The Natural History of Foster City, California

by James K. Sayre

a draft manuscript

12 May 2005

Weather:

Foster City is blessed with a Mediterranean climate, tempered by the presence of the San Francisco Bay on its eastern edge and the Pacific Ocean lying just over the Coastal Range, about fifteen miles away. Rainfall is almost totally received in the winter season, usually starting in November and trailing off by March or April. Total rainfall in Foster City is about twenty inches annually. The summers are cool to warm, but usually quite dry. There often is fog in the summer, especially in the evening and the morning hours, almost always burning off by midday. The .i.foghorns; on the San Mateo Bridge can be heard when ever it is foggy. These horns emit two long blasts every thirty seconds. The winds in the summer come from the Northwest and the North and can be quite strong in late afternoon. The presence of many planted trees help slow down these winds and make the living conditions much more pleasant than before the trees were planted. The whole San Francisco Peninsula had suffered from the strong summer northwesterly afternoon winds until many trees were planted in the middle and late 1800's. The eucalyptus, especially the Blue gum (E. globulus), the Manna gum (E. viminalis) and the elms were planted in great numbers in Burlingame and San Mateo in the early days. Many of the eucalyptus trees and elm trees can still be seen along El Camino Real in Burlingame.

Foster City's very own Weather Station

Located about two hundred yards south of the Fishing Pier, which lies in the shadow of the new San Mateo - Hayward Bridge, is small fenced-in structure built on the edge of the outer levee. It is a United States government facility, called an Outer Marker, which is located exactly six miles from the airport and beams a radio signal straight up. It is also used by the FAA to gather data used in air traffic control. There are warnings signs to advise the curious against unauthorized entry into the facility, whose outer fence is topped with barbed wire.

End.

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