A National Weather Service coastal flood advisory is in effect for San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and parts of the nearby Pacific coast during the highest remaining tides this week. The July 12 advisory from the agency’s San Francisco Bay Area office says low lying shoreline locations could see up to 1.7 feet of water above ground, with flooded parking areas, parks and roads possible.
The advisory is not a blanket warning that every Bay Area road or waterfront attraction will flood. It identifies narrow high tide windows, especially late at night, when travelers using shoreline roads, parking areas, parks and waterfront access points should leave more time and be prepared to change a stop.
- San Francisco and San Pablo bays: The advisory remains in effect until 4:00 AM PDT Thursday, July 16.
- Pacific coast: The advisory remains in effect until 4:00 AM PDT Wednesday, July 15, for the Point Reyes, San Francisco Peninsula, Monterey Bay and Big Sur coastal zones.
- Possible impact: Up to 1.7 feet of inundation above ground in low lying shoreline and tidal waterway areas.
- Traveler risk: Flooding may affect parking lots, parks and roads, and isolated road closures are possible.
- Peak timing: The highest listed remaining San Francisco tide is late Monday night, followed by another late Tuesday night peak.
- Best action: Check the exact waterfront or coastal access point before departure and never drive into water of unknown depth.
Two advisory windows cover different shorelines
The longer advisory applies to the bayshore zone around San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. It runs through 4:00 AM Thursday because the forecast includes a final elevated high tide shortly after midnight Wednesday night into Thursday.
A separate Pacific coast advisory ends at 4:00 AM Wednesday. That zone includes Point Reyes National Seashore, the San Francisco Peninsula coast, northern and southern Monterey Bay, and the Big Sur coast, so a coastal drive and a bayside San Francisco plan do not share exactly the same expiration time.
The weather service also cautions that tide timing varies by location. High tide can occur up to 90 minutes earlier along the open coast and up to 90 minutes later on the bayshore than the listed San Francisco gauge time, which makes a single citywide clock time an incomplete planning tool.
When the highest remaining tides are expected
At the San Francisco tidal gauge, the agency forecasts a tide of 7.5 feet relative to mean lower low water at 11:01 PM Monday, July 13. That level is listed as 1.7 feet above the normal astronomical tide and is the highest remaining value in the advisory.
The next listed peak is 7.4 feet at 11:55 PM Tuesday, July 14, or 1.6 feet above the normal tide. The bayshore advisory also includes a 7.1 foot tide at 12:48 AM Thursday, July 16, which is 1.3 feet above normal and explains the later expiration for the bay zone.
| San Francisco gauge time | Forecast tide | Above normal | Relevant planning window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:01 PM July 13 | 7.5 feet | 1.7 feet | Late Monday waterfront and shoreline access |
| 11:55 PM July 14 | 7.4 feet | 1.6 feet | Late Tuesday waterfront and coastal access |
| 12:48 AM July 16 | 7.1 feet | 1.3 feet | Final bayshore window only |
These are gauge forecasts, not promises that a particular parking space or road will have a stated depth of water. Local topography, drainage and the position of each access point determine where the extra water reaches the ground, so posted closures and conditions at the destination remain controlling.
What up to 1.7 feet of inundation means
The advisory’s inundation figure refers to water above ground in vulnerable low lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. It does not mean that 1.7 feet of water is expected across San Francisco, Monterey or the entire coastline.
The practical exposure is concentrated where roads, lots, paths and parks sit close to the tide line. The National Weather Service specifically lists flooding of lots, parks and roads as possible, with only isolated road closures rather than a broad transportation shutdown.
The agency attributes the higher water to two longer term influences acting on the astronomical tide: thermal expansion and sea level rise accumulated since the tide prediction datum was established. Travelers do not need to interpret that mechanism to make a decision, but it explains why the observed water can run higher than a familiar tide calendar alone suggests.
How to adjust a San Francisco waterfront plan
A daytime city visit may proceed normally if the intended route and access point remain open. The higher risk is a late evening shoreline stop that depends on low parking, a path beside the bay or a road segment close to a tidal waterway near the forecast peak.
Travelers reorganizing a wider city visit can use Deep Arrival’s Fisherman’s Wharf visitor guide for general planning, but the live advisory and any posted local controls take priority. A guide cannot confirm whether one shoreline lot, promenade entrance or access road is open during a particular tide cycle.
Before leaving, check the operating page for the exact park, attraction, marina or transportation provider in the plan. If staff close an entrance or place barricades at a low point, choose a different approach or postpone the waterfront stop instead of trying to reach the same location from another side.
What coastal drivers should verify
The Pacific coast zone is geographically broad, but the expected impacts remain localized. A Point Reyes, peninsula, Monterey Bay or Big Sur itinerary should not be canceled solely because the zone appears in the advisory, yet any stop that relies on low shoreline access deserves a same day check.
Allow additional travel time around the listed high tide window because an isolated closure can force a short detour or delay even when the main route remains open. The weather service explicitly advises drivers not to go around barricades and not to enter water of unknown depth.
Darkness makes late evening water harder to judge, and the largest remaining peaks occur near midnight. If a route reaches a visibly flooded low point, turn around and use an officially open alternative rather than estimating depth from another vehicle or from the apparent edge of the pavement.
Decision matrix
| Your plan | Best decision | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime San Francisco sightseeing away from low shoreline access | Proceed with normal checks | Confirm the exact attraction and transit service are operating |
| Late night bayside parking or waterfront stop | Move earlier or choose higher access | Check lot, road and park status before the forecast peak |
| Point Reyes or peninsula coast drive | Keep the itinerary flexible | Verify low coastal roads and access points on the travel day |
| Monterey Bay or Big Sur shoreline stop | Recheck before departure | Use the local operator or park notice because tide timing varies |
| Route blocked by water or a barricade | Turn around | Use only an officially open alternate route |
| Bayshore visit after early Thursday | Look for a new official update | Confirm the advisory expired without extension or replacement |
- For Monday night: Treat the 11:01 PM San Francisco gauge peak as the highest remaining advisory window.
- For Tuesday night: Recheck low shoreline access before the 11:55 PM forecast peak.
- For the open coast: Remember that local high tide may occur up to 90 minutes earlier than the San Francisco gauge time.
- For the bayshore: Local high tide may occur up to 90 minutes later than the listed gauge time.
- For drivers: Leave extra time, obey barricades and never enter water when the depth is unknown.
What the advisory does not say
The notice does not announce a regionwide evacuation, airport closure, public transit shutdown or closure of every coastal highway. It also does not identify a single attraction as certain to flood, so broad claims about canceled Bay Area travel would go beyond the official evidence.
The accurate traveler message is narrower: elevated tides may flood some low shoreline areas and cause isolated road closures during the listed windows. Plans that do not depend on those locations can continue, while shoreline plans need a current access check and a practical alternate.
How long does the San Francisco Bay coastal flood advisory last?
The advisory for San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay runs until 4:00 AM PDT Thursday, July 16. The Pacific coast advisory ends at 4:00 AM Wednesday, July 15.
Will every waterfront area flood?
No. The weather service says up to 1.7 feet of inundation above ground is possible in low lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, not across the entire region.
Are major roads closed?
The advisory says isolated road closures are possible but does not announce a broad road shutdown. Check the exact route and obey any local barricade or closure.
When is the highest remaining tide?
The highest listed remaining San Francisco gauge forecast is 7.5 feet at 11:01 PM Monday, July 13. Local timing can be up to 90 minutes earlier on the coast or later on the bayshore.
Should travelers cancel a Bay Area trip?
The advisory does not support canceling a whole regional trip. Travelers should adjust plans that depend on low shoreline access and verify the exact destination before departure.
