Bay Area Thunderstorms Possible Into Tuesday

BAY AREA, CA — Showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds were possible in the Bay Area Monday and Tuesday as a storm approached from Southern California, according to the National Weather Service.

The chance of thunderstorms appeared to be low, "but it could become a high impact event if a wildfire starts," the weather service said on Twitter. "Be weather alert" Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning, the service said.

Isolated thunderstorms and 30 to 45 mph wind gusts were observed in Southern California. The weather system stretched all the way to North Carolina, and the western side of the storm had "an absolutely stunning amount of monsoonal moisture trapped underneath it," Bay Area weather officials said in a forecast discussion early Monday.

GOES-WEST water vapor imagery this morning is capturing the transport of moisture into the State. The monsoonal flow will help to stream some of this moisture northward, so there is the potential for some light accumulations from isolated showers and t-storms today. #CaWx pic.twitter.com/Qf7wqqpR0M
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) July 26, 2021

The weather service predicted at least a 15 percent chance of thunder across the region and into the Central Coast.

"It is much more likely we see no strikes at all or perhaps only isolated weaker showers," the weather service said. "Any thunderstorms that do develop would be wet."

Bay Area residents were encouraged to stay tuned to the news and weather reports on social media and to have important belongings ready to go in case of a sudden evacuation order, the weather service said.

Low chance for thunderstorms tomorrow into Tue, but it could become a high impact event if a wildfire starts. Be weather alert Mon-Tue! #cawx #BayArea #CentralCA pic.twitter.com/SXqpJjUGlB
— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) July 25, 2021