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Powerful storm system to send rain, snow to California
San Francisco Chronicle • • nation
Key Points:
- A powerful storm system from the Gulf of Alaska will bring a series of cold fronts to the West Coast, with the Bay Area expecting heavy rain and strong winds starting Friday, including gusts over 40 mph and potential power outages.
- Offshore, the storm will generate huge waves of 30 to 40 feet along the Northern California coast, possibly the largest since December 2015, lasting from Friday through Saturday afternoon.
- Saturday will see a temporary lull in storm activity, but another cold front with scattered rain showers may arrive late Saturday or early Sunday, though with less moisture and more uncertainty in rainfall amounts.
- The Sierra Nevada will experience minor snowfall with snow levels near 7,000 feet, resulting in rain in lower elevations and moderate snow accumulations above 8,600 feet; Tahoe is expected to see minimal snow this weekend.
- While this weekend marks the start of wetter conditions, it is not expected to be the main wet season, which models predict will peak in January and February with significantly above-normal rainfall for the San Francisco area.
