Thunder, lightning and hail were reported around the Bay Area during the latest storm that hit the region Tuesday, and snow could fall at higher elevations overnight, National Weather Service forecasters said. By mid-morning Tuesday, there had already been roughly 500 lightning strikes in the region as well as pea-sized hail and wind gusts as high as 60 mph at higher elevations, according to the weather service.
Rain, gusty winds and rising tides will continue to affect the Bay Area and Central Coast this week as a series of storm systems move through the region, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters said rain will persist through Friday, with additional storms expected. Minor urban and poor-drainage flooding is possible in many areas.
Traveling to the Lake Tahoe area is discouraged, and heavy snow has shut down Interstate Highway 80 from Colfax in Placer County to the Nevada state line, according to Caltrans. The agency advised motorists to use an alternate route. Chains are required on all vehicles except 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels from 3.4 miles east of Gold Run in Placer County to the Nevada State Line, Caltrans noted on its website Tuesday afternoon.
Weather service meteorologist Dial Hoang said there were many reports of roadways flooding around the Bay Area, as well as some reports of landslides in the East Bay hills. Caltrans officials said state Highway 1 in Big Sur had to close due to debris in the roadway from the storms.
Colder air is expected to settle in from Tuesday through late week. Overnight lows will drop into the 30s and low 40s across much of the region, creating hazardous conditions for unhoused residents and increasing the risk of hypothermia with prolonged exposure. The weather service issued a winter weather advisory through 4 p.m. Wednesday for Santa Clara, Monterey and San Benito counties and a cold weather advisory for other parts of the Bay Area.
Snow is forecast mainly for the highest peaks from Tuesday through Friday. Hoang said there could be snow in elevations as low as 3,000 feet on the eastern side of Santa Clara County and further south on the Central Coast. In Monterey County, snow levels could fall to around 3,000 feet, with up to 7 inches possible in the Santa Lucia and Gabilan ranges and higher totals on the tallest peaks. Elsewhere, little to no accumulation is expected, though slick roads and areas of black ice are possible at higher elevations.
High surf is expected on Wednesday, with large waves posing a danger to swimmers and anyone near jetties or rocks.
Forecasters said cumulative impacts from repeated rounds of rain could increase the likelihood of flooding and landslides as the week progresses.