The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of another powerful atmospheric river that’s set to arrive in SF early on Wednesday morning, January 4th.
This new storm is set to dump 2-3 inches of rain in downtown SF between Wednesday and Thursday. While this is admittedly lighter than the 5.46″ that fell on Dec. 31, the already saturated soil mixed with 40-60mph wind gusts, will “likely result in downed trees/limbs causing isolated to scattered power outages as well as potential property damage,” according to the NWS.
This comes at a time when most SF residents are still drying out from the last storm and some businesses, such as SF restaurant Izakaya Rintaro and Wooden Nickle bar, are still closed due to flood damage.
Some businesses, including the grocery store Haight Street Market, lost power during the Dec. 31 storm, so it’s best to plan ahead and gather supplies ahead of Wednesday’s big storm.
The NWS has made the following recommendations when preparing for the incoming storm:
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Make sure you’re signed up for your county’s emergency alerts and/or their reverse 9-1-1 calls. Heed any evacuation orders, especially if you live near an area that is prone to flooding or mudslides.
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Have a “go bag” ready in case you need to evacuate quickly (go toready.gov/plan or ready.gov/kit if you’re not sure what to pack).
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Find your insurance policies and other important documents. Take photos of rooms in your home so that you can easily reference items in case of damage.
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Prepare for power outages or road closures that could last several days. Get extra non-perishable food and have drinking water ready at home in case you’re unable to leave home.
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Gas up your vehicles and charge up all your devices.
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Plan ahead for the elderly or others with special needs, such as necessary medications or other services.
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Don’t forget about your pets/livestock to ensure their safety.
Stay safe out there, SF!
Featured image: Grant MacHamer