The Bay Area is preparing for a sweep of inclement weather as the National Weather Service predicts a bout of rain and chilly temperatures. A forecast of rapid precipitation is expected to hit mid-morning and carry on through the afternoon, sparing none but the Central Coast, which could see persistent precipitation throughout the day, says NWS Bay Area. With this, higher elevations may witness some snowfall. Post-rain, dryer conditions are predicted to step in, bringing morning temps down into the chill zone Thursday morning and lasting into the weekend.
Rain will quickly move through the region mid-morning thru the afternoon. The exception will be the Central Coast where training precip through the day (and high elevation snow) is possible. Dry weather and chilly morning lows in store Thurs morning into the weekend. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/ecDvedxBxH
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) February 7, 2024
According to NWS San Francisco, CA, this upcoming system will not pack as much punch as recent storms, bringing lighter rainfall. The Santa Cruz mountains might see up to an inch, and the mountains south of that could get about two inches of rain, with lower elevations collecting slightly less. Despite the milder forecast, soils near saturation from previous storms might not absorb this new rainfall well, potentially causing minor flooding and creek rises.
Winds will also kick up alongside the rain, with lower elevations expected to see gusts up to 20-25 mph and mountainous areas up to 30 mph. These are notably milder compared to the last storm's winds. In a turn after the wet weather, overnight lows are expected to drop significantly below recent averages, with a Frost Advisory issued for select areas.
Looking past tonight, scattered showers and lighter winds are on the docket for Thursday. The southern Salinas valley, North Bay valleys, and San Benito county will feel the brunt of the cold, with temps poised to hit the mid to low 30s. A ridge is then forecast to usher in clearer skies and warmer temperatures through the early part of next week, providing what could be deemed a 'pleasant break' from the recent barrage of rain.
Moving out to sea, mariners should brace for the weather system as it moves across the coastal waters, warning of more rain and changing winds. NW winds will become gusty post-frontal, and while they'll settle down by Thursday, choppy seas are likely to continue through much of the week, gradually calming as clearer skies return for the weekend.
