San Francisco Bay Operational Forecast System (SFBOFS)

Notice of NOS OFS product changes

As of September 9, 2024, the names of the model output files will officially be transitioned to the following format:

  • Stations: OFS.tCCz.YYYYMMDD.stations.[nowcast|forecast].nc
  • 2-D surface field output: OFS.tCCz.YYYYMMDD.2ds.[n|f]HHH.nc
  • 3-D field output: OFS.tCCz.YYYYMMDD.fields.[n|f]HHH.nc
  • 3-D field output on a regular grid: OFS.tCCz.YYYYMMDD.regulargrid.[n|f]HHH.nc
    • Where:
  • OFS refers to the name of the model (e.g. cbofs, sfbofs, leofs)
  • [nowcast/forecast] or [n/f] denotes either the nowcast or forecast results
  • YYYYMMDD refers to the date of the model run
  • CC refers to the cycle of the day (e.g. 06, 12)
  • HHH is the nowcast or forecast hour (e.g. 001, 002)

Starting April 1, 2024, model output files with both the existing and the new file formats will be made available here for users to update and test code used to automate the download of the model output.

(Please click on the map pins below to access the time series plots)

Each of the blue icons represent a different SFBOFS subdomain. Click on an icon to open the main web page of that subdomain.

A San Francisco Bay Operational Forecast System (SFBOFS) has been developed to serve the San Francisco Bay maritime communities. SFBOFS was jointly developed by the NOAA/National Ocean Service's (NOS) Office of Coast Survey and Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS), and the NOAA/National Weather Service's (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Central Operations (NCO) and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth. The NWS and NOS work together to run SFBOFS operationally on NOAA's High Performance Computing System (HPCS). By running on NOAA's HPCS, SFBOFS has direct access to National Weather Service operational meteorological products and USGS' measured river data that are required for reliable operations. As its core ocean prediction model, SFBOFS uses the Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model (FVCOM).

SFBOFS provides users with nowcast (analyses of near present) and forecast guidance of water levels, currents, water temperature, and salinity out to 48 hours, four times per day. The SFBOFS model domain is divided into two separate subdomains (the San Francisco Bay and the San Francisco Bay Entrance), allowing users to focus on their area of interest. Animation maps of each of the two subdomains as well as time series at particular stations or points of interest are available at over 50 locations for winds, water levels, currents, temperature, and salinity.

SFBOFS is based on a three-dimensional, high resolution model. With the added reliability of running at NOAA's HPCS, SFBOFS will assist U.S. port authorities and mariners to efficiently navigate the San Francisco Bay without compromising safety.

For more detailed information about SFBOFS, please click here to view the SFBOFS Information web page.

For more information about FVCOM, please click here.

The SFBOFS model provides forecast guidance for water levels, currents, water temperature, and salinity within its domain.