'Weather Roller Coaster' Ahead For The Bay Area: Forecast

SAN FRANCISCO — The recent run of summerlike weather will soon give way to some April showers in the Bay Area, with a stormier turn set to take hold this weekend, according to the latest forecasts.

After temperatures ranged from the mid-60s to low-80s earlier this week, the National Weather Service said an incoming storm system would create a "weather roller coaster" starting Friday night, bookended by the return of pleasant weather Monday.

"Cooler, windier, and wetter conditions [are] forecast across much of the area on Saturday," NWS Bay Area meteorologists said in a Friday briefing. "Wet conditions may linger as late as Sunday afternoon across parts of Monterey and San Benito counties, but we anticipate a return to more tranquil weather as we start the work week."

Most of the region can expect between a half-inch and an inch of rain through Sunday, with slightly higher totals likely across coastal ranges, forecasters said. According to the weather service, there will be a chance for isolated thunderstorms to develop Saturday, including brief bouts of hail in the South Bay.

Forecasters said the latest models showed weaker winds than initially expected, with maximum gusts ranging from 20 to 30 mph.

Fortunately, the storm should begin to fizzle out Sunday morning, and forecasters are optimistic that nice weather will not be far behind.

"A ridge pattern builds in quickly behind the weekend's rains, allowing for dry weather to return into next week," NWS Bay Area said. "This will also put the region into another warming trend with widespread 60 and 70-degree highs expected in the middle of the work week."