Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area can leave their jackets at home as a weeklong warm spell is forecast to hit, with temperatures expected to soar into the 70s, 80s, and even beyond the 90 mark in some inland locations later this week. The National Weather Service's San Francisco office is warning that we are headed for peak heat Thursday through Friday, with potential health risks looming large for folks in the Bay Area and Central Coast.

An increased heat risk, especially on Thursday and Friday, has officials urging the public to stay hydrated, seek shade outdoors, and, most critically, not to leave kids or pets in vehicles—which you should know never to do. Despite the heat inland, coastal areas will likely remain in the cooler 60s range, according to NWS forecasts. Meanwhile, gusty conditions are expected, with winds hitting 15 to 25 mph in most areas, and some North Bay and East Bay peaks could experience blasts of up to 50 mph.

While today will see more seasonal conditions, the NWS Area Forecast Discussion indicates a dry, sunny day with a few high clouds passing through. Overnight, temperatures will dip into the mid-to-upper 40s and lower 50s near the bay. Wednesday marks the start of the warming trend, with offshore winds returning Wednesday morning and persisting through Thursday morning.

On top of that, a steady cooling trend is predicted following the weekend's heat, with onshore flow bringing temperatures back down to the low-to-mid 80s inland and 50s to 60s near the coast. The NWS also gave some sage advice, saying, "folks should still exercise caution when enjoying time outdoors as this swing from below normal to above normal temperatures can catch people off guard."

Mariners aren't left out of the advisory announcements. The seas are expected to get rough, with gale-force gusts and waves building up to 15 to 16 feet in some areas. As the week progresses, however, weather conditions should settle and lead to a calm, dry weekend under the aegis of dominant high pressure. In the interim period, small craft advisories and gale warnings are in effect for portions of the Monterey Bay and outer coastal waters, so boaters should take note and prepare for a choppy ride.