Bay Area Warm-Up Ahead, With Temps Near 80 For Some: Forecast

SAN FRANCISCO — A stubborn stretch of cool, showery weather is finally coming to an end in the Bay Area, and for some, it may feel more like summer than spring by this weekend. The well-deserved shift is thanks to a ridge of high pressure building in the Golden State, which will send temps a few degrees higher Thursday — and further Friday and Saturday.

While the warmth may be less dramatic for San Francisco, Monterey and Half Moon Bay, the weather will still be pleasant and sunny, with afternoon highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Believe it or not, there is a chance for some communities to notch a couple of 80-degree days, including around Napa, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Livermore.

Right now, forecasters think the best shot for hitting the 80s will be up in Sonoma County, around Healdsburg.

"Highs are expected to peak Friday and Saturday, with the interior valleys seeing highs up to the upper 70s to lower 80s, and highs in the low to mid-60s expected along the coast and at the higher elevations," the National Weather Service said Wednesday. "Sunday should start to see the temperatures level off as the ridge degrades."

Even as temperatures taper off a bit Sunday and beyond, the extended forecast still shows plenty of sunshine through at least early next week. For those who have had quite enough of the stormy weather, there's a little more good news on the horizon.

Updated climate outlooks show strong odds for temperatures running unseasonably warm and dry over the last few days of April. But be warned: Cooler, wetter days could return to welcome May.