Southern California experienced a drastic drop in temperatures on Monday, with wet weather expected through the week, while a powerful winter storm hit Northern California started late Monday and brought several inches of rain and heavy winds.
An atmospheric river, or a weather system that moves high concentrations of water vapor outside of the tropics, could on Tuesday bring up to 1 to 3 inches of rain to the coastal areas, with higher elevations receiving upward of 3 to 5 inches, the National Weather Service told CBS San Francisco. The atmospheric river could be as strong as a Category 4, with a scale that tops out a 5.
Accompanied by a medley of weather alerts, a surging jet stream pushed the powerful winter storm system toward California’s Bay Area on Monday, CBS San Francisco reported. The National Weather Service issued a series of updated warnings targeting communities in the area, including a flood watch for cities like San Francisco, Watsonville, Pacifica, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Boulder Creek. Those warnings took effect late on Monday night and are currently set to remain active through Tuesday afternoon.
By Tuesday morning, experts forecasted that significant runoff from surrounding mountain ranges could bring flooding to rivers, creeks, streams and low-lying areas, the weather service said in an advisory, adding that flooding could occur in urban areas as well as areas with poor drainage systems. Storm drains and ditches could become clogged with debris, the weather service warned.
“Locally up to 7 inches are possible over favored peaks and higher terrain of the Sonoma Coastal Range where prolonged moderate to heavy precipitation and higher rain rates are currently forecast,” the NWS told CBS San Francisco. “Last but not least, if that was not enough, there is a slight chance of thunder which has expanded southward to just around San Francisco. Not expecting much more than a rumble of thunder here and there.”
The National Weather Service said a flood watch is in effect for North Bay, San Francisco and the coastline. A wind advisory is also out for the coastal areas from Sonoma County to Santa Cruz County.
The agency’s San Francisco bureau shared updated guidance during the early hours of Tuesday morning, and, at the time, noted that “moderate to heavy rain” is anticipated throughout the day, with 5 inches expected to hit locally and between 2 and 4 inches expected along the coast. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain are expected further inland, with slightly less precipitation forecasted for valley communities, the weather service said. The advisory is scheduled to remain in effect until 6 p.m. PST on Tuesday evening. (SOURCE)
