Does the Bay Area get cool arid windy weather? (Santa Ana: versus, conditions)

[HockeyMac18]

The wind in the Bay Area is generally most consistently strong in the summer when the pressure gradient between central valley (hot, hot, hot, often above 100 F) and the coast (cool moist air, often around 55-60 F) is at its most extreme. This is what typically drives the summer fog machine.

And this pressure gradient drives the extreme winds. They're usually at their strongest in the late afternoon/evening, then as the central valley cools off at night, the winds die down a bit (super strong mornings winds aren't as common for this reason).

Yes, people are talking about getting winds during storms in the winter...but these are not consistent winds, and aren't associated with arid/dry weather.

The summer is when you'll find the strong winds with dry weather.

This wind is most pronounced in SF, mid-peninsula (go check out the wind surfers out every day in the summer around Coyote point), East Bay areas along the Bay, and areas along the delta (the pressure gradient runs through the delta, which is the most direct connection for the cool coastal air to the hot air of the central valley).

We do get the offshore winds that come from the inland areas occasionally (like "Santa Anna winds"), and if they occur in the winter can be chilly/cool and dry.

[sav858]

The summer winds aren't really "dry" though as they bring in fog and humidity. I think the OP is referring to cold, dry winds in winter from the northern interior/Canada that don't bring rain similar to the "cold Santa Ana's" BayAreaHillbilly described.

[HockeyMac18]

Yea, I suppose. But there are various ways to interpret "dry", as the fog-driven winds don't (usually) have any precipitation. Especially as you get further up the delta where it's still windy but there's no real fog around.

But yes, I see your point.

[shooting4life]

It depends on how you define windy.

It is pretty windy for me right off of the bay (walking distance) in San Lorenzo. It was even worse for my parents when they lived near the base of Mt Diablo. Wasn't near as bad in Antioch where I grew up compared to both locations.

[Dave Coe]

What about hot dry winds like the Santa Anas in Socal.

[sav858]

Diablo wind - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Dave Coe]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

The East Bay Hills frequently get windy.

Coastal or Inland breezes?

[MechAndy]

The Bay has better sailing in the summer due to the wind.
It’s pretty flat in the winter.
Same goes for sturgeon fishing near Pittsburg.
My place on the Diablo slope freezes in the winter because of the lack of wind.
It is close temp wise in the chill of winter as our place in WA.
Cracked a boat motor to the freeze.

[SFBayBoomer]

Years ago my husband and I drove to what we thought was going to be an Art and WINE Festival, only to find when we got there an extremely windy day at the San Ramon Art & WIND Festival.

It's back this coming weekend (Sunday and Monday):



https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city..._wind_festival

[Heidi60]

After being stranded in Phx, AZ for too many years, I always drink in the wind and rain with joy!