Winter Winds

[Bay Wave]

I’m not familiar w/ the winter winds in the bay (e.g. direction, gusts, etc.). Noticed that the wind has picked up over the last day or two and that the conditions appear to be decent at 3rd. Could anyone provide some guidance here…is it worth trying to kite this afternoon?

[friggin old guy]

Winter winds in the Bay Area tend to be frontally driven, and you get warmer southerly winds coming in with storms and colder....usually REALLY cold....clearing winds out of the NW after those storms pull through.

"Normal" winds during the spring and summer season are generated by thermal lows inland with high pressure offshore, resulting in reliable winds out of the NW.

Winter winds are generally more sketchy and gusty regardless of direction. This particular low pressure system passing down the west coast this week looks to be generating something a bit more similar to summer wind direction/flow and probably a bit warmer than clearing winds we see this time of year. Be careful and check with locals before you go out to ask for what to watch for.....often times you'll see these winds tweak towards the north, especially at the tail end as the system passes through. That can do some weird stuff so don't be complacent.