California weather whiplash: Hottest days of the year so far could give way to rain
Friday and Saturday are shaping up to be the hottest days so far this year across much of Northern California. Just two days later, valley and coastal rain and Sierra Nevada snow could be back in the forecast.
It's part of an unsettled spring weather pattern that continues across the West Coast, with gradually climbing temperatures interspersed by a couple of days of wetter and windier conditions. The storm track continues to weaken and migrate north for summer, but its last gasp during spring can send enough energy toward California for briefly turbulent weather.
Here's what to expect for the next few days across Northern California as the weather pattern goes from warm to potentially wet.
Friday and Saturday warmth
A high-pressure system squarely in place over the Western U.S. will send temperatures soaring Friday and Saturday. San Jose, Antioch and Fairfield will flirt with 90 degrees Friday, roughly 15 degrees above average. Sacramento could hit 95 degrees Saturday for the first time in 2025, which would be more than two weeks earlier than normal.
No temperature records are forecast to be broken in Northern California, but a few could be threatened in Central and Southern California, including Burbank, Woodland Hills, Paso Robles and Hanford. Additional records are possible elsewhere across the West.
A heat advisory is in place for the Inland Empire and the valleys of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, where triple-digit temperatures are possible Friday and Saturday.
Sunday winds raise fire risk
Sunday will mark a day of transition as the area of high pressure is shunted eastward by a low-pressure system approaching Oregon. The system will be too far away for widespread rain showers in Northern California on Sunday, but the rapid shift in atmospheric pressure will promote strong winds.
Gusts of 25 to 40 mph, combined with relative humidity below 20% in the interior North Bay, East Bay and Sacramento Valley, will promote a slight fire risk. Grass, brush and other small vegetation is still holding moisture from winter rain, but are slowly drying out and could be flammable if exposed to a spark.
U.S. Forest Service fire weather meteorologist Jonathan O'Brien said 'smoke in the air' from potential small grass fires could serve as a reminder to Californians that fire season is quickly approaching and that it's time to prepare. Exercise caution if recreating or operating machinery near dry grass this weekend, particularly Sunday.
Monday rain potential
By Monday, the storm system from Oregon may dig its way far enough toward California to bring scattered showers from roughly Mount Shasta to Santa Cruz.
Rainfall totals will depend on the trajectory of the storm. If it moves inland quickly, little to no precipitation will fall in the Bay Area. If the storm remains over the ocean, it will pick up more moisture and could deposit a tenth to a half-inch of rain in parts of the Bay Area. This wet scenario may also yield a half-foot of snow in the northern Sierra.
Weekend breakdown
San Francisco: The fog should stay away Friday for a gorgeous sunny day. Highs will be in the upper 50s to low 60s in the outer Sunset and Richmond districts, the mid-60s in Haight Ashbury, Pacific Heights and the Excelsior, the upper 60s to low 70s downtown and the mid-70s in the Mission. The sea breeze will pick up by 2 p.m., with gusts up to 25 mph through the evening. Lows will be in the lower 50s.
Saturday will be the best day of the weekend to get outside. Winds will be fairly light in the morning, with limited fog possibly making for good biking weather across the Golden Gate Bridge. Another breezy evening is expected. Saturday's high temperatures will be similar to or a few degrees lower than Friday's. Winds blowing from the coast to the bay will keep the city cooler Sunday, with highs only in the upper 50s to mid-60s, but partly to mostly sunny skies should continue. There's a slight chance of drizzle Sunday night, especially in the hills.
North Bay: Friday could be the warmest day so far this year throughout much of the area under abundant sunshine. If Kentfield reaches 87 degrees, it would be the city's hottest day since October. Highs will be in the mid-80s throughout Wine Country and the upper 80s to low 90s in Solano County. Saturday will probably be a couple of degrees cooler than Friday in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and San Rafael but a few degrees warmer in Solano County, while Napa County's temperatures are forecast to be similar both days.
Sunday will mark a day of change as winds increase and temperatures drop. Skies should stay mainly clear, but highs will be only in the low 60s at the coast and the upper 60s to mid-70s inland, much closer to normal for this time of year. Gusts could exceed 40 mph in the delta region Sunday evening with increasing late-day clouds. Lows will be in the upper 40s to mid-50s this weekend.
East Bay: A few 90-degree readings are possible along Highway 4 and Interstate 580, particularly in the Tri-Valley and near Antioch and Brentwood. Livermore hit 90 once this year, in March. Oakland could flirt with 80 degrees Friday. Alameda, Richmond and Berkeley will probably stay in the mid-70s, while Hayward and Fremont reach the low to mid-80s. Gusts up to 20 mph are expected in the evening. Lows will be in the low to mid-50s.
Another day of mostly sunny skies is expected Saturday with highs in the 70s to low 80s along the bay shoreline and mid-80s inland. The sea breeze could begin a bit stronger with gusts up to 25 mph. A light breeze will continue overnight, signaling changes to come Sunday. Highs will drop about 10 to 15 degrees Sunday, to the 60s to low 70s along the bay shoreline and low 70s inland. Overnight lows will be around 50 with increasing clouds Sunday night.
Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Mostly sunny skies are expected along the Peninsula on Friday. High temperatures will be near normal at the beaches and about 10 degrees above normal along the Highway 101 corridor, in the low 60s in Pacifica, low 70s in San Bruno and low 80s in Redwood City. The sea breeze will bring gusts up to 25 mph near San Francisco International Airport in the afternoon and evening. Sunshine will continue Saturday with highs dropping a couple of degrees and another breezy afternoon. Lows will be around 50.
Temperatures will drop more dramatically Sunday. There may be a bit of fog to contend with in the morning at the beaches, but it will still be relatively sunny for May standards. However, a cooler air mass and more persistent breeze will keep temperatures in the 60s everywhere, even near the bay shoreline. Clouds will thicken by Monday morning for a chance of drizzle.
South Bay and Santa Cruz: Friday will probably be San Jose's hottest day since October, with temperatures rising to the upper 80s under clear skies. Parts of the Santa Clara Valley could threaten 90 degrees. It'll be a warm one in Santa Cruz County, too, with highs in the low to mid-80s except for the immediate coastline where a shallow marine layer will hold on and keep conditions cooler. Saturday should be a repeat of Friday's weather, perhaps a couple of degrees cooler. Lows will be in the mid- to upper 50s both nights.
Temperatures will drop dramatically Sunday. Milpitas, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara may not even hit 70 degrees as a cool breeze blows in off San Francisco Bay. Gusts up to 30 mph are possible throughout the valley and in the mountains. Despite the cooldown, skies should remain mainly sunny. Overnight lows will drop to the mid-40s to low 50s Sunday night.
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