Bay Area residents can expect one final storm that would bring scattered rain, isolated thunderstorms, low-elevation snow, and chilly temperatures early next week before the end of the winter season.
The National Weather Service forecast the slow-moving system would sweep across the North Bay on Monday and is expected to cover the entire region by Tuesday and Wednesday.
Last Winter Storm
“It’s a typical storm for late winter. We’re not going to see long periods of steady rain. It’s going to be showery in nature,” National Weather Service Forecaster Duane Dykema said.
On Sunday, cold, chilly weather enveloped the Bay Area and brought temperatures 10 degrees below the average in some areas. At 5:00 a.m., the temperature at Santa Rosa Airport was 32 degrees, in Novato, it was 36 degrees, in Oakland, it was 42 degrees, and at the San Francisco Airport, it was 47 degrees.
The weather agency anticipates Sunday to have relatively warmer temperatures up to the 60s but would go colder once again on Monday through Wednesday, seeing up to the high 50s across the region.
From Monday through Wednesday night, the storm could bring total rainfall between 0.25 to 1 inch and up to 1.5 inches in the coastal hills. The weather agency forecast isolated regions could see up to 2 inches of rainfall.
“Although overall rain totals won’t be all that impressive when spread over three days, brief periods of heavy rain rates are likely with heavier showers and thunderstorms,” said Dykema.
Dykema said residents should prepare for low chances for thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. However, he said, “within somewhere in our area, it’s pretty likely there could be some thunderstorms.”
The National Weather Service said there is the threat of heavy rain triggering isolated debris flows near wildlife burn scars, the San Francisco Gate reported.
On Monday, the North Bay will see drops of 2,500 feet to its snow levels. However, the levels would rise back up to 3,000 feet on Tuesday and Wednesday. And while the tallest peaks such as Mount Hamilton could see snow, forecasters anticipate very little snow.
