Fog City

August 2019

There is nothing quite like watching the fog roll in on a San Francisco summer afternoon.

It comes in from the Pacific, streaming eastward across the flatland of the Sunset and Richmond until it breaks on the mountainous core of the city. Sometimes it stops there, and from a lofty perch in FiDi or SoMa you can look westward and see what looks like two cities -- one part fully enveloped by a downy blanket, the other still lit in the warm summer light.

Most days, however, the pressure vacuum in the Central Valley is strong enough to pull that downy blanket over Twin Peaks and Mt. Davidson. Then the magic truly begins.

The fog comes tumbling down the near side of Twin Peaks like a silent waterfall, eddys and currents surging over the hills and down the slope into Noe Valley and the Mission. Above, the sun continues to shine, imbuing the fog with a fuzzy golden radiance as it embraces the city. Far above, the summer sky provides a deep blue backdrop for the shimmering scene below.

In the northeast of the city, the fog flows in from the Richmond District, overwhelming Pacific- and Laurel Heights on its way to Nob- and Russian Hill. From FiDi, you’ll see apartment buildings and skyscrapers rapidly transform from objects to blurry shadows to nothingness as the tumbling mass of white overcomes them.

At ground level, the fog is borne by gusts of wind which also bring in beautifully crisp sea air. The fog slowly seeps across the blue canvas above, a few small tendrils at first, followed by long, reaching fingertips which rapidly overcome your surroundings . When the clouds are still thin you can see the yellow outline of the sun above, fighting valiantly to shine through. Then, in the blink of an eye, its brilliance is stolen away and the world about you turns icy grey.

Near the Golden Gate, the fog surges across the Bridge and through the Golden Gate in a shining mass. Slowly at first, then rapidly, the bridge is enveloped in a misty shroud until it vanishes from sight. Sometimes, if you’re lucky and the fog is but a low ceiling, you can look from afar and see two small points of International Orange poking through the foggy expanse below.

Welcome to San Francisco.