Bay Area Prepares for Strong Winds and Heavy Rain
San Francisco and the wider Bay Area are bracing for a period of inclement weather this week, with strong winds and heavy rain in the forecast. NBC Bay Area is providing live coverage as the city prepares for potential disruptions from the storm system.
- The incoming weather is attributed to a "Pineapple Express," a type of atmospheric river that brings moisture from the tropics near Hawaii to the U.S. West Coast. - This particular system is classified as an AR 2 atmospheric river. Atmospheric rivers are responsible for the majority of horizontal water vapor transport in the midlatitudes and carry more water than the Amazon River on average. - Forecasters anticipate 1.5 to 2 inches of rain in San Jose, Concord, and San Francisco, with Oakland potentially receiving up to 3 inches. Higher elevations, such as the Santa Cruz Mountains, could see as much as 4 inches of precipitation. - Wind speeds are expected to range from 35 to 45 mph, with some areas experiencing gusts up to 55 mph. These strong southerly winds increase the risk of widespread power outages. - The Sierra Nevada is predicted to receive significant snowfall, with accumulations of 2 to 8 feet or more expected through Tuesday night. Snow levels could drop as low as 2,000 feet for the first time this season. - To prepare for the storm, San Francisco Public Works is offering residents and businesses up to ten free sandbags to mitigate potential flooding. - In anticipation of potential power outages, utility company PG&E has mobilized crews and is using AI-enhanced weather models to predict where infrastructure will be most affected and strategically pre-position resources. - A second storm system is forecast to arrive late Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing the potential for several more inches of rain and multiple feet of snow in the high mountains.
