Thunderstorms, Heavy Rainfall Possible In Petaluma

PETALUMA, CA — Widespread rain is expected to return to the North Bay and Bay Area early next week, with up to 4 inches of rainfall possible in some higher elevations Monday and Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service in a briefing Friday said the storm is a "weak to potentially moderate atmospheric river" that will be preceded by wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph.

Forecasters expect the rain to arrive first over the North Bay and then the greater Bay Area around midday Monday into Monday afternoon, with the North Bay mountains and Santa Cruz Mountains likely to see the most precipitation. Those areas could see 2-4 inches, according to the weather service.

Power outages are possible, along with minor flooding of small streams and creeks and areas with poor drainage.

There is also potential for an isolated thunderstorm or two late Monday across the North Bay, and lingering showers may continue into Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

However, the rain from this system is expected to move through the region at a decent pace, therefore not stalling in any one area for a long period of time, the weather service said.

"This would overall provide mostly beneficial rainfall to the region with less of a widespread flooding concern."

Here's the current 7-day forecast for Petaluma.

Friday Night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 49. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11am. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. West wind 6 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. West wind 6 to 15 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday Night: Rain likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 11pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday: Rain, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 64.

Tuesday Night: A chance of rain, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 46.

Veterans Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.