Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Menlo Park, CA

SHORT TERM
(Today and tonight)
Issued at 130 AM PST Fri Jan 24 2025

Satellite imagery shows decks of stratus just off the coast of the North Bay, with a band of mid- to upper level clouds expected to move southwards through the day, heralding a change in the weather pattern. A positively tilted trough will develop from a trough in the Canadian Prairies, eroding the ridge that has given us fair weather over the last few days. As the trough axis approaches California, it reinforces a surface level low moving southwards across the state, and coastal drizzle is possible tonight.

Temperatures this morning range from the middle to upper 30s in the interior valleys to the lower to middle 40s closer to the coast. A Frost Advisory remains in effect for the southern Salinas Valley, where the coldest locations could see lows dip below freezing, until 9 AM. Daytime highs will reach the middle to upper 60s in the inland valleys, and the upper 50s to lower 60s along the coast. Frost products may need to be issued in the North Bay and southern Salinas valleys for the upcoming night, as low temperatures in those regions reach the middle 30s tonight.

LONG TERM
(Saturday through Thursday)
Issued at 130 AM PST Fri Jan 24 2025

The strengthening low pressure system will bring light rain to the Central Coast beginning on Saturday morning, continuing throughout the weekend. Rainfall totals are expected to be rather modest, with totals around a tenth to a quarter of an inch in the Monterey Bay, the Gilroy-Hollister area, and the northern Salinas Valley, and isolated totals of up to an half an inch in the Santa Lucias and the interior mountains. Across the Bay Area, rainfall chances are limited to a few hundredths of an inch along the coast and in the higher elevations, while strong offshore winds in the North Bay will prevent rain in the area. With 850 mb temperatures (around 1500 feet) dropping to the freezing point, the higher peaks of the Central Coast and eastern Santa Clara Hills could see snow on Sunday morning, with totals reaching 2-3 inches at the favored peaks.

Speaking of the winds, with gusts of up to 40-50 mph in the higher elevations, a Wind Advisory is in effect for the North Bay interior mountains Friday night into Sunday morning. The East Bay hills could also see some gusty winds with gusts around 25-30 mph through the weekend. Finally, there's a low chance for convective activity (up to 10% probability) across the Central Coast late Saturday into late Sunday. The cold upper level low will promote steep low level lapse rates, but dry air aloft will limit the chances of lift.

Dry weather should return Monday and stick around through at least the mid-week as ridging returns to the region. Highs during this period will hover in the middle 50s to the lower 60s across the lower elevations, near or slightly below the seasonal averages. Lows from Monday through Wednesday morning drop to the lower to middle 30s in the inland valleys, around 5 to 10 degrees below seasonal averages, and even near the coast lows hover around 40, resulting in a strand of chilly temperatures across the region. The NBM is starting to pick up on a chance for rain to return towards the latter part of next week, but rainfall amounts and timing depend on the prognosis of an incoming trough and how quickly it erodes the ridging. CPC outlooks show a signal for rainfall totals near or slightly above seasonal averages for the first week of February.

AVIATION
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 853 PM PST Thu Jan 23 2025

Satellite shows clear skies and dry conditions continuing this evening. Therefore, high confidence VFR through the TAF period for most terminals with exception of Monterey Bay. Winds are relatively light through the TAF period with the exception of KSNS.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR through the TAF period. Light winds through the TAF period with winds turning onshore and becoming moderate by Friday afternoon.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR through most of the TAF period. Models suggest ceilings rebuilding Friday night to MVFR but confidence is low to moderate. Moderate SE drainage expected overnight with onshore winds returning Wednesday afternoon.

MARINE
(Tonight through next Wednesday)
Issued at 853 PM PST Thu Jan 23 2025

Winds and seas increase into Friday as the next storm system arrives. Northerly winds will increase and wrap around a low pressure as it moves through the area with breezy and gusty winds expected. The Northern outer waters will experience gale-fore gusts. Expect rough to very rough seas Friday through Sunday before wave heights begin to abate and winds weaken Monday.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...Wind Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM PST Sunday for CAZ504.

Frost Advisory until 9 AM PST this morning for CAZ516.

PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM PST Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM PST Saturday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PST this afternoon for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

Gale Warning from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 AM PST Saturday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 PM PST Saturday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.