Unstable Air Over Bay Area Leads To Rainy Night, 150 Lightning Strikes
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- A pool of unstable air is moving over the San Francisco Bay Area tonight, pulling in subtropical moisture and bringing in fast-moving but heavy rain showers.
More than 200 lightning strikes were reported in the Bay Area as of 11:00 p.m.
It won't be an all-night washout, but there is an increasing chance of scattered heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms through the morning commute on Friday. It's the lightning that has caught the attention of local National Weather Service meteorologists, who issued a Red Flag Warning for critical fire danger because of the lightning potential.
This is yet another not-so-normal rain chance this summer. Typically, the Bay Area receives less than a quarter-inch of rain in June, July, and August combined. Many areas received that in June, and it was the 6th wettest July ever (.09") in San Francisco. Cities that get caught under some of the heavier showers tonight may receive more than .10" by sunrise.
The low pressure area will exit to the east late Friday morning, and sunshine will likely return by Friday afternoon.
