Community Corner

Big Storms Expected For Wednesday's Commute

Make sure your windshield wipers are working well and your gutters are clear. If our earlier storms weren't enough reminder, now is a good time to get serious about wet-weather preparation.

 

A series of powerful rainstorms is expected to hit the Bay Area beginning Wednesday morning, dumping up to 8 inches of rain on parts of the region, a National Weather Service forecaster said Monday.

The storms will start around the time of the morning commute on Wednesday and continue through the weekend, bringing winds of 40 to 50 mph and 1 to 3 inches of rain to most parts of the Bay Area, forecaster Steve Anderson said.

Find out what's happening in Los Altoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"This is certainly the biggest storm of the season so far," Anderson said. "Typically, we get our big rain events in December and January."

The rainfall will be most intense in the North Bay, where 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected in low lands and as many at 8 inches in the hills, Anderson said.

Find out what's happening in Los Altoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It's mostly going to be a North Bay event, the heaviest rainfall," Anderson said.

Smaller creeks in the North Bay are likely to fill to bank level, although the larger Russian and Napa rivers "don't seem to be getting too out of hand," he said.

Streets throughout the Bay Area will be soaked, and fallen leaves from trees are expected to clog storm drains, so some roads and intersections will see some flooding and the usual traffic delays, Anderson said. Leaves on the roadway also make for slick driving.

Bay Area residents should also get ready for possible downed trees and power outages.

"If you have an alarm clock that's electric, make sure you have a backup," Anderson said. Ditto for flashlights with fresh batteries, and candles with matches at the ready. 

Fifteen- to 18-foot waves are expected along the coast during the stormy weather, he said.

—Copyright © 2012 by Bay City News, Inc. — Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here