If today has felt especially rainy, you’re not alone. In fact, today, rainfall surpassed a century-old record in San Francisco. According to the National Weather Service in the Bay Area, Downtown San Francisco has already received 2.53 inches of rain today in their preliminary measurements, breaking the daily record of 2.22 inches. The original record was set over 100 years ago, back in 1887. So, if you felt like the rain was especially bad today, it really was a once-every-138-years storm. The historic rainfall started yesterday evening and continued through today.
The winter storm has caused several weather hazards in NorCal, with flooding causing highway closures and a severe thunderstorm and high wind warnings issued by the NWS. A portion of Northbound Highway 101 is closed due to flooding, along with Highway 1 in Marin County. Plus, downed power lines caused part of Highway 9 to close in Santa Cruz County. According to NWS, the storm has also caused many in the Bay Area to lose power.
For now, the NWS has issued a Flood Watch until 4 pm on Wednesday. Additional rain is expected through Friday this week. Plus, strong winds are expected to continue into late tonight. Thankfully, the rain will let up for the weekend, and Saturday is forecasted to be sunny and clear. Meanwhile, if you have plans to ski soon, the Lake Tahoe area is under a winter storm warning until 4 pm on Wednesday.
For more updates on road closures, we recommend following your Cal Transit district’s X account. San Francisco is located in District 4, and you can find the account at CaltransD4. Plus, check the National Weather Service website for current advisories and forecasts.
Due to potential flooding, Cal Transit recommends that people avoid unnecessary travel in San Francisco for the time being. If you see a flooded road, do not attempt to drive through it, and instead turn your vehicle around. Cal Transit also recommends looking out for downed power lines if you are out on the road.