On Friday, the Bay Area braced for the impact of a rainstorm as waves surged against its beaches and the sky turned increasingly overcast. This weather disturbance is attributed to the tail end of an atmospheric river, which is expected to deliver significant rainfall to northern California and Oregon, with lingering effects in the Bay Area. According to meteorologists from the National Weather Service (NWS), all regions of the Bay Area, excluding the South Bay, including San Jose, are likely to receive at least some rain.
The rain is expected to contribute to a month already marked by considerable precipitation for the region. NWS meteorologist Rick Canepa explained that the Bay Area is experiencing the weaker side of a surface low-pressure system, with potential for significant water vapor in higher elevations, particularly near Mount Tamalpais and other North Bay locations where rainfall is typically heavier. Residents in these areas should prepare for at least an inch of rain.
Conversely, Alameda and Contra Costa counties can expect much lighter totals, possibly up to a quarter-inch, while the South Bay is forecasted to see only trace amounts of rain. This heavy rainfall already seen in October has created hazardous beach conditions, which are expected to persist throughout the weekend. The weather service warned that buoys and live cameras indicated “energetic waves,” with a beach hazards statement in effect until early Monday morning, predicting wave heights could reach as much as 20 feet.
Additionally, dense fog blanketed the North Bay’s interior valleys on Friday morning, reducing visibility to a quarter-mile before dissipating later in the day. A second smaller wave from the atmospheric river is forecasted to bring additional rain by Sunday night, possibly extending into Monday. Canepa noted that conditions could be highly variable, making it challenging to predict the tail end of this weather system.
By Monday morning, the entire weather system is anticipated to have moved through the region, allowing for gradual clearing and returning temperatures closer to seasonal averages as early next week approaches. As the Bay Area recovers from this weather event, residents can look forward to clearer skies and more stable conditions in the days ahead.