The high-powered “Dragon Storm” barreled into the Bay Area Saturday morning, bringing treacherous winds and heavy rains that triggered flood advisories and power outages across the region.
At around 11:40 a.m., the National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for much of the East Bay, Peninsula and San Jose area. The agency warned of minor flooding in low-lying areas and dangerous flood conditions along highways, streets and underpasses.
Urban and Small Stream Flooding Caused By Excessive Rainfall Is Expected.. https://t.co/o2pqPUFCD7 #CAwx pic.twitter.com/oP13aFrsCE
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) December 10, 2022
Farther north, flood advisories were also in place for parts of Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties.
By midday, between a half-inch and 2 inches of rain had fallen throughout the Bay Area, according to the weather service.
Meanwhile, powerful wind gusts topped 80 mph in the East Bay hills Saturday morning. At the San Francisco International Airport, gusts reached over 40 mph.
Weather service meteorologist Brayden Murdock said the wet and windy weather was expected to persist throughout the day.
“This is probably going to be a long passage,” Murdock said. “It’s going to be prolonged windy conditions and prolonged rain conditions.”
By around 11 a.m., the storm had knocked out power to over 11,600 Pacific Gas and Electric Company customers in the Bay Area, according to the utility. More than 8,000 customers were without electricity on the Peninsula. Burlingame, Daly City, San Bruno and South San Francisco were the hardest hit.
PG&E officials had no estimate for when power could be restored.
PG&E encourages customer to have a plan, prepare for power outages and above all else, stay safe. https://t.co/IDUf6pLDTt pic.twitter.com/LM67hdL4xZ
— Pacific Gas & Electric (@PGE4Me) December 10, 2022
In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, heavy snowfall and high winds triggered a winter weather advisory, with the weather service discouraging “extremely dangerous” mountain travel.
❄️ A significant winter storm will bring EXTREMELY dangerous mountain travel this weekend.
Conditions are rapidly deteriorating as heavy snow continues to fall, combined with strong, gusty winds.
MOUNTAIN TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/S8MoQrrjCw
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) December 10, 2022
Mountain sections of Interstate 80 and Highway 50 were blanketed with snow and ice on Saturday. Total snow accumulations in the area could be as great as 5 feet, according to the weather service, with wind gusts reaching nearly 100 miles per hour at the highest peaks.
❄️ CURRENT CONDITIONS ❄️
12/10/22 10:15am
• I-80 westbound is R2 from Truckee to Nyack.
• I-80 eastbound is R2 from Nyack to Boca.
• Trucks are at maximum restrictions.*for current road conditions visit: https://t.co/nW388ehtq0 @CaltransDist3 pic.twitter.com/ucNGJNORvp
— CHP Truckee (@CHP_Truckee) December 10, 2022
Source: www.mercurynews.com