Wednesday’s forecast showed the first of two upcoming spouts of precipitation to swing by the Bay Area, though totals should stay relatively low according to the National Weather Service.
Most of the inland sections of the region were predicted to see less than one-half of an inch of rain from Wednesday through Thursday mornings. NWS predictions forecast a stronger showing on the coast, as Santa Cruz could see as much as one inch.
San Jose, Livermore and Concord were expected to top out around two-tenths of an inch, according to the NWS.
Rain is approaching our region and will start to spread across the region through the day today. Second system arrives Friday into Saturday and active pattern continues through early January. #CAwx #BayAreaWX pic.twitter.com/TX9ZwygogO
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) December 27, 2023
The lighter rains were set to be accompanied by strong gusts of wind as early as Wednesday morning. The NWS said gusts could reach between 20 and 30 miles per hour in the inland parts of the Bay Area, and up to 50 miles per hour on the coast and hilltops. The wind combined with the wetter soils from the rain could lead to downed trees and power lines, as the Bay Area experienced earlier this year.
Strong southerly winds developing today! Wind gusts 20-30 mph across the Bay Area and Central Coast, as high as 40-50 mph at the coast and ridgetops. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/UB876D6pOJ
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) December 27, 2023
Higher rain totals were anticipated for later in the week. Beginning Friday morning, a second round of precipitation was predicted, with the NWS anticipating around one inch of rain in the South and East Bays and one-and-a-half inches on the Peninsula.
Meanwhile, massive waves and strong currents have prompted warnings against entering the Pacific Ocean along the entire California coast.
Dangerous surf, life-threatening rip currents, and coastal flooding are expected late week into the weekend. Please exercise extreme caution and remember to NEVER turn your back on the ocean! #cawx pic.twitter.com/4gOGR9Vy8C
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) December 27, 2023
For a 24-hour period beginning 3 a.m. Thursday, the NWS will issue a High Surf Warning as conditions in the ocean could become life-threatening. The warning advises people to stay out of the water and prepare for coastal flooding. Breaking waves could reach 30 feet in height and dangerous currents could occur.
The warning, which spans the entire coast, advises beach goers to use caution even if they don’t plan on touching the water.
“Things can look dry, but the surf can come up in an instant and you may not have time to react,” Mike Wofford, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Los Angeles told the Southern California News Group. “We really encourage people to stay out of harm’s way.”
The Southern California News Group contributed to this report.
Source: www.mercurynews.com