Weather: Rainy, windy storm to drench Bay Area further
The final wave in a series of three storms was to hit the Bay Area overnight Saturday and last through the weekend, bringing heavy rain, high winds and the potential for more downed trees, mudslides, flooding and power failures, forecasters said.
From Wednesday to Saturday morning, San Francisco received more than 2 inches of rain, while North Bay totals are more than double that. Santa Rosa had picked up 5 inches, said Steve Anderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Monterey.
But the most intense storm was predicted to hit overnight Saturday and continue through Sunday morning. Urban areas could get 1 to 2 inches of rain, while the North Bay and coastal hills could get up to 5 inches. The Santa Cruz Mountains and Big Sur coast could get 6 inches or more, he said.
The heaviest rain was expected early Sunday, Anderson said.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Bay Area and Central Coast lasting through Sunday afternoon.
“I would tell residents if they’ve experienced flooding in the past: Take action today during the break in storms to prepare for more flooding tomorrow morning,” Anderson said Saturday.
High winds also were expected to be a problem. Sustained winds between 35 and 50 mph were to sweep in Saturday night, with gusts up to 70 mph, lasting through Sunday morning.
“It hasn’t been this windy in quite some time,” Anderson said, adding that the impact could be comparable to the storms that moved through the region earlier in the month.
A high wind warning was in effect, and a high surf warning from the Sonoma County coast to the Monterey County coast was also set to last through Sunday morning.
The storm comes on the heels of heavy rain and winds that have drenched the region since Wednesday. Areas near Hollister flooded Friday, while a downed tree temporarily blocked traffic on Highway 17 and power failures hit other parts. In southeastern Santa Clara and northwestern San Benito counties, a flood warning will stay in place through Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, up in the Sierra, the storm should bring impressive snow totals: Up to 4 feet of snow is expected above 4,000 feet, while higher elevations could get up to 7 feet through Monday morning. Wind gusts of up to 55 mph also were expected. The National Weather Service in Reno issued a winter storm warning for the greater Lake Tahoe area that will remain in effect through Monday afternoon, noting that avalanche danger will increase and that attempts to travel around the Tahoe basin Sunday should be avoided.
“Avoid travel if possible. You could be stuck in your vehicle for many hours,” the warning read. “Be prepared for extended power outages.”
That comes on top of an already significant amount of snow that fell in the past few days. Kirkwood Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort had received more than 4 feet of snow in the 72 hours before Saturday morning.
Lingering showers should remain in the area through Tuesday, but the forecast predicts a string of several dry days in the region beginning Wednesday.