Bay Area rain outlook stretches through week

The first of three back-to-back rain storms delivered rain to the Bay Area on Sunday, and the forecast calls several inches of rain through next weekend.

“The initial storm system is off the coast, and it’s potentially going to remain off the coast and not actually have a frontal passage with it, but we are expecting additional storm systems on Tuesday and Wednesday to bring high elevation snowfall to the region,” said Roger Gass, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “We continue to have chances for rain through next Sunday, so it’s an overall decently wet pattern.”

Inland, a snowstorm is also bringing several feet of snow to Lake Tahoe.

The first Bay Area storm, which is forecast to last through Monday evening, will bring about 1 to 2 inches of rain across the region, with some higher elevation areas such as the Santa Cruz Mountains expected to receive upwards of 4 inches, Gass said.

The heaviest rainfall in the first system was projected to come through the region over Sunday night into Monday, Gass said.

“The subsequent systems are a little bit less rainfall, but maybe some stronger winds with the Monday night into Tuesday system,” Gass said.

Those winds are forecast to range from 35 to 45 miles per hour, with higher elevations potentially getting winds of up to 55 miles per hour, he said.

High temperatures in the middle 50s  are expected Monday, Gass said. As the week goes on, temperatures will cool as a colder mass of air arrives in the region, bringing temperatures down to the high 40s to low 50s on Tuesday through Thursday.

The North Bay will not be hit the hardest, as it is in many other storms, and is expected to receive between 1 and 1.5 inches through Monday evening, Gass said.

The storms are not expected to bring any major flooding because they will bring more intermittent rain as opposed to continuous precipitation, Gass said.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning lasting from Sunday night through Wednesday night for the greater Lake Tahoe area, with forecasts of snowfall between 2 and 3 feet in the Tahoe Basin and between 3 and 5 feet at elevations above 7,000 feet. Winds might reach 35 to 45 miles per hour, with gusts on the Sierra ridge up to 100 miles per hour.

“Travel could be very difficult to impossible with periods of whiteout conditions. Very strong winds could cause damage to trees and power lines,” the weather agency said. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5-1-1.”

The storm is forecast to bring heavy snow Monday and Tuesday, with 3 to 7 inches projected on Monday, according to the forecast. Snow chances remain through at least Friday.

The National Weather Service also issued an avalanche watch lasting until Monday morning due to the storm, according to the alert. From Monday evening to Tuesday night or Wednesday, the backcountry was expected to see high avalanche danger.

“A powerful storm with rapidly accumulating snowfall and strong winds may cause widespread avalanche activity in the mountains,” agency said. “Large avalanches capable of burying or injuring people could occur in backcountry areas.”

The rain will begin to taper off in the Bay Area around Thursday, but rain chances remain through next Sunday, Gass said.