Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Stanford, CA

UPDATE
Issued at 909 PM PDT Tue May 20 2025

Skies remain clear across the region this evening. Dry conditions persist under the upper level ridge, with the Fort Hunter Liggett RAWS site reporting a minimum relative humidity of 8%, while a couple of sites on Highlands Peak near Lucia are currently seeing relative humidity values drop to the single digits as well offshore flow creates a nocturnal drying effect. With even warmer temperatures expected tomorrow (the warmest spots in the interior reaching the low to middle 90s), the elevated fire weather concerns continue tomorrow, especially for the finer fuels such as bushes and grasses.

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SHORT TERM
(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 244 PM PDT Tue May 20 2025

Key Messages

-Elevated fire weather concerns -Breezy north to northwest winds -Above normal seasonal temperatures

Upper level dynamics become more lean more zonal with minor signs of weak ridging. At the surface, we remain nestled between low pressure to our east and high pressure to our west leading to a tighter pressure gradient overhead. Breezy north to northwest winds look to persist through the period; however, warmer high temperatures and drier air is on tap for Wednesday. The elevated fire weather concerns will continue for finer fuels such as brush and grass, especially for interior regions.

LONG TERM
(Wednesday night through next Monday)
Issued at 244 PM PDT Tue May 20 2025

Key Messages

-Elevated fire weather concerns through Thursday -Breezy north to northwest winds -Cooler temperatures Thursday and Friday, seasonal temperatures return

An upper level trough swings through the PacNW on Thursday, which will bring slightly cooler weather to the region. A fairly dry day is still on tap, in terms of RH and no rain, with improving RH overnight. A secondary, and more broad upper level wave approaches the west and Central Coast for Friday, which will bring the coolest temperatures of the week. Upper level ridging looks to quickly fill behind it, leading to the return seasonal temperatures.

AVIATION
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 951 PM PDT Tue May 20 2025

The marine layer depth to the lower level temperature inversion varies from approx 700 feet to 1400 feet. Drier to much drier air is in the atmospheric mix within the gusty northwest winds along the coast, resulting in VFR. Gusty northwest winds are otherwise resulting in haze/hazy conditions due to sea spray/salt condensation nuclei lofted into the marine layer.

The northerly ACV-SFO pressure gradient is 7.4 mb, the onshore gradient SFO-SAC is 2.7 mb. Dry air tonight and Wednesday will have a good chance of continuously mixing into the marine layer i.e. the boundary layer helping to keep VFR going, except the immediate coast may see a patch or two of stratus and/or fog late at night and/or early morning. Otherwise VFR is forecast Wednesday.
Gusty west to northwest winds developing Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR. West wind 5 to 15 knots tonight and Wednesday morning. West wind with gusts increasing to near 30 knots Wednesday afternoon and evening.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...Moderate to high confidence VFR continues through late evening, then low to moderate confidence VFR forecast late tonight and Wednesday morning. Plenty of dry air is arriving from the north at and above the marine layer temperature inversion, since dry air is molecularly heavier than water vapor the current near term weather pattern may just help extend VFR here along the coastline through late tonight and Wednesday morning. Otherwise VFR Wednesday. West winds 5 to 10 knots tonight and Wednesday morning, increasing to 10 to 20 knots Wednesday afternoon and early evening.

MARINE
(Tonight through next Monday)
Issued at 909 PM PDT Tue May 20 2025

Strong northwesterly winds and hazardous seas will continue over the coastal waters tonight through late week. Westerly winds will become gusty over the bays each afternoon and evening. Winds will diminish and seas will subside gradually into the upcoming weekend.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM to 9 PM PDT Wednesday for Mry Bay.

Gale Warning until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning until 9 AM PDT Wednesday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Gale Warning until 9 PM PDT Wednesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.