Brace yourselves, Bay Area. The National Weather Service (NWS) in San Francisco has placed the region under a flood watch from the wee hours of Wednesday through early Friday morning. It looks like the Central Coast is not being spared either, as it's also covered in this severe weather alert. Heavy rainfall and strong gusty winds are on the menu, so residents better seek the latest forecast updates here.
The wind is no joke either – a High Wind Warning has been issued for the coast and the higher elevations, while elsewhere it's slightly less severe but still warrants a Wind Advisory. These wind warnings kicked in at 4 AM Wednesday and will persist until the same early hour on Thursday. According to a tweet from the NWS Bay Area, light to moderate showers are already playing hide and seek off the coast, with heavier rain predicted to crash the party later today. Keep your eyes peeled on their radar updates via Twitter.
It ain't over 'til it’s over, because the latest Area Forecast Discussion from the National Weather Service doesn't mince words when talking about this "impactful" weather beast. We're talking about strong, gusty winds significant enough to knock down trees, power outages, and floods that could transform roadways into streams. If you're a fan of keeping your feet dry and your lights on, heed the advisory and stay indoors. "Hazards include downed trees, power outages, and flooding of roadways and streams," the discussion warns, with nuisance flooding issues on roadways, streams, and shallow landslides named as prime concerns.
The NWS forecast office discussion laid it out clear: this storm isn't here to play. With the coastal ranges expected to see 3-5 inches of relentless rain, and "wind damage concern along coast and in high elevations," everyone should brace for impact. Along with the potential flooding, the High Surf Advisory from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon warns of angry waves adding to the mayhem. The incessant downpour and winds will ease somewhat by Thursday morning, but don't let your guard down – a smattering of scattered showers and, drumroll, an isolated thunderstorm or two might swing by on Thursday. For the finer, technical details and future ramifications of this tempest, give the full discussion a read.
And it doesn't end there. This intense weather is just a sneak preview with the main event possibly crashing in on Sunday. A new system, packing a stronger punch with its own entourage of deeper moisture and a robust low-level jet, could spell another round of wind and rain disruptions. The long-term forecast suggests we're not quite out of the woods yet, so stay vigilant and keep those umbrellas and emergency kits close.
