After weeks of rain, the Bay Area has finally seen some sunny, mild weather in the past few days. Unfortunately, the mild weather may not continue; the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for the Santa Clara Hills and a Cold Weather Advisory for parts of the Bay Area and Central Coast from until 9 am on Friday. While San Francisco is typically known for its mild weather and fog, the temperature can drop at times.
The forecasted temperatures could dip to the mid to low 30s in the East Bay and SF Bay Shoreline, except for the Interior Monterey and San Benito counties, which could experience temperatures in the high 20s.
While these temperatures are typical for winter in many areas across the United States, they are more of a rarity in the Bay Area. The NWS recommends wearing layers and being mindful of safety precautions to prevent fires if you use a portable heater.
A major hazard of cold temperatures is prolonged exposure, which primarily affects unhoused people in the area and can be very dangerous.
In late 2025, San Francisco expanded shelter capacity to ensure people have warm places to sleep during the winter, and you can find resources and a list of available shelters here. If you would like to volunteer or donate to local nonprofits and shelters in San Francisco, you can find a list of nonprofit partners with the city here.
There is also currently a high surf advisory in effect until 10 pm on Friday night. The waves could reach up to 22 feet, with strong rip currents that can be very dangerous for swimmers. The advisory applies to the Pacific coast from Sonoma to Monterey, and swimmers are advised to stay out of the water.
You can find more updates and advisories at the National Weather Service Bay Area page.