The puddles are still drying from the weekend's rain but more wet weather is expected in the Bay Area starting early Tuesday morning.
By the time the sun rises Tuesday rain is forecasted to have started in a storm expected to last into Thursday and bring up to 4 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.
The most rainfall will come in the coastal mountains, with 2 to 4 inches predicted and up to 5 inches in the Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia mountains.
Lower-lying urban areas will see less rain, with 1 to 2 inches forecasted, but will cause wet roadways and potentially hazardous driving conditions.
There may be isolated thunderstorms and hail in coastal areas. Most of the rain is expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The storm will also cause some strong winds, particularly in higher elevations, which may knock down trees and power lines. There is a risk of some minor flooding in lower elevations, particularly urban areas, places with poor drainage and near small creeks.
Larger rivers are not expected to see any flooding, as drought conditions persist in California. While this week's storm will help, it will not solve the years of water deficits in the state.
To help residents cope with the short-term flooding, sandbags are available for pickup from some city and county agencies.
Local
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office has sandbags for pickup at the West County Detention Facility at 5555 Giant Highway in Richmond; at the Ambrose Recreation & Park Center at 3105 Willow Pass Road in Bay Point; at the Senior Center at 215 Second St. in Oakley; at County Public Works at 2475 Waterbird Way in Pacheco and at the Howe Homestead at 2950 Walnut Blvd. in Walnut Creek.
Residents picking up sandbags must bring their own shovel and fill the bags themselves. Bags and sand are provided.
The City of Oakland is also providing up to 20 sandbags and plastic sheeting to residents who need them. They can be picked up at the Municipal Service Center at 7101 Edgewater Drive and the Drainage Services Facility at 5921 Shepherd Canyon Road. Some fire stations are also providing up to five sandbags.
To minimize impact from the rain, residents have also been asked to prepare by making sure gutters, curbs and storm drains are free of debris and that waterways such as streams are free of obstructions.
