Get to Know Karl the Fog: The Science Behind Bay Area Weather & Microclimates

In the span of a single day, San Francisco can be covered in fog while Oakland is sunny and Walnut Creek is pushing 90 degrees. From Karl the Fog to sudden temperature swings and wildly different neighborhood forecasts, Bay Area weather is shaped by a unique mix of ocean currents, mountains, wind patterns, and geography.

In this lecture, meteorologist Jessica Burch breaks down the science behind the Bay Area’s famous microclimates and explains why weather here behaves so differently from almost anywhere else in the world.

Drawing from her experience forecasting Bay Area weather and flying Black Hawks for a California National Guard MEDEVAC unit, Jessica explores how atmospheric science impacts daily life, travel, aviation, and the way we experience the Bay itself.