Widespread rain, high winds return to Bay Area; new High Surf Advisory issued
Following a New Year's Day respite, the rain is returning to the Bay Area Tuesday along with new concerns about the storm surge along the coast.
The National Weather Service said widespread rain will arrive in the region by late afternoon Tuesday, with showers and thunderstorms. Rain totals are expected to run about a half-inch at lower elevations and up to 2 inches for the coastal mountain ranges.
San Francisco, however, saw about 3/10ths of an inch of rain. The rain will continue to diminish overnight — still a few showers Wednesday morning, then we should be dry Wednesday afternoon. Highs will be almost exactly "normal" for early January, in the mid to upper 50s across the whole Bay Area.
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The system will additionally bring increased southerly/southwesterly winds with gusts in the 20-30 mph along the coasts and at ridgetops, officials said.
The weather service also said dangerous wave conditions will trigger a High Surf Advisory, in effect from 10 a.m. Wednesday through 4 a.m. Thursday. People were urged to stay away from rocks, jetties and beaches since it's expected breaking waves could measure 19 to 23 feet.
The new advisory comes after high surf conditions last week led to evacuation orders and warnings in Marin County and Santa Cruz County, respectively.
Good morning!
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) January 2, 2024
A High Surf Advisory has been issued for this Wednesday 10 am through Thursday 4 am PST. Large and long period WNW swell will make for dangerous surf conditions. Please see the below graphic for more information. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/f9GnaXIsnM
There were isolated showers in the North Bay early Tuesday morning giving way to heavier rain across the region by late afternoon/early evening. The rainfall rates were expected to increase leading up to cold frontal passage by early to mid-evening, the weather service said. The steady rain throughout the afternoon was expected to turn into showers by Tuesday night.
Thick tule fog Tuesday morning triggered a Dense Fog Advisory in the North Bay and East Bay valleys, which was set to expire at 11 a.m. but was canceled just after 10 a.m. after conditions cleared. More patchy fog is likely after the next storm front passes and the return of dry weather Thursday with a high-pressure ridge moving in, the weather service said.
Additional light rain chances are expected at the end of this week, when overnight temperatures are also expected to drop into the low-to-mid-30s in the North Bay, the East and South Bay inland valleys and inland areas of Monterey and San Benito counties, according to the weather service.