Over Half A Foot Of Rain Possible As Wet Weather Finally Returns To Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - The driest winter stretch in recorded Bay Area history is about to end. And If computer models are right, it will end in drenching fashion.
KPIX 5's Roberta Gonzales says computer models for the weekend ahead initially varied widely and suggested as much as a foot of rain at the wettest spots. The newest projections, however, indicate a slightly lower total.
"The latest computer models are saying 5 inches in the North Bay between Thursday and Saturday night. Sonoma County will be the wettest. We could see an additional 1 to 2 inches Sunday. So totals for the weekend could be 7 inches, higher in the mountains," said Gonzales.
Gonzales said that level of rainfall opens the possibility of urban and small stream flood advisories. There is also a potential for damaging wind associated with the storm, which will be the wettest weather the region has seen in over a month.
"While the bulls eye may change between now and Thursday, it appears as if the bulk of the heavy rain and gusty winds will be North bay Coastal Range and higher elevations of our Mountains," she said.
Before that can happen, the Bay Area will set a record for the longest winter dry spell.
"Today ties a record at 42 consecutive day with no measurable rain in San Francisco. The old record was established in 1962-63," said Gonzales.
San Francisco had a completely rain-free January for the first time in history.
