West Coast gets soaked for first time in a long while
SAN FRANCISCO - The first West Coast waves of a week of powerful storms arrived to provide strong evidence March will not be as parched as the month that preceded it.
Steady rain fell in Northern California on Saturday and was expected to go statewide Sunday. Fresh and growing snow blanketed the slopes of the Sierra Nevada, ending a dry spell and raising hopes the drought-stricken state can get much needed precipitation.
Droves of snowboarders, skiers and sledders packed Sierra slopes while tourists braved wet weather and visited San Francisco landmarks before an even more blustery storm arrived later in the day.
Dozens of arriving flights into San Francisco International Airport were delayed by more than two hours, and dozens more short flights were cancelled, officials said.
CBS San Francisco reports Saturday's storms made a mess of the roads, and caused slick and windy conditions on freeways and bridges.
Police believe the wet weather may have caused a fatal crash earlier in San Ramon. Police said a driver lost control on Bollinger Canyon Road and went off the road hitting several trees. The driver died at the scene.
There were reports of toppled trees and downed power lines, as well.
San Francisco opened shelters at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and the County Fair building in Golden Gate park so people could come in from the wet and the cold.