Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Pacifica, CA

SHORT TERM
(This afternoon through Wednesday)
Issued at 1136 AM PST Tue Feb 18 2025

Satellite imagery shows high clouds throughout the region as a shortwave ridge moves through the West Coast. Cloud cover will steadily increase through the day, as a cold front approaches the region. This cold front will bring light rain to the North Bay and the coastal San Mateo Peninsula, and we do mean light rain. Perhaps up to a quarter of an inch in the North Bay coastal ranges, down to a few hundredths of an inch in the southern fringes of the North Bay and the San Mateo Peninsula. Any rain chances should end by Wednesday afternoon, and in the post-frontal environment, winds will pick up, but with the strongest gusts coming up to around 25 to 35 miles per hour across the ridgetops, the gaps and passes, and along the coast, no Wind Advisory is expected.

High temperatures today and tomorrow will generally fall in the middle to upper 60s in the inland valleys, the upper 50s to the lower 60s in the coastal and Bayshore regions, down to the lower to middle 50s in the higher elevations. Highs in the North Bay will drop by a couple of degrees on Wednesday as the cold front moves through. Low temperatures Wednesday morning range from the upper 30s to middle 40s in the inland valleys, to the upper 40s to lower 50s

LONG TERM
(Wednesday night through next Monday)
Issued at 1136 AM PST Tue Feb 18 2025

Gusty conditions in the higher elevations prevail through Thursday night, especially in the North Bay, but again, we do not expect to see conditions reaching Wind Advisory criteria. Temperatures will begin to warm in the latter part of the week, with the building of a more substantial ridge over the western United States. By the upcoming weekend, high temperatures should reach the middle to upper 70s in the inland valleys, around 8 to 12 degrees above the seasonal averages. With the ridging pattern promoting dry and clear conditions, this should be a pleasant weekend for outdoor activities. While a new rain system is expected for Saturday night and Sunday, it's aimed pretty squarely at the Pacific Northwest and the North Coast. The chances for rain in the North Bay aren't that high, even in the Sonoma coastal ranges, and where there are rain chances the totals aren't eye-raising. Further ahead, the potential for a cut-off low in the Northeastern Pacific, a notoriously difficult pattern to predict, will make any forecast past the early part of next week very uncertain.

AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 314 PM PST Tue Feb 18 2025

VFR will continue until early Wednesday morning (after 12Z-15Z)
where MVFR conditions are expected to build. Very light scattered showers are expected late tonight into Wednesday morning over the North Bay and SF Bay terminals. These conditions should improve after 21-22Z to VFR for most terminals. Light southerly winds will turn to W/NW light to moderate winds by Wednesday afternoon.

Vicinity of SFO...VFR until early Wednesday morning where MVFR conditions are expected to build but confidence is moderate, with a chance ceilings my remain VFR. After 21Z, expect VFR to prevail through the TAF period.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR currently but there is some uncertainty on timing of when MVFR conditions will develop Wednesday morning. If low CIGs develop, expect MVFR to continue through the end of the TAF period.

MARINE
(Tonight through next Sunday)
Issued at 314 PM PST Tue Feb 18 2025

Moderate to rough seas continue into the afternoon with moderate northwesterly winds. Expect west- northwest swell building 10-12 feet. Theres a chance for scattered light showers over our northern waters tonight through Wednesday morning. Waves and wind will ease for a short time midweek with moderate northwest swell redeveloping late in the week.

BEACHES
Issued at 323 AM PST Tue Feb 18 2025

Moderate west swell 10 to 12 feet at 14 to 15 seconds today. This will result in breaking waves generally between 10 to 15 feet with occasional breaking waves up to 18 feet. A beach hazards statement is not warranted, however surf conditions will be closely monitored through early week. As always, if going to the beach especially during increased surf, it's important to be vigilant and never turn your back on the ocean.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Wednesday to 9 PM PST Thursday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 3 PM PST Wednesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.