Atmospheric River Brings Heavy Rain, Power Outages, and Flood Warnings to the Bay Area

An atmospheric river, intensified by a bomb cyclone, has brought significant weather impacts to the Bay Area, causing widespread disruptions and warnings across the region. The storm, which arrived on Wednesday, has resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at San Francisco International Airport due to heavy rain and strong winds.

The North Bay has been particularly hard hit, with the National Weather Service issuing a flood watch for Marin, Napa, and Sonoma counties through Saturday morning. This area is expected to receive 5 to 12 inches of rain, with some locations in the North Bay coastal mountains potentially seeing up to 15 inches of rainfall between Wednesday and Friday.

Power outages have also been reported, with nearly 10,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers affected, primarily in the South Bay and North Bay. The utility company has prepared for the outages by ensuring adequate staffing and resources are available to address the issue.

A wind advisory is in effect for the North Bay, San Francisco, and the Pacific coast, with wind gusts expected to reach up to 45-50 mph. Additionally, a high surf advisory has been issued due to dangerous swimming and surf conditions, with breaking waves of 14 to 22 feet possible along the Northern and Central California coastlines.

The storm’s impact is not limited to the North Bay; the South Bay and San Jose are expected to experience increased rain as the storm system moves south by Friday. Residents are advised to exercise caution, especially when driving, and to avoid flooded roadways.

The Lake Tahoe area is also experiencing significant storm conditions, with a winter storm warning and lake wind advisory in effect. The region is expected to see substantial snowfall, with estimates ranging from 3 ½ to 7 feet over the next 10 days.