San Francisco

Latest Winter Storm Makes Beeline for Bay Area, Promises Good Soaking

Forecasters say rain and cold temperatures will continue most of Friday in the San Francisco Bay Area before drying out and warming up on Saturday.

A cold front system moved south from the Gulf of Alaska early Friday with forecasters predicting up to 3 inches of rain in the coastal mountains with less rain in the lower elevations.

By early Friday, moderate to heavy rainfall had been reported in Vallejo and Sausalito in the North Bay; Lafayette, Concord and Moraga in the East Bay; and Tiburon and San Francisco, to name a few places.

Ponding was spotted on the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, while slick roads made for treacherous driving conditions.

Forecasters say the storm is expected to move into the South Bay later Friday with winds picking up.

Marin County experienced rain beginning around 5 a.m. Friday and the entire Bay Area is in for a soggy morning commute. Pete Suratos reports.

The rain is returning to the Bay Area after a wet winter season that caused damage worth millions of dollars and forced state and local leaders to declare emergencies to secure funding for storm repairs. Last month, thousands of people in San Jose were displaced from their homes after Coyote Creek overflowed. 

In the Sierra Nevada, snow levels will start out above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) on Friday, then lower to around 7,000 feet (2,133 meters) Friday night and Saturday.

Snow accumulations above 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) could range up to 12 inches (30.5 centimeters), impacting travel through the mountain range.

Saturday should bring a mostly sunny respite.

The front is expected to move slowly south down the Central Coast, bringing rain late in the day and overnight to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Forecasters say there's a chance it could reach Los Angeles County, but will wash out on Saturday.

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