Bay Area Breaks 103-Year-Old Winter Record as Cold Front Lingers Across California

The Bay Area shattered a 103-year-old temperature record as persistent fog kept daytime highs unusually low.

On Sunday, San Francisco reached only 50 degrees, breaking the previous record cool high of 51 degrees for November 30, set in 1922, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologists attribute the chilly conditions to persistent “Tule” fog, which has trapped moisture in the lower atmosphere following a wet October and November.

“It’s called a Tule fog, but that’s just a local reference to the phenomena that sets up in general, usually in the early winter,” said NWS Bay Area meteorologist Roger Gass.

The fog is expected to persist through Monday, before offshore winds arrive Tuesday, bringing gusts of 30 to 45 mph in the North Bay, Bay Area hills, and Santa Cruz Mountains. Conditions should ease after Wednesday as weak high pressure moves in, initiating a gradual warming trend through the weekend.

The Climate Prediction Center’s 8- to 14-day outlook indicates temperatures trending above normal, with near- or slightly below-normal chances of precipitation.

Hazardous beach conditions will continue through Wednesday evening, with risks of sneaker waves and strong rip currents from Sonoma to Monterey counties. King Tides are expected December 2–7.

Daytime Forecast for Wednesday Across the Bay Area (NWS):

San Francisco: Sunny, high near 62. North-northeast wind 10 mph, gusts up to 20 mph.
Walnut Creek: Mostly sunny, high near 63. North-northeast wind 8–13 mph, gusts up to 23 mph.
Pleasanton: Mostly sunny, high near 60. North-northeast wind 5–10 mph, gusts up to 18 mph.
Novato: Mostly sunny, high near 66. Light, variable wind becoming north-northeast 5–9 mph in the morning.
Fremont: Mostly sunny, high near 62. Northeast wind 5–9 mph.
San Mateo: Mostly sunny, high near 63. East wind 6–10 mph, shifting to north-northeast in the afternoon.
Petaluma: Mostly sunny, high near 65. West wind around 6 mph, shifting to north-northeast in the afternoon.
Healdsburg: Mostly sunny, high near 65. North-northwest wind 5–7 mph, shifting to northeast in the morning.
Santa Cruz: Mostly sunny, high near 63. North wind 5–7 mph.