Things will remain primarily dry for Bay Area commuters until Friday afternoon, and heavy rain showers will persist throughout the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service, three storms will hit the region starting midday Friday. The heaviest rains will occur north of the Golden Gate Bridge, in Marin and Santa Rosa, where 2 to 3 inches of rain are part of the forecast.
Good morning early risers! Good news: it's looking mostly dry for your AM commute. Bad news: for your PM commute...not so much. Here's an animation timing today's rainfall but in general expect showers around this afternoon and evening. #cawx pic.twitter.com/ECPyigqjSr
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) January 19, 2024
NWS forecasts light showers and up to 1 and 1.5 inches of rain for San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Meanwhile, up to 1 inch is expected in the East Bay, Peninsula and San Jose.
The first storm should start Friday and continue into Saturday evening, at which point there will be a slight reprieve for the 49ers’ divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.
The next round of rain is expected to begin by midday Friday and continue into Saturday night. The greatest amount of rainfall will occur in the coastal ranges with lesser amounts southward and points inland. #CAwx #BayAreaWX pic.twitter.com/XvldUGbVJl
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) January 18, 2024
A second storm may arrive by nightfall on Saturday, according to the weather service. That system may contain more substantial rains—up to one-and-a-half inches in San Francisco—and gusts up to 35 mph.
The showers will continue throughout Sunday until a third distinct system arrives, likely Sunday evening. NWS forecasts that to be the wettest of the three.
Details are still uncertain about the exact timing of when the heaviest rains will occur, but NWS said the storm could bring up to 2.5 inches of rain to San Francisco and Oakland and up to 4 inches in the north and south coastal regions.
Expect those rains to last until Monday.