San Francisco is in for a rainy week, with forecasts predicting three storms hitting Northern California starting last Friday. Now, as the rain continues into this week, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for parts of Northern California. The flood watch is currently in effect from San Francisco through the central coast and has been extended through Friday at 10 am. Then, from San Francisco to Gorda, the flood watch will start at 10 am on Tuesday, December 23.
The flood watch is due to the potential for heavy rain, which could cause flooding of rivers, streams, and low-lying areas. This also means that standing water is likely in cities. The rain is due to an atmospheric river, which is forecast to bring 2 to 5 inches in the valleys and up to 8 inches in the coastal mountains.
The NWS also predicts a slight chance of flash flooding Monday through Thursday, primarily in urban areas and on roads. Any flash floods will be in isolated areas and scattered. A high wind watch has also been issued for the Bay Area and Northern California starting at 7 pm on Tuesday, December 23, and will stay in effect until 4 am on Wednesday. Winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour are expected, with some gusts forecast to reach up to 60 miles per hour.
The strong winds could cause downed power lines and trees, and result in potential power outages. The NWS advises that travel could be difficult and hazardous due to the winds.
You can find the weather forecast and more alerts and safety advisories on the National Weather Service website. You can also follow NWS on X for updates and advisories. Plus, check out our guide on how to prepare for power outages here.