More Rain, Powerful Wind Gusts Headed For The Bay Area This Week

SAN FRANCISCO — The Bay Area is in for one more day of sunshine before the next bout of blustery and wet weather arrives, which will likely keep things stormy Tuesday through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service said the unseasonably cool air in place over the weekend would stick around through Monday morning, extending a broad frost advisory until 9 a.m. The rest of the day should border on pleasant, with highs close to 60 for San Francisco under mostly sunny skies.

While rain is inevitable, forecasters believe it will hold off until late Monday. The latest storm comes courtesy of an upper low rolling south from the Gulf of Alaska.

"Rain will be arriving Monday evening to the North Bay and then by late Monday night to the rest of the Bay Area including Santa Cruz County," NWS Bay Area forecasters said Sunday. "Precipitation will continue to spread southward into Central CA (San Benito and Monterey counties) overnight Monday into early Tuesday morning."

© Provided by Patch (NWS Bay Area)

Forecasters predict the heaviest rain will impact the North Bay from 11 p.m. Monday until 11 a.m. Tuesday, with communities south of the Golden Gate Bridge seeing the brunt between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Newer models have boosted the expectations for rain in the North Bay, particularly for Marin and Sonoma counties. The valleys could see more than two inches of rain through Wednesday, with more than 4 inches possible at higher elevations.

Though the rest of the forecast area shows a marginal risk for excessive rainfall, the weather service said everyone should prepare for potential urban or small stream flooding and check the forecast regularly for new alerts.

Snow levels could be as low as 2,000 feet when the storm first arrives Monday evening, and the Santa Lucia and Mayacamas mountains could pick up a few inches during the storm. Forecasters are also tracking the chance for thunderstorms developing Tuesday night and early Wednesday in the North Bay.

The incoming storm also promises more wind gusts, bringing the risk of more downed trees and power outages. Fortunately, forecasters expect the highest gusts will not be quite as strong as seen during last week's deadly storm.

© Provided by Patch (NWS Bay Area)

"Beyond rain, snow, and thunderstorms, the other impactful variable will be strengthening winds as the storm makes its southward track along the CA coast," forecasters wrote Sunday. "Gusty winds will begin over the northern coastal waters Monday evening. Winds over land will begin to get gusty late Monday night and continue into much of Tuesday. Strongest gusts will range 35 to 55 mph which will increase the risk of more downed trees and potential power outages."

While the bulk of the storm should be over by Wednesday, the Bay Area can expect lighter showers to linger Wednesday into early Thursday as the storm departs for SoCal. Looking ahead, the weather service said early models indicate a wet pattern returning next weekend, setting up for a soggy welcome to April.

© Provided by Patch (NOAA/Climate Prediction Center)

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