San Francisco residents will experience a wet holiday season. According to the National Weather Service's forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area, rain is set to drench festivities starting late Tuesday, and continuing through into the New Year. "The highest rain totals are expected across the North Bay," the NWS reports, with one and a half to two and a half inches of rain anticipated in the higher elevations and half to one and a half inches in the valleys. Travelers should be wary of wet roads post-Christmas, urging drivers to "allow extra time and leave more space between cars," as per NWS advisory.
Making the situation more treacherous, the National Weather Service also issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for Sunday morning, due to high astronomical tides that arrive along the vulnerable San Francisco Bay Shore. The NWS Bay Area took to Twitter, reinforcing the forecast with expectations of, "up to 1-2.5" of rain in the North Bay, up to 1" in the coastal Bay Area and up to 0.5" in the interior Bay Area and near Monterey Bay," as posted by the NWS Bay Area.
Update on rainfall after Christmas: expecting up to 1-2.5" of rain in the North Bay, up to 1" in the coastal Bay Area and up to 0.5" in the interior Bay Area and near Monterey Bay. Active pattern continues into the new year. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/M29l7c7TYf
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) December 24, 2023
An "upper-level ridge" is giving the region a brief reprieve until late Tuesday when conditions worsen. The NWS's Area Forecast Discussion details, "An active pattern starts bringing rain to the area late on Tuesday and continues into the New Year." The same report promises a temporary calm on Christmas Day, which is shaping up to be, "a pleasant day with high temperatures generally in the upper 50s to mid 60s," as stated in the Area Forecast Discussion.
The looming deluge hasn't dampened spirits entirely, with the San Francisco Bay Area starting with a "mostly sunny" today, and Christmas Day also expected to remain relatively dry. Tuesday night will mark the turn as there's a "30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 5:00 am." The highest chance of precipitation is set for Wednesday, with an 80% likelihood of rainfall that's expected to complicate plans and travel. The rain is forecasted not to let up, with "Rain likely" statuses tagged from Thursday night through Saturday, as found on the NWS detailed forecast.
