A strong storm system has placed the entire Bay Area under a flood watch starting Wednesday as it is expected to be as bad or worse than Saturday's deluge, where there could even be loss of life, according to an update from National Weather Service forecast.
The update issued Monday afternoon includes five key points, with the first noting a "probable threat to life during this storm." Mudslides are anticipated due to soil saturation, and rapidly rising streams will present additional hazards.
“Simply put, this is probably going to be one of the most impactful large-scale systems this meteorologist has seen in a long time. Impacts will include widespread flooding, washed out roads, collapsed hillsides, downed trees, widespread power outages, immediate disruption to business, and worst of all, likely loss of life. This is really a brutal system that we are looking at and it needs to be taken seriously," a meteorologist noted of the upcoming storm forecast.
The forecast includes an updated threat matrix classifying as "extreme risk" for conditions expected Wednesday and Thursday, including increased wind gusts, a flood watch that now includes the entire Bay Area, and a forecast additional Friday through Sunday after the big storm for about 1-2 inches of rain in most areas.
Wednesday morning through Thursday will see the worst of the storm, with heavy rain and strong winds gusting to 35 to 55 mph in most areas, with stronger winds at higher elevations.
A flood watch is in effect Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon, with rainfall amounts of 2-4 inches expected in the valleys, 3-6 inches on the slopes, and 8-10 inches in the the coastal mountains.
The updated forecast includes higher rainfall totals for several areas than the previous forecast issued on Sunday:
- San Rafael (4-6 inches, 3-4 inches);
- San Jose (2 to 3 inches, 1.5 to 2 inches);
- Livermore (2-3 inches, instead of 1.5-2 inches);
- Stockton (2-3 inches, instead of 1.5-2 inches); and
- Hollister (2-3 inches, instead of 1.5-2 inches).
Two areas on the coast south of San Francisco may see slightly less rain than first forecast. However, the revised forecast is for 2 to 3 inches of rain in Half Moon Bay, down from 3 to 4 inches, and 3 to 4 inches in Santa Cruz instead of 4 to 6 inches in the previous forecast.
Notably, little to no rain is expected for the region this Tuesday and represents the last chance to clean up Saturday's storm before the next one hits, forecasters said.
For the latest forecast updates, visit www.weather.gov/bayarea.
With information from Bay City News.
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