The Bay Area is bracing for a bout of severe weather, with the National Weather Service issuing multiple advisories for wind and possible flooding. A tweet from NWS Bay Area alerted residents to the approaching storm, cautioning that the impact from wind and rain is expected to unfold Wednesday into early Thursday. Wind Headlines and a Flood Watch have been set in motion, urging the community to stay vigilant and safe.
Impacts from wind and rain appear likely on Wednesday into early Thursday. Wind Headlines and a Flood Watch are in effect. Keep up with forecast changes and stay safe! #cawx pic.twitter.com/LGnA5czhL7
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) January 30, 2024
According to the National Weather Service San Francisco, CA, the region has one last day of calm before the storm hits, recommending people use this time to prepare. Despite a slight adjustment in the storm’s timing and reduced rainfall totals, the impending weather still poses significant risks, "Nuisance flooding concerns will be widespread with the midweek storm, alongside rapid rises along creeks and streams." High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are a sign that the storm could be as mighty in its winds as it is with its rain.
Wednesday's arrival of strong and gusty winds is highly anticipated, with increasing risks as the storm progresses. Specialists have emphasized that winds will turn south and build up dangerously early Wednesday morning, swiftly advancing across the CWA throughout the day. The weather service stresses, "Wednesday is looking as much of a wind event as it is a rain event."
Forecasters at the National Weather Service predict that the heaviest rainfall will start in the North Bay on Wednesday afternoon before moving south and east. Rivers may swell and potentially flood past the storm's passage, with lighter but continuous showers expected through Friday. In a statement obtained by the National Weather Service, updated rainfall estimates for the midweek are as follows: 1" to 2" for areas such as the Santa Clara Valley and San Benito Co, while Santa Cruz Mountains and the North Bay could see anywhere from 3 to 5 inches, and potentially above 5 inches at the highest peaks of coastal mountains. Advisory cautions also extend to mariners with gale forecasts to storm force gusts and moderate to heavy rain on waterways.
As the Bay Area gears up to face this natural ordeal, the National Weather Service continues to monitor the situation, updating advisories as necessary closely.
