Weather Advisory: Menlo Park, Atherton Residents Urged to Prepare for Storm

By Bay City News Service:

Hazardous weather including rain, wind, flooding, landslides and high surf is expected in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas today through Saturday morning, National Weather Service officials said. The amount of rain expected between 4 a.m. today through 4 a.m. Saturday will be about half an inch in most areas.

San Francisco and western cities of the East Bay are expected to get half an inch while somewhat less is expected in Pleasanton and Livermore, National Weather Service hydrologist Mark Strudley said. Cities in the South Bay and in Marin County can expect about 0.6 inches of rain. About 0.6 inches is expected along the Monterey Peninsula while up to two inches could fall in the Santa Lucia Mountains, Strudley said.

After the rain ends Saturday morning, “we have dry weather slated for the first half of the week until at least Wednesday and possibly longer,” Strudley said. The rain will bring flooding to low-lying areas and areas that drain poorly, according to the National Weather Service. Smaller rivers and streams may reach their banks and could overflow by Saturday morning, but larger rivers are not expected to flood.

Exceptionally high tides, rainfall runoff and long periodic ocean waves may cause flooding along the coast, weather service officials said. Strong and gusty winds are expected until Saturday morning and a wind advisory is in effect until 4 a.m. Saturday. Power outages are possible, weather service officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is warning boaters, beachgoers and others near the coast to be aware of hazardous beach conditions. A high surf advisory is in effect for the Peninsula until 5 p.m. Saturday, weather service officials said. Waves reaching of heights of 12 to 16 feet are possible.

Landslides are possible in steep terrain, especially in the North Bay mountains, Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Lucia Mountains. Santa Cruz County officials are warning communities around Pajaro Dunes and Rio Del Mar to be aware of high surf, tides and waves. County officials are also telling residents to avoid jetties and rocks along the coast and keep an eye on waves.

Two University of California at Santa Cruz students were swept off some rocks and out to sea on Monday and have not been found. Strong rip currents and sneaker waves are possible, county officials said. The rain and wind may cause trees to fall and play a part in traffic crashes. Bay Hill Road was closed this morning at state Highway 1 in Bodega Bay because a large Eucalyptus tree was blocking both directions of the road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A crash this morning in Santa Rosa closed Stony Point Road between Butler Avenue and Todd Road and power lines were in the road.

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Photo via Shutterstock; Graphics courtesy of the National Weather Service.