San Francisco, CA – Following a sunny start to the week, the Bay Area is preparing for unsettled weather as a low-pressure system approaches, potentially bringing isolated thunderstorms, lightning, small hail, and gusty winds on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a weather outlook on Tuesday, indicating up to a 20% chance of thunderstorms, particularly across the Central Coast and southern stretches of the South Bay. While the thunderstorm threat remains low, forecasters caution that lightning strikes could ignite dry fuels, posing a fire risk. However, conditions are not expected to support large-scale fire spread.
Meteorologists observed increasing moisture in the middle levels of the atmosphere via weather balloon data from Oakland, noting the development of drizzle, especially in higher terrain like the Santa Cruz Mountains. The drizzle is expected to taper off later on Tuesday.
The NWS advises residents to remain alert and take precautions if storms develop, reiterating the saying: "When thunder roars go indoors and see a flash, dash inside!"
The unsettled weather pattern is expected to fade by Thursday, giving way to a warming trend. Temperatures are forecast to rise through the weekend under a building ridge of high pressure, potentially prompting a minor heat risk alert for heat-sensitive individuals in coastal and interior zones who lack adequate hydration or cooling.
