SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The first of three storms swept across the Bay Area Wednesday.
Light rain was starting the day off with most of the wet weather in the North Bay. As the day continues, the rain intensified, especially during the evening commute. There is also a chance of thunderstorms.
The storm will also bring strong winds to the region. Winds will be between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts around 45 mph.
FORECAST:San Francisco Bay Area Weather
The following storms will arrive on Friday and Sunday. Each storm appears to be stronger than the one before it with showers lingering on the days in between.
Flooding is less likely than last week across Northern California since the storms are not packing the same punch.
The second storm is Friday into Saturday. The third storm is Sunday into Monday.
The first storm will bring periods of heavy rain to the North Bay and Coastal mountains. The North Bay will get 3 to 6 inches of rain in the combined storms.
The Santa Cruz Mountains could see 5 to 7 inches of rain during the same time span.
Winds from 40 mph to 50 mph will also arrive on Wednesday, prompting a high wind advisory and raising the specter of more toppled trees and downed power lines.
A little light rain, mostly aloft, due to weak uplifting of air. Moderate-heavy rain north-south Wed, cold front passes by late Wed night. pic.twitter.com/RtvmLJvAPR
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) January 18, 2017
Excessive rainfall outlook from @NWSWPC for today shows a marginal risk for our region. #cawx #caflood pic.twitter.com/xRHRncBLd8
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) January 18, 2017
The dark and stormy weather has led to the closure of Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County and the continued closure of Lake Del Valle Regional Park in southeast Alameda County.
The park’s main feature is a large reservoir that flooded during last week’s storms and, while the waters have receded, there are still large areas inundated by debris, according to East Bay Regional Park District spokeswoman Isa Polt-Jones.
Also, part of the Stream Trail in Oakland’s Redwood Regional Park is closed due to downed trees and parts of the Iron Horse Regional Trail in Concord have been rendered off-limits because of localized flooding, Polt-Jones said.
Flash Flood Warning issued in Sonoma County https://t.co/zXJWkr34OV
— KRON4 News (@kron4news) January 19, 2017
Anyone planning outdoor excursions over the next few days should check in with the park district’s website or give them a call to make sure the areas they want to visit are still open.
“We’ll be very busy, I’m sure,” Polt-Jones said.
Additionally, the weather will bring the possibility of a high surf advisory on Friday and continuing though Saturday.
“Stay well back from the water,” Anderson said. “There will be a lot of water flowing into the ocean, as well as a lot of debris logs and what have you in the surf zone, and that will create more hazards than normal.”
The storms do have a silver lining, however, in the guise of relatively mild temperatures, Anderson said.
The overnight lows will sink into the 40s and the daytime highs will crest somewhere in the 50s.
At San Francisco Airport, there are a total of 322 flight delays. There are 45 canceled outbound flights, and 46 canceled inbound flights.
At Oakland airport, there are 31 delays and no cancelations. San Jose airport is reporting 32 delays and one cancelation.POWER OUTAGES:
South bay: 1905
East Bay: 440
North Bay: 840
Peninsula: 175
SF: 1