Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Petaluma, CA

SHORT TERM
Issued at 1216 AM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026 (Today and tonight)

The upper level low that brought beneficial rainfall the past few days has exited east with lingering low clouds overnight from the SF Peninsula south into Monterey and the Salinas Valley, and farther inland over the interior mountains of San Benito County. Low clouds will linger across the Bay Area and Central Coast through mid- morning today as a drier mid-level airmass filters in across our area under shortwave ridging aloft, with mostly sunny skies in the afternoon into the evening hours. High temperatures will begin their gradual increase through midweek today, with only slight increases from Mondays highs. Tonight into Wednesday morning will still be on the chilly side of normal with mostly clear skies, relatively light winds, and more efficient radiational cooling.

LONG TERM
Issued at 1216 AM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026 (Wednesday through Monday)

Temperatures on Wednesday will be similar or slightly higher on the backside of the progressive shortwave ridging. By Wednesday afternoon, onshore flow will increase out ahead of a sharpening trough that will bring gusty winds and a slight chance of rain across northern portions of the North Bay. The better fetch of onshore flow out ahead of the upper trough and associated surface boundary will be short lived but will produce more widespread cloud cover during the day and evening hours. Onshore flow will quickly transition to north/northeast offshore flow overnight into Thursday in the wake of the progressive upper trough. The gusty winds during the day Thursday, especially above 1000ft are not expected to exceed 40 MPH with little impacts. Winds ease Friday, while a still progressive but high amplitude ridge moves onshore producing a more notable jump in temperatures Friday and Saturday to slightly above normal for most locations. The active, progressive longwave pattern continues by the end of the weekend into the beginning of next week with an increasing signal for another round of widespread beneficial rainfall.

AVIATION
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 447 AM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Pockets of fog are affecting the North Bay terminals while MVFR CIGs are building for the rest of the TAF sites. CIGs and fog will erode into the mid to late morning leading to widespread VFR for the afternoon. Expect building winds into the afternoon, becoming moderate to breezy. These winds reduce into the evening and early night. MVFR-level CIGs return to the coast and HAF into the night.
These CIGs will be slower to build inland, but CIGs will be expected at LVK, MRY, and SJC into the late night and early Wednesday.

Vicinity of SFO...Spotty MVFR CIGs linger into the mid morning before eroding. Expect mostly moderate winds through the morning and into the afternoon before breezy west winds build in the mid afternoon. Winds reduce into the night, but remain moderate through the end of the TAF period.

SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.

Monterey Bay Terminals.. MVFR CIGs last into the late morning with mostly light winds. Expect CIGs to erode as winds build in the late morning and early afternoon. Moderate west winds look to last into the evening before reducing as scattered low clouds build into the area. MVFR CIGs look to fill over MRY into the late night.

MARINE
(Today through Sunday)
Issued at 447 AM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026

Moderate to fresh NW breezes and moderate build seas across the exposed coastal waters into the mid week. A cold front will increase winds to near gale force late Wednesday or early Thursday, building rough seas. Winds and seas ease into the weekend, but build again into the next work week with some chances for rain.

MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
CA...None.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT this evening for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM Wednesday to 3 AM PDT Thursday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PDT Wednesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Wednesday for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM Wednesday to 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.

Small Craft Advisory from 3 PM this afternoon to 3 AM PDT Thursday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.