper 30s to lower 40s across the interior with low to upper 40s across the remainder of the region. Winds increase once again Thursday afternoon with similar directions and speeds as previously mentioned in the short term discussion. Friday and Saturday will begin a warming trend as the mid/upper level low pressure moves from the Great Basin into the Intermountain West. This will result in offshore flow, especially for the higher terrain across the region. By Sunday afternoon, temperatures are forecast to be between 10 to 20 degrees above normal resulting in more widespread Minor HeatRisk. This will be as a mid/upper level cut off low develops off the coast of Baja California. The forecast ensembles show continued ridging across the region which supports the Climate Prediction Center's above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation in the 8-14 Day Outlooks. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 934 AM PST Tue Mar 3 2026 Lingering MVFR-LIFR stratus and fog continue across the Bay Area and the southern Monterey Bay region, with further dissipation expected through the next few hours barring the immediate coast near Point Reyes and the western side of the San Mateo Peninsula, where the stratus could linger through the day. A light to gentle onshore flow will develop this afternoon, lingering into the evening as the stratus returns to the valleys. The passing of a cold front may result in some sprinkles overnight into Wednesday morning, but the main impact will be to maintain a moderate northwest breeze through the night before winds increase Wednesday afternoon, after the end of the 24-hour TAF period. Vicinity of SFO... MVFR-IFR stratus lingers for the next couple of hours. A gentle to moderate west-northwest breeze will develop through the afternoon and evening hours, with winds remaining gentle overnight as MVFR stratus returns to the terminal. Stronger winds are expected to develop on Wednesday as a cold front passes. SFO Bridge Approach... Similar to SFO. Monterey Bay Terminals... Lingering stratus should dissipate within the next hour. A gentle northwest breeze should develop in the afternoon, with light winds this evening as MVFR stratus returns overnight. Winds begin to increase from the north towards the end of the TAF period, with clearing of the stratus around or just after the end of the TAF period. && .MARINE... (Today through Sunday) Issued at 846 AM PST Tue Mar 3 2026 Expect hazardous marine weather conditions Wednesday through Friday. A moderate northwest breeze today increases to a strong northwest breeze on Wednesday and near gale force winds by Thursday. These winds will build very rough seas of 12 to 15 feet across exposed waters Thursday through Friday. && .MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CA...None. PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PST Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM. Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PST Wednesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm. Gale Warning from 9 PM Wednesday to 9 AM PST Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm. Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PST Wednesday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm. Gale Warning from 3 PM Wednesday to 9 AM PST Thursday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm. Gale Watch from Thursday morning through late Thursday night for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM. Gale Warning from 9 PM Wednesday to 3 AM PST Friday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM. && $$ SHORT TERM...RGass LONG TERM....RGass AVIATION...DialH MARINE...DialH 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