Unseasonably strong late March storm brings heavy rain, gusty winds to San Francisco Bay Area
Heavy rainfall prompted flood concerns in the North Bay and San Francisco as the latest Bay Area storm brought thunderstorms and potentially damaging wind gusts rolling through the region.
The National Weather Service on Friday issued an urban and small stream flood advisory in Marin County as well as San Francisco and a portion of the Peninsula that expired at 4:15 p.m. The advisory warned people to watch for minor flooding, especially on highways, streets, and underpasses.
The weather service issued a number of special marine warnings for coastal waters throughout the afternoon, advising of possible high winds, hail and even a potential for water spouts.
The extended period of heavy rain lasted for several hours in the afternoon, and there were more periods of torrential precipitation forecasted into Friday evening with a chance for thunderstorms from some of the stronger cells.
Friday's storm also had the potential to cause tree and power line damage from the winds along with traffic issues. A Wind Advisory was in also effect Friday morning through Saturday morning for the North Bay coastal ranges, East Bay and Santa Clara County hills, San Francisco and the Peninsula coast, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Northern Monterey Bay. Southeast winds of 20 to 30 mph were expected with gusts up to 45 mph.
Daytime highs are expected to be mostly in the 50s. Overnight lows will be mostly in the upper 40s.
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Friday afternoon and evening is when most of the impacts of the storm system would be felt, the weather service said. Isolated thunderstorms with lightning and small hail could also be seen by the afternoon.
Here's a good look at the storm heading our way. Expect winds to pick up in the afternoon with stronger showers this evening. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/YUb8yimZSB
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) March 29, 2024
Showers and isolated thunderstorms will linger into Saturday, at times locally heavy and which may include additional small hail. By Sunday morning, the rain will have largely ended for most areas with the possible exception of the Santa Lucia Mountains and southern Diablo range.
Dry conditions will prevail starting Sunday along with a warming trend through mid-week.