Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for San Rafael, CA

SHORT TERM
Issued at 1222 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026 (This evening through Wednesday)

Temperatures this afternoon will warm into the upper 50s to mid 60s near the coast and the interior reaching into the mid 60s to lower 70s under mostly sunny sky conditions. These temperatures are slightly below seasonal averages, generally up to 5 deg F cooler and up to 15 deg F cooler in the higher terrain. This is as a short-wave trough lingers over the Bay Area and northern Central Coast.

Expecting low clouds to return to the coast and locally inland into the coastal adjacent valleys overnight tonight and more so into Wednesday morning. There is a greater probability of this to occur as the marine layer is forecast to deepen overnight to around 1,000 feet.

On Wednesday, as low clouds gradually retreat to the coast, temperatures rebound to near or slightly above (up to 5 deg F)
seasonal averages. However, cooler temperatures will persist in the higher elevations. This is as high pressure begins to build eastward from the eastern Pacific.

LONG TERM
Issued at 1222 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026 (Wednesday night through next Monday)

The warming trend will continue into late week with interior temperatures up to 10 deg F above normal by Friday as the aforementioned ridge builds overhead. Friday is when we have the greatest probability of reaching or exceeding 85 deg F across the interior, with the warmest being across the interior Central Coast (greater than 50%). However, the marine layer will remain in place and keep temperatures cooler near the coast. This is as the ebb and flow of late evening and overnight stratus returns to the coast and coastal adjacent valleys each day.

A slight cooling trend is forecast to return on Saturday as a mid/upper level low drops southward out of the Gulf of Alaska. This low pressure system will eventually become a cut-off low with high pressure building across British Columbia late in the upcoming weekend setting up a Rex block. This would bring drizzle and/or light rain to the coastal waters Saturday night and into Sunday.
Then, as the mid/upper level low shifts inland Monday and Tuesday, it will bring increasing chances for drizzle and/or light rain to the Bay Area and Central Coast. Rainfall amounts from this system are expected to remain light, however they will make for wet roadways across the region.

AVIATION
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1000 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Starting to see some patchy stratus develop near HAF and Monterey Bay as of the 06Z. Elsewhere VFR with no notable clouds. Winds continue to ease and will do so through the night. Still expecting some patchy stratus to impact terminals Wednesday AM.
That being said, if a trend is your friend the 00Z models have trended slightly drier across the N and E Bay for cloud development. Not enough of a trend to remove CIGs , but conf is less. VFR most areas Wednesday afternoon except KHAF.

Vicinity of SFO...No big change from 00Z tafs. MVFR CIGs developing early Wednesday. Lower conf for sure as cigs will be drifting in from the N and barely hitting the terminal.

SFO Bridge Approach...VFR for most of tonight. Less clouds for Wednesday AM. CIGs more likely north of the approach for AM rush.

Monterey Bay Terminals...CIGs knocking on MRY's doorstep. SNS CIGs develop later tonight. Both terminals then clear during Wednesday mid morning.



MARINE
(Tonight through next Monday)
Issued at 938 PM PDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Northerly flow will increase as high pressure builds to the north. Fresh to strong breezes will result in locally hazardous conditions to small craft, especially the outer waters north of Point Reyes. The stronger winds will also produce a fresh swell of 8 to 12 feet through Friday.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Wednesday to 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Wednesday to 3 PM PDT Thursday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 PM PDT Thursday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.