Rare Lightning Storm Strikes Bay Area, Stormy Weather Continues Wednesday
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- On the heels of the wettest day in San Francisco this year (1.56"), parts of the Bay Area saw more than 100 lightning strikes and heavy rain Tuesday night. Conditions could become even stormier on Wednesday.
Most of the lightning strikes were reported in Marin and Sonoma Counties. Our network of cameras captured lightning strikes near San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco and Oakland.
Several North Bay communities saw impressive amounts of rain in a short amount of time, including Olema Valley (.96 inches in an hour), Bodega Bay (.34" in an hour) and Petaluma (.18 in an hour.) Over a six-hour span, 2.16 inches of rain fell in Olema Valley and 1.01 inches fell in Petaluma.
The low pressure area that gave the Bay Area widespread beneficial rainfall will make its closest pass on Wednesday, increasing our rain chances once again. Rain will fall steady-to-heavy at times, and many communities in the Bay Area will receive another 1" (or more) of much-needed rainfall.
Winds will also increase Wednesday morning, and some gusts will exceed 30-35 mph. This may be strong enough to bring down some trees and/or power lines.
Isolated thunderstorms are possible throughout the day on Wednesday as well. Scattered showers remain in our forecast through Friday.
Many have asked if this week's rain will end the drought. The answer is no. We need above-average rainfall for at least two rainy seasons before our long-term drought will end.
