The Weather To Watch For And What To Avoid Today

BAY AREA, CA — A blast of rain, lightning and plunging temperatures is sweeping across the Bay Area, with more cold and stormy weather on the way, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said a cold weather advisory remains in effect for the North Bay and southern Salinas Valley until 9 a.m. Wednesday. A coastal flood advisory is also in place until 3 p.m. today, with minor flooding expected during high tides, according to NWS forecasts.

Drivers can expect a slow commute this week. The California Highway Patrol advised motorists to slow down — in addition to gusty, slippery conditions, potholes have developed on some on roadways as rain continues after days of soaking the Bay Area.

An extreme cold warning is alsoin effect, with temperatures as low as 24 degrees in parts of the Bay Area. The coldest stretch of the week is expected from late Thursday into Friday morning, the weather service said.

Lightning has already been reported across the region as sheets of rain drench drivers in the North Bay. Flooding has been reported on roadways around Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Napa, and Novato, and some North Bay roads were closed over the weekend due to high water.

Winds have reached up to 25 m.p.h. in Concord, and gusts could climb even higher Thursday night, when temperatures are forecast to dip to about 34 degrees. The chance of precipitation Thursday night stands at 90 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

Colder air will also bring snow to higher elevations. Several inches are expected on Mount Diablo and Mount Tamalpais, and snow is forecast in Lake County, according to the CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.

Looking ahead to the weekend, forecasters warn that another round of rain and wind could move into the region, extending an already soggy and frigid week across the Bay Area.

This is skiing weather in Tahoe and the area where fresh snow will be falling later this week at lower elevations. Chains will be a must for anyone heading to the slopes.

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