March 29, 2024
Storms lash Northern California, snow only for strong-willed
SAN FRANCISCO – (INT) – Northern California is also getting in on the Mother Nature’s winter tantrums.

Relentless rain slicked highways and contributed to an assortment of traffic mishaps that killed four people in the Sierra foothills and the Wine Country.

Mudslides, hail, high winds, fallen trees, snow and downed power lines were all part of the biggest storm of the new year as an atmospheric river and cold front grabbed hold of the Bay Area and was not expected to let go until late Thursday.

Too much water was everywhere. There were 30-foot waves off the coast, small stream flood advisories in the North Bay and a leak that forced the closure of the Civic Center BART station on Wednesday afternoon.

Flights were delayed up to three hours at Bay Area airports. Ferry boats were delayed up to 15 minutes on San Francisco Bay, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

All around the Bay Area, the storm sent rain gauges rising. Five inches of rain fell in Venado, in Sonoma County, in the 24 hours ending at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The heavy rain still left the Bay Area drier than usual for this time of year. San Francisco has received 9.25 inches of rain so far this season, or 83 percent of normal.

In the Sierra, officials posted an avalanche warning through 7 a.m. Friday. A blizzard warning was already in effect with possible whiteout conditions. Nearly 2 feet of snow had already fallen at Northstar and Sugar Bowl as of Wednesday. Driving to the ski areas was only for the strong-willed.
Story Date: January 19, 2019
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