Tag archive

wind

‘Extratropical cyclone’ is bringing severe weather to parts of California. Here’s what to expect

in Weather

Tuesday’s unusual late-season storm is making its rounds across Northern California and will introduce a slew of weather impacts, including strong winds, downpours and thunderstorms, along with the risk of small hail. Most of this severe weather will peak Tuesday morning and steadily drop off by the afternoon across most of the Bay Area, but lingering showers and thunderstorms are forecast to hang around through Wednesday afternoon — well after the worst of the storm has passed.

Continue Reading on the San Francisco Chronicle

Next Sonoma County atmospheric river to bring 60 mph gusts, possible thunderstorms

in Weather

Possible thunderstorms coupled with strong winds on Tuesday and early Wednesday could trigger multiple weather hazards, including mudslides, in the North Bay, according to the National Weather Service.

Residents are encouraged to secure outside items, monitor the weather and have a plan in place in case the storm, which is one of the strongest to hit the region this winter, causes evacuations or power failures, said Warren Blier, a meteorologist with the weather service’s Monterey office.

Widespread rains were expected to begin about midnight Tuesday after a day of scattered lighter showers.

Steadily increasing winds will peak about 3 a.m. at 20 to 35 mph with gusts around 45 mph in the Sonoma County valleys, said National Weather Service meteorologist Patrick Ayd.

Continue Reading on The Press Democrat

3 more atmospheric rivers headed for Sonoma County. What’s driving the storm train?

in Weather

January is typically atmospheric river season in California, but since the start of the new year Sonoma County has been hammered by an almost nonstop series of them — an unusual occurrence, which experts are attributing to the jet stream that is surging over the Pacific Ocean.

Literally described as rivers in the sky, three more of these moisture-laden events are being carried by winds toward the Golden State, according to meteorologists, who expect more storms to begin Wednesday night.

Those storms will continue through Jan. 20, said Chad Hecht, a research and operations meteorologist with UC San Diego’s Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes.

Continue Reading on The Press Democrat

Forecaster: ‘Use Tuesday for preparation’ before atmospheric river hits North Bay

in Weather

North Bay residents should spend Tuesday getting ready for another anticipated round of heavy rain and strong winds set to roll through the region Wednesday that will likely cause rivers to inch toward their flood stages, and down even more trees, according to the National Weather Service.

This particular atmospheric river, the third to hit the Bay Area since Dec. 26, could drop as much as 8 inches of precipitation, over a 48-hour period, on some of Sonoma County’s wettest areas, according to meteorologist Ryan Walbrun, with the weather service’s office in Monterey.

The storm is expected to deposit about 2 to 4 inches of rainfall on the Sonoma County valleys, 4 to 6 inches on the northwest hills and 6 to 8 inches near Cazadero.

“Use Tuesday for preparation,” Walbrun said. “Put a plan in action ahead of time, just in case.”

Continue Reading on The Press Democrat

Series of winter storms is headed for California. Here’s when each one is expected to hit

in Weather

Bay Area residents would do well to keep their gloves handy, as they’ll be fighting a parade of storms that started on Boxing Day. Monday’s contender brought light showers and winds that evolved into heavy rainfall and intense winds by the Tuesday morning rush hour.

In parts of the East Bay hills, Peninsula and North Bay highlands, winds gusted over 50 mph and were accompanied by intense rainfall across the region, where totals exceeded an inch and a quarter at both official downtown San Francisco and Oakland weather stations. More torrential downpours came down over the Santa Cruz Mountains and North Bay highlands, where stations like Felton and Mt. Tam exceeded 4 inches of rain.

Continue Reading on The San Francisco Chronicle

Sonoma County braces for second night of strong winds

in Weather
Tree limbs, branches and leaves sit scattered throughout the Sonoma Plaza after after strong winds swept through Sonoma, Calif., on Monday, October 26, 2020. Photo taken (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)

Sonoma County skirted catastrophic wildfire late Sunday during the first of back-to-back windstorms dealing hurricane-force gusts to ridgelines and strong, erratic blasts down into the valleys, toppling trees and starting about a half-dozen small fires.Roving crews of firefighters rushed to contain these blazes before they could spread on land primed to burn amid supremely dry conditions brought by these inland Diablo winds on what was a long and sleepless night for many across the North Coast.

About 34,500 customers remained without power Monday night as the region headed into a second anxious round of winds, although packing less strength.

Continue Reading on Press Democrat

Go to Top