Bay Area Receives Additional Rainfall

The Bay Area is currently experiencing its second straight day of rain, with Wednesday’s system predicted to bring more precipitation than Tuesday’s, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Rainfall Totals and System Details

As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, Mount Hamilton recorded 0.4 inches of rain. Ben Lomond and Mt. Umunhum in the Santa Cruz Mountains each received 0.25 inches, while downtown Oakland saw 0.3 inches. Concord received 0.2 inches, and San Francisco and San Jose airports recorded 0.05 and 0.02 inches respectively.

Meteorologist’s Insight

“We are in between systems right now,” NWS meteorologist Nicole Sarment said Wednesday morning. “But there is going to be more rain than we had the first day. The first one didn’t amount to much but it was certainly more than what we thought it would be.”

Sierra Nevada Winter Weather Advisory

A winter weather advisory went into effect in the Sierra Nevada at 5 a.m. Wednesday and will remain in effect until 8 a.m. Thursday. The NWS forecasts 6 to 12 inches of snow along the Sierra crest, with 1 to 3 inches possible at lower elevations near Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe Conditions

Waves on Lake Tahoe are expected to reach 3 to 6 feet high, with wind gusts potentially reaching 100 mph at ridge tops and 45-55 mph in lower elevations.

Dry Conditions Expected to Return

The rain is not expected to last much longer. A dry and warming pattern is anticipated to begin Thursday and continue through the weekend. This shift will be accompanied by an offshore flow, moving air away from the ocean – a pattern often preceding warmer temperatures.

The current system is driven by a trailing cold front from a system descending from the Gulf of Alaska near the Canadian border and Washington. Higher elevation areas along the northern coast could receive up to an inch of rain, while other regions may see between a quarter and a half-inch.