Atmospheric River

Storm Brings More Powerful Wind and Rain to the Bay Area

Kevin Stark

Feb 3

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A pedestrian walks across the street in downtown San Francisco on March 29, 2023. (Kori Suzuki / KQED News)

Updated Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Yet another atmospheric river-boosted storm is bringing heavy rain and gusty weather to the Bay Area. The storm is forecast to last through Monday and is expected to be more powerful than those that have hit the region thus far this year, bringing with it the potential of flooding rain and strong winds that could damage trees and lead to power outages.

San Jose has issued a proclamation of local emergency — a mandatory evacuation for unhoused individuals living along the banks of the waterways. The Bay Area Taxi Cab Inc. (408-573-7777) is providing free rides to the Roosevelt Community Center which serves as a warming center for unhoused individuals.

A list of warming centers in San Jose is located here.

Jump to:

How should I prepare my home for a storm?
Where can I get free sandbags?
How can I be ready for potential power outages?
What are best practices for driving in heavy rain and wind?
How can I receive updates about my area?

The system appears aimed at the Central Coast and Southern California, but the National Weather Service is warning that recent models suggest the Bay Area will be facing much stronger gusting winds than previously anticipated.

The weather service’s latest forecast discussion from the Bay Area office said that the “second half of Saturday is when the magic happens.”

“Shower activity and south to southeast winds build in the southern portions of the [region], particularly along the Big Sur coast. Winds and showers spread north and east through Saturday night with dangerously strong winds expected in the late night and through Sunday. Rain rates begin to increase into the late night as the main rainband arrives.”

Meteorologist Roger Gass with the National Weather Service says he recommends people stay home Sunday if they can — a message that officials have plastered on digital billboards overhead the Bay Bridge, too.

“The impacts will be the greatest with some gusts up to 80 miles per hour in the hills,” he said. “We may get up to 70 miles per hour along the coast and within the city we’re expecting gusts in the 45 to 55 mile per hour range.

Much of the Bay Area and Central Coast are also under a flood watch through Monday morning, meaning roads, rivers, creeks and rivers are at risk of flooding. Burn scars are also at risk of flash flooding and debris flows.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is monitoring five rivers across the state it says are at risk of flooding, including the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara County, the Russian River in Mendocino County and the Carmel River in Monterey County.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has activated emergency operations centers around the state and mobilized 8,300 workers to respond to storm impacts.

“Avoid going outside as there are dangerous debris, falling tree limbs, and downed power lines. High winds may lead to power outages. Keep your batteries handy for your devices,” said Cal OES director Nancy Ward during a Saturday press conference.

The San Francisco Bay Area is forecast to get about three inches of rain between now and Monday afternoon.

But the biggest impact for the Bay Area, according to UCLA’s Daniel Swain, could come from the strong winds, which could be “highly disruptive and possibly substantially damaging winds” at times, along the central coast and even parts of the Bay Area.

“With an explosively developing surface low expected to be located just a couple hundred miles southwest of the SF Bay Area by late tonight, a major and possibly widespread damaging windstorm will be likely along much of the Central Coast, portions of the SF Bay Area, and possibly also farther north and east (especially across the northern San Joaquin and southern/central Sacramento Valley),” Swain wrote in a blog post posted this morning.

This latest series of storms will also bring heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada. The weather service’s Sacramento office warns of “significant mountain travel impacts” from Sunday into Tuesday and that driving in the Tahoe region will bring delays, snow-covered roads, chain control and possible road closures, and could be dangerous.

How should I start preparing?

First up, understand just how much you — and your home — could be affected by another storm of this magnitude.

Previous storms in the Bay Area have knocked down trees, flooded roads and cut power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses, and contributed to several deaths. Winds have also previously forced the cancellation of flights at local airports including San Francisco International Airport.

Flooding could mean you have to evacuate your home, or live without crucial services for an extended period. Besides flashlights, experts recommend having an emergency supply kit ready in both your home and car — should you need to evacuate — that includes nonperishable foods, necessary medications, cleaning supplies and water for several days, in case services are cut off in your area. You can also include a copy of your ID, charging cables for your cellphone and a portable cellphone battery pack.

Previous storms in the Bay Area have resulted in power outages that affected over 100,000 PG&E customers. Read more about preparing your home for a potential power outage in this next storm.

two people in raincoats stand in shin deep water as they try to clear a drain on a city street in San Francisco — Two Mission District residents work to open a clogged drain on Mission and 21st streets in San Francisco on Jan. 10, 2023.

If your home experienced flooding during previous storms this year — or in storms from years past — officials recommend having sandbags, plastic sheeting and other flood control materials ready. Counties, public utilities and even community organizations across the Bay Area are distributing free sandbags. Keep in mind that some distribution sites, like those in San Francisco and San José, may ask you to show ID to prove you are a resident. Learn more about where to find sandbags.

Following the atmospheric river storm that hit Northern California on New Year’s Eve, officials around the Bay Area have doubled down on efforts to keep waterways and storm drains clear to reduce the risk of flooding in residential areas. Both Oakland and San Francisco have programs where residents can “adopt” a storm drain in their community and help remove leaves and other debris.

FEMA also has created a tool that tracks which parts of a city are under flood risk — and to what extent. You can input your address in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Once the map tool locates your address, you can select the “Dynamic Map” option to see a more detailed map that may have certain neighborhoods or blocks color coded to represent flood risk.

If you are a homeowner, keep in mind that most home insurance plans do not cover damage caused by flooding. However, you can buy an additional policy with the National Flood Insurance Program through your existing insurance provider. It’s important to mention that if you decide to buy a plan now, there is a 30-day wait period for the benefits to begin, so the policy would not cover damages potentially caused by this week’s storms.

I need sandbags. Where can I get them?

In San Francisco, officials in the past have stressed that only residents who have previously experienced flooding in their homes should seek out the free sandbags provided by city agencies. Additionally, San Mateo County has added on its emergency preparation website that sandbags brought out during a previous storm can be reused.

Santa Clara Valley Water has created a helpful video tutorial on how best to place sandbags around a home.

If your home has flooded in the past and you’re looking to pick up free sandbags, several options are available. Be aware that some sites may offer bags and sand separately or exclusively, and that you may need to bring your own shovel to some locations. You may also be required to prove county residency with an ID. Be sure to research the site you’re visiting before leaving.

Alameda County: In Alameda County, residents can pick up sandbags supplied by the County Public Works Agency from four sites.

Contra Costa County: Each city in Contra Costa County has its own sandbag pickup locations. You can find the contact information for your city’s sandbag distribution site here (PDF). Additionally, if you live in an unincorporated part of the county, six additional locations are available.

Marin County: Marin County has a list of both government-provided locations and commercial/retail options for sandbags.

Where to find sandbags in Marin County

Napa County: In addition to the county-run sandbag locations below, Napa County also recommends residents of American Canyon, Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville contact their city directly for sandbag locations and availability (PDF).

Where to find sandbags in San Mateo County

Santa Clara County: Santa Clara County residents can pick up free sandbags from several locations managed by Santa Clara Valley Water.

Solano County: All locations are self-serve and require your own shovel.

Where to find sandbags in Solano County

Sonoma County: Sandbags are available at over 10 locations around the county.

Where to find sandbags in Sonoma County

How can I be ready for potential power outages?

Flooding, downed trees and downed power lines: All of these can create the very real possibility of power outages during a storm like this.

Remember: It can sometimes take days for PG&E to do safety checks and turn your power back on, particularly if an outage affects a large enough number of people. If you have medical needs that rely on power, consider planning which family members or friends you can stay with during a lengthy power outage. You might also talk to your doctor in advance about how to prepare with medications or mobility needs.

Things to have close at hand before a potential power outage:

Battery-powered flashlights, ideally one for every household member.
A supply of fresh batteries.
Portable chargers or battery packs to keep your mobile phone charged.
LED candles, instead of wax candles, are recommended by PG&E.
A battery-powered radio to hear updates on storm conditions and outages.
Nonperishable food (think canned goods) and water: The state recommends having enough food and water for every member of your household for three days.
A thermometer to make sure your food is safe to eat (more on that below).

Make sure you know exactly where these crucial items are, so you’re not scrambling to find them in the dark.

Other things to do ahead of an outage:

Fully charge your cellphone and any portable chargers.
Get cash, as ATMs may not work during a power outage.
Top your vehicle up with a full tank of gas (similarly, gas stations may not be operational during an outage).
Fill up plastic containers with water and store them in your freezer, which you can use later as ice substitutes to keep food fresh.

Additionally, make sure you and your household all know:

How to manually open any door in your home or building that requires electricity (think garage doors, apartment complex doors that require key cards).
How you’ll communicate in an emergency situation, and not depend on a phone that needs electricity.
How you’ll operate a generator, if you have one — check ahead of time that the one you have works, and make sure you know how to use it safely and eliminate the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning.

As always, you should also consider checking on neighbors, especially those who may need assistance.

What should I do if a power outage hits my home?

Turn off almost all your appliances

If your power goes out, be sure to unplug or turn off any appliances and equipment to prevent damage from surges when the power is restored.

PG&E recommends keeping one lamp turned to the on position, to alert you when power has returned. You can then turn each appliance back on one by one.

Stay far away from any downed power lines, and report them

If you’re near a downed power line, PG&E advises that you assume it’s energized and dangerous and stay far away from it. You should:

Make sure that others in your household, especially children, also stay far back from any downed lines.
Call 911 to report the downed power line, and make sure you give the location clearly.
Then call PG&E to report the downed line, at (800) 743-5000.

Keep your food safe and edible during an outage

Once your power is out, be especially purposeful about when you open your freezer or your refrigerator.

A refrigerator that loses power can keep food cold for about four hours, and a freezer for about 48 hours, if kept closed. Plan to rely on coolers with ice or any water-filled plastic containers you’ve frozen ahead of time.

The state recommends that during an outage, you monitor food temperatures with a thermometer — and throw out any food that has a temperature of 40 degrees or higher.

If you’re opting to use a camp stove or a grill in the absence of your oven or microwave, you should only use these appliances outdoors.

If you’re without power for more than 48 hours, you may qualify for compensation from PG&E. Read more about the PG&E Safety Net program, which offers these payments due to “severe events, like storms.”

How can I drive safely in rain and strong winds?

During these storms, officials urge residents to limit unnecessary travel and stay home if at all possible during weather events like these, citing the potential dangers presented by downed trees and power lines in addition to flooding.

If you must drive, use your headlights, turn off cruise control, maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel and drive more slowly and cautiously than usual. Leave twice as much space between your vehicle and the one in front of it; wet roads might mean it takes longer to stop. Be alert for debris on the road. If your car begins to hydroplane, do not slam on the brakes. Remain calm, ease off the gas, steer in the direction you want to go and very lightly pump the brakes until you regain traction.

A red car lies abandoned under a flooded underpass with another car submerged behind it. — Two cars are stuck in a flooded underpass at 34th and Webster streets in Oakland on Jan. 4, 2023.

If flooding occurs, err on the side of caution. Don’t assume you know the depth of a pool of water or the conditions of the road underneath it, especially at night.

Always turn around rather than driving through a flooded area — as few as 6 inches of water is enough to disable or stall a small car, while 12 inches can sweep away a vehicle. If floodwaters begin to rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground on foot. According to the California Department of Water Resources, more people become trapped and die in their vehicles than anywhere else during a flood.

How can I receive updates about my area?

If you haven’t done so already, sign up to receive emergency weather alerts from your county. County officials use these notifications to inform residents of weather alerts, street and road closures, and evacuation orders. Find your county below:

In San Francisco, officials have asked the public to call 311 to report flooding inside homes, instead of 911. “We still have to run all our critical 911 calls whether it’s a cardiac arrest, a car accident or a fire. If you add all these flooding issues … it can really overtax the system,” Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said. “So if you have a little bit of flooding in your home, call 311. If someone is having a heart attack or if someone is being swept by water, call 911.”

An earlier version of this story was published on Jan 30, 2024. KQED’s Danielle Venton, Kevin Stark, Daisy Nguyen and Erin Baldassari contributed to this story.