Overnight high winds, rain batter the Bay Area ahead of next major storm system
SAN FRANCISCO -- The latest storm in the parade of atmospheric river events sweeping into the Bay Area brought rain and high winds to the region overnight with another system expected Sunday evening.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said 12 people lost their lives as a result of violent weather during the past 10 days and he warned that this week's storms could be even more dangerous. He urged people to stay home.
"Just be cautious over the course of the next week, particularly the next day or two or so," Newsom said during a briefing with California officials outlining the state's storm preparations.
The weather service's Sacramento office said the region should brace for the latest atmospheric river to roar ashore late Sunday and early Monday.
"Widespread power outages, downed trees and difficult driving conditions will be possible," the office said on Twitter.
The high winds at peaks across the Bay Area overnight ranged from 60 mph to a peak of 99 mph at Mines Tower in Alameda.
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Exploding high voltage wires left thousands of PG&E customers in Concord without power.
The explosion caught on camera happened on Concord Boulevard near Glazier Drive. A witness said it appeared to be caused by high winds that blew a tree into the lines.
Police closed off the area after the explosion. PG&E crews are working on the outage, but there is currently no estimated time to restore power.
There was also a large tree that fell onto a fence surrounding the pool at Concord Community Park following stormy weather that brought high winds to the region late Saturday night and early Sunday.
Crews were working as of midday Sunday to remove the tree, one of many that fell around the Bay Area amid the storm.
Operations at the pool were unaffected by the tree -- people were swimming laps as the tree chipping efforts were underway.
Another large tree at the park along the fence line of the adjacent El Monte Elementary School fell during the overnight storm, landing in the yards of nearby homes.
A massive tree and the debris around it completely shut down Westside Road in Forestville Saturday night. It's one of the main roads connecting Healdsburg and Forest Hills. Right now, it is uncertain when the road will reopen.
A huge eucalyptus tree fell onto a home in Castro Valley Saturday, crushing part of the house and the car in front of it. The tree also took down a power line in its path.
This happened about 4 p.m. Saturday amid heavy rains. The tree blocked the street and cut power to the block.
According to Alameda Fire, one person was rescued from the home and required medical treatment for injuries. Two adults and four children were displaced while cleanup efforts continue.
On Sunday morning, the Bay Area office of the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the area of the Guadalupe River above the Alamaden Expressway in Santa Clara County.
The National Weather Service has been urging people to stay current with forecast updates, adding "there is a direct threat to life and property from these storms." The weather service issued a flood watch for the Bay Area from 4 p.m. Saturday through 4 p.m. Tuesday.
A high wind warning was issued by the National Weather Service that goes into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday and lasts until 4 p.m. Monday.
Evacuation warnings were in place for about 13,000 residents of a flood-prone area of Sonoma County north of San Francisco, where the swollen Russian River was expected to overspill its banks in the coming days. However, the river is now expected to crest at 34.5 feet -- just two and a half feet over flood stage -- versus cresting at 40 feet as forecast just days ago.
The city of Watsonville issued a flood advisory in effect Saturday through Tuesday for certain areas of the city, a spokeswoman said shortly after noon Saturday.
The flood advisory applies to areas that have the potential of flooding, according to city spokeswoman Michelle Pulido. Some of these areas experienced flooding during the atmospheric river that pummeled the Bay Area over New Year's weekend, Pulido said.
To determine exactly which areas are affected by the advisory, residents should visit the city website, cityofwatsonville.org
Among the rivers and streams expected to reach at least moderate flood stage include the Russian River at Guerneville, Alameda Creek near Niles, Coyote Creek above Highway 237 at Milpitas, San Lorenzo River at Big Trees, Pajaro River at Chittenden, and the Big Sur River near Big Sur.
In the state capital, more than 60,000 customers were still without electricity late Sunday afternoon -- down from more than 350,000 -- after gusts of 60 mph knocked trees into power lines.
Joey Kleemann was listening to the winds howling shortly after midnight, wondering whether she should move her car, when she heard a "gigantic, thumping, crashing sound" as a massive tree fell onto the Sacramento home where she's lived for 25 years.
The gusts were strong enough to rip the tree from its roots, pulling the concrete sidewalk up with it.
Cracks in Kleemann's roof meant rain streamed into her dining area throughout the night. She planned to place a tarp over the damaged area in anticipation of another deluge.
"I just had a feeling with the winds. They were scary winds," she said. "Mostly I focused on: it could be so much worse."
The state Department of Transportation warned motorists to stay off mountain roads after closing a stretch of U.S. 395 in Mono County due to heavy snow, ice and whiteout conditions along the Eastern Sierra.
"With the severe nature of this storm, Caltrans is asking all drivers to limit nonessential travel until the peak of the storm has passed," the department said in a statement.
The wet weather comes after days of rain in California from Pacific storms that last week knocked out power to thousands, flooded streets, battered the coastline and caused at least six deaths.
The first of the newest, heavier storms prompted the weather service to issue a flood watch for a large swath of Northern and Central California with 6 to 12 inches of rain expected through Wednesday in the already saturated Sacramento-area foothills.
In the Los Angeles area, scattered rain fell during the weekend while stormy conditions were expected to return Monday, with the potential for up to 8 inches of rain in foothill areas. High surf was expected through Tuesday, with large waves on west-facing beaches.
Since Dec. 26, San Francisco received more than 10 inches of rain, while Mammoth Mountain, a popular ski area in the Eastern Sierra, received nearly 10 feet of snow, the National Weather Service reported.
The storms won't be enough to officially end California's ongoing drought but they have helped.
State climatologist Michael Anderson told a news briefing late Saturday that officials were closely monitoring Monday's incoming storm and another behind it and were keeping an eye on three other systems farther out in the Pacific.
