SF Bay Area Braces for Rain as Cold Front Approaches

A cold front is set to bring rain to the San Francisco Bay Area, marking a significant weather change after a period of clear skies. As of Friday afternoon, meteorologists confirmed that the storm, visible in satellite images over Washington and Oregon, is headed towards the Bay Area.

The rain is expected to impact the region from Friday night into Saturday. While the rain totals are not anticipated to be substantial, with predictions ranging from 0.18 to 0.7 inches across different areas, any precipitation is noteworthy given the Bay Area’s dry spell since the start of the wet season on October 1. Last month, downtown San Francisco recorded only 0.11 inch of rain, significantly below the October average of 0.94 inches.

The first showers are forecasted to arrive in the North Bay around 7 p.m. on Friday, moving south of the Golden Gate between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., and reaching the South Bay by 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. The heaviest rainfall is expected overnight, though it will be light to moderate at best.

Following the rain, dry and warm conditions are expected to return on Sunday, accompanied by offshore winds that could increase fire weather concerns. The National Weather Service has warned that these conditions will immediately elevate fire risks.