If you’ve been enjoying the Bay Area’s recent sunny streak, Thursday offers your best bet for warm temperatures before a gradual cooling trend sets in. The region is experiencing its warmest day in the current forecast period, with morning fog giving way to pleasant afternoon conditions—though Pacific coast beaches remain under hazardous surf warnings.
Today’s high temperatures will reach the 60s across most of the Bay Area, with some interior areas potentially hitting the low 70s. According to the National Weather Service, the Santa Cruz Mountains and southern Santa Clara Valley could see temperatures climbing to 70-75 degrees, while Monterey and San Benito counties are expected to experience widespread 70s. A few interior areas in southern Monterey County might even break 80 degrees this afternoon—a notable departure from the recent cold spell that brought freezing temperatures to parts of the region earlier this month.
Morning Fog Lingers in Valleys
The morning started with fairly consistent fog across the Delta and interior valleys, particularly around the Russian River in Sonoma County. The National Weather Service noted that this fog appears “more uniform than the previous night” and is “more defined on satellite,” suggesting it could persist longer into the morning than in recent days. After the fog clears, the region is set for another sunny day driven by the mostly dry air mass currently dominating the area.
These warm, dry conditions have contributed to what may become one of the driest Januarys on record for the Bay Area, as reported by Hoodline. The extended dry spell comes after California achieved a remarkable milestone: for the first time in 25 years, not a single square mile of the state registered as dry on the U.S. Drought Monitor, thanks to an earlier onslaught of impactful rain that left reservoirs well-stocked.
Cooling Trend Through Weekend
While Thursday represents the peak warmth, temperatures will start a gradual decline heading into the weekend. The ridge of high pressure that has been keeping conditions stable and sunny is expected to narrow, allowing for slight cooling in high temperatures while morning lows remain relatively steady. By Sunday, the orientation of the ridge could allow for a very weak onshore flow at the immediate coast, potentially bringing back a shallow marine layer. According to the National Weather Service, foggy mornings could return Sunday and into next week, though the lingering dry conditions and some thermal interference from passing high clouds might limit fog development…