Live marine layer dashboard
San Francisco Bay Area Fog Map and Forecast
A fast, forecast-first view of where Bay Area fog is now, when it may clear, and how the marine layer is expected to move through San Francisco, the coast, Marin, the East Bay, the Peninsula, and inland valleys.
3D marine layer
Fog layer map
Use the presets to jump to common fog corridors, then play the 36-hour timeline to watch fog spread inland and clear back toward the coast.
Bay Area satellite
Latest Bay Area satellite loop
Use this animated GOES loop as live cloud context for the 3D fog map, city forecasts, and shoreline-to-inland fog timing.
Reading the forecast
How to read the fog map
The white layer is the forecast fog and low cloud field. Brighter, more continuous shading means a stronger fog signal; thin or broken shading means the edge is uncertain and nearby neighborhoods may look different.
Use the time control like a clock. If the white layer pushes through the Golden Gate or over the coastal hills, fog is likely moving into San Francisco, Marin, or the inner Bay. If it pulls back toward the ocean, clearing is underway.
Terrain matters. Fog usually reaches the coast and west side first, then follows gaps and lower terrain inland. The city table is the point forecast; the 3D map shows the nearby hills, valleys, and edges that explain why one side of town can be gray while another is clear.
For the longer-term pattern, compare annual fog hours on the Bay Area fog heat map.
FAQ
Bay Area fog forecast questions
Is it foggy in San Francisco right now?
Yes. Fog is showing around San Francisco now, especially near Sunset District, Sausalito, Pacifica, and Downtown San Francisco. Visibility in the foggiest nearby spot is around 7.6 miles. It should thin out around Thursday 3 PM, then come back around Thursday 9 PM.
Will it be foggy in San Francisco today?
Yes. San Francisco has about 9 forecast hours with fog left today. The west side, Golden Gate, and coast are the first places to turn gray. Fog is expected around Thursday 10 AM and should thin out around Thursday 3 PM.
What time will the fog clear in the Bay Area?
Fog should hang on longest near Downtown Oakland, with clearing around Thursday 3 PM. Places like Sausalito and Downtown San Francisco may break out earlier.
Where is Bay Area fog most likely right now?
Right now, the foggiest spots are Sunset District, Sausalito, Pacifica, Downtown Berkeley, and Downtown San Francisco.
How far inland will the marine layer reach?
The marine layer reaches at least the inland East Bay valleys in this forecast, with fog or patchy fog showing for Walnut Creek and Livermore. Fog is expected around Thursday 10 AM and should thin out around Thursday 12 PM.
Why is San Francisco foggy when Oakland or San Rafael is clear?
That classic split is not really showing right now: San Francisco is low clouds, Oakland is low clouds, and San Rafael is mostly clear. When it does happen, the reason is geography. Marine air enters first through the Golden Gate and west side of San Francisco, while Oakland, Marin valleys, and inland areas often clear faster because hills and daytime heating thin the low cloud deck.
Is the Golden Gate Bridge foggy today?
Yes. Fog is likely around the Golden Gate now. Nearby spots are Sunset District: low clouds, Downtown San Francisco: low clouds, and Sausalito: low clouds. Fog is expected around Thursday 10 AM and should thin out around Thursday 5 PM.
How accurate is this Bay Area fog forecast?
This forecast was last updated Sep 17, 7:01 AM. It is best for the big practical questions: when fog arrives, where it is most likely, and how far inland the marine layer may push. The exact edge can still wobble by neighborhood, especially near Ocean Beach, Twin Peaks, the Golden Gate, and the immediate coast.
Where does this fog forecast data come from?
This forecast uses NOAA HRRR data directly on a native 3 km grid, including low-cloud cover, surface visibility, terrain elevation, cloud ceiling, cloud top, and boundary-layer height. SFBayWeather classifies surface fog separately from elevated marine cloud and labels cloud heights as either HRRR-derived or estimated. The map is a model forecast, not a webcam or satellite observation. Last updated Sep 17, 7:01 AM.
What is the difference between fog and the marine layer?
The marine layer is the cool, moist Pacific air sitting under an inversion. Fog is what you feel at street level when that low cloud layer reaches the ground and cuts visibility. Low clouds can still make the sky gray even when the roads and sidewalks are not actually foggy.