Bay Area residents, brace yourselves for a battering of rain and potentially disruptive weather conditions. A series of rainstorms will land later tonight, persisting through the upcoming weekend. The forecast predicts that the heaviest downpour is expected to roll in through Wednesday, with rainfall totals ranging from 0.5 to 2 inches across the region. Areas along the coastal ranges might see up to 4 inches of rain accumulation, according to the National Weather Service San Francisco.
Adding to the weather woes, the higher elevations above 3,000 feet might witness a grace of snow. Gusts of wind could whip up to 50 MPH along the coast as thunderstorms brew, and there's a potential for high surf and snow across the highest elevations of the Santa Lucia coastal range. As reported by the National Weather Service in a statement, "Urban flooding and small landslides in the coastal ranges are possible where rainfall rates are highest."
The intensity of this weather event is significant enough that the NWS has issued special advisories for aviation, marine activities, and beachgoers. Pilots can expect VFR conditions to degrade tonight with strong, gusty southerly winds and potential virga toward the conclusion of the current TAF period. On the waters, mariners are advised to prepare for moderate seas and escalating southerly winds Tuesday night into Wednesday, with the possibility of gale-force gusts.
Beach conditions are similarly expected to become hazardous beginning Wednesday and into Thursday. Moderate-period westerly swell may build "to support breaking waves up to 15 feet," per the warning issued by the NWS San Francisco CA office. The same statement advises beachgoers to stay off rocks and jetties, maintain control of pets, and practice constant vigilance around the ocean.
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