What were the record-breaking temperatures in the Bay Area?

High temperatures reached the 70s and low 80s, significantly exceeding normal late February temperatures, with Oakland and Half Moon Bay setting new winter records.

What caused the unusual late-February warmth in the Bay Area?

A high-pressure system over Baja California steered storms away, allowing the air mass to heat up significantly.

How does climate change affect winter temperatures in the West?

Climate change is contributing to warmer winter temperatures across the West, with California's winter temperatures being an average of 1 to 3 degrees warmer than in 1970.

Home / Weather / Bay Area Melts: Spring Heat Shatters Feb Records

Bay Area Melts: Spring Heat Shatters Feb Records

2 Mar

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Summary

February temperatures reached the 80s, 10-20 degrees above normal.
Oakland and Half Moon Bay saw record highs for meteorological winter.
Winter ended as the warmest on record for many Western cities.

Bay Area Melts: Spring Heat Shatters Feb Records

An intense heatwave brought record-shattering temperatures to the Bay Area this past Friday and Saturday. Highs climbed well into the 70s and even the low 80s, a stark contrast to typical late February weather, with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal. On Friday, Oakland reached 83 degrees and Half Moon Bay hit 79 degrees, both surpassing their highest recorded temperatures for meteorological winter (December-February).

San Jose recorded a new daily record of 79 degrees on Saturday, and San Rafael saw 78 degrees Friday, also a new daily record. While San Francisco did not break daily records, its first 75-degree readings of 2026 arrived a month earlier than usual. Friday's low of 58 degrees was the city's highest February 27th minimum since 1875.