Wind, Rain Move into Santa Cruz Area, Heaviest Expected Thursday

Commuters can expect wet upcoming commutes as rain and gusty winds move into the Bay Area on Wednesday evening, with the heaviest rain expected Thursday morning, National Weather Service officials said.

Light rain will begin falling in the North Bay this evening and may become heavy with amounts of one to two inches possible, especially in higher elevations, according to the weather service.

Winds of 20 to 30 mph, with possible gusts of 45 to 50 mph at higher elevations, are also expected in the Bay Area on Wednesday night through Thursday morning and could cause drought-stressed trees to fall, according to the weather service.

A wind advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday for the North Bay mountains, weather service officials said.

The rainstorm will move south to the Monterey Bay area by later Thursday, according to the weather service.

Weather service officials said a slight chance of thunderstorms exists Thursday afternoon and Thursday night as the air mass becomes unstable.

High surf conditions are also expected, with breaking waves exceeding 20 to 30 feet at the coast, according to weather service officials.

--Bay City News Service