San Francisco is sunny today with a high near 71°F, easing back to around 68°F by afternoon as the sea breeze fills in — so get your outdoor plans in before the wind builds and take a layer for tonight’s drop to around 55°F.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service’s San Francisco office notes warm air aloft has kept us above normal lately, but Thursday cools back closer to seasonal norms as onshore flow strengthens. It’s genuinely uncertain whether Karl the Fog shows up this morning — forecasters put coastal stratus at just a 25% chance by sunrise, with even less chance it pushes inland, and if it does form, it should burn off by late morning. Expect west-southwest wind at 7-15 mph, gusting as high as 23 mph.
Best Window To Be Outside
Late morning through early afternoon is your sweet spot, before winds ramp up along the coast. Golden Gate Park and Marina Green are solid bets for sun; Ocean Beach could still see lingering haze if the stratus forms. Once the wind picks up this afternoon, it’s better suited to kite flying at Crissy Field than a picnic.
Fire Weather Risk
The NWS is flagging elevated fire weather conditions today, with moderate-to-strong winds along the coast and in the mountains, and breezy onshore winds continuing into Friday. If you’re near the urban-wildland edge, now’s a good time to check that your garden hose 100ft reaches your whole yard and keep an N95 respirator mask smoke on hand in case smoke drifts in.
What To Wear Or Bring
Morning starts near 58°F, climbs to 71°F by midday, then slides back toward the mid-50s by evening — classic Bay Area layering weather. A windbreaker is smart given those 20+ mph gusts. For a cool, breezy evening at home, a TIKI Brand resin smokeless fire pit makes the backyard usable well past sunset.
Games, Concerts & Deals
Ella Mai brings her Do You Still Love Me? Tour to Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on Saturday, July 18 — grab tickets on SeatGeek and an Ella Mai hoodie for the cool evening air. The Oakland Athletics host the Washington Nationals at Sutter Health Park on July 18 and July 19; suit up in an Oakland Athletics jersey and see tickets on SeatGeek. If you’re headed south, catch the Nate Bargatze comedy show at SAP Center at San Jose tomorrow, July 17. With breezy fire-season days like this, the DARAN 288Wh Power Station is worth a look for backup power if winds prompt any outages.
Dinner Idea
With temps dropping into the 50s tonight, a warm bowl of pasta or a quick stir-fry hits the spot. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Friday stays mostly sunny with a high near 65°F and continued breezy onshore winds, and forecasters say the marine layer has a better shot at returning Friday morning. Overnight lows hold in the mid-50s through the weekend. For more outdoor gear ahead of the breezy stretch, check out outdoor gear deals.
