14 hours Ago By Tony Ng
Bay Area residents might need to keep their umbrellas handy for isolated showers and prepare for strong winds coming this weekend, as reported by the National Weather Service (NWS). According to NWS San Francisco, there's a slim chance for thunderstorms, particularly across the North Bay and higher elevations of eastern San Benito and adjacent parts of Monterey County. The storms could bring gusty winds up to 35 mph, small hail, and isolated lightning strikes.
Residents along the coast and in higher elevations should brace for windy weather over the weekend. These strong winds are expected to pick up speed, affecting outdoor activities and creating challenging conditions for high-profile vehicles. "The trough will spawn a cut-off low that moves into Southern California by Saturday," according to the National Weather Service.
This pattern is poised to generate 15-30 mph northwesterly winds, with gusts possibly hitting 50 mph.Fog is also likely a factor, especially along the San Francisco Peninsula coast and Monterey Bay region, with marine layer clouds potentially leading to reduced visibility in some areas. "The marine layer is currently around 1,000 feet according to area profilers," states NWS San Francisco, highlighting the likelihood of fog affecting coastal communities like Corallitos and points along Big Sur.
As for the aviation forecast, mixed visibility conditions currently range from VFR to IFR at local airports. However, improvements are expected by the afternoon, with VFR conditions prevailing and clouds sticking mostly to the coast. Mariners, on the other hand, should prepare for less than ideal conditions.
The National Weather Service cautions, "Strong northwesterly breezes with near-gale force gusts will continue over the outer waters through Thursday morning along with rough seas." Sailors and fishermen should take heed of these advisories and plan their activities accordingly..
