Widespread Rain, Cooler Temps In Bay Area Forecast: See Timing

SAN FRANCISCO — The coming weekend is poised to bring some bonafide fall weather to the Bay Area, with widespread chances for rain and much cooler temps expected to linger for at least a few days. A welcome relief compared to last weekend's red flag conditions, forecasters expect some rain will begin to trickle in on Saturday as a cold front shaves off several degrees from recent afternoon highs.

"Rain will start in the North Bay Saturday and progress south through the weekend," NWS Bay Area forecasters wrote Thursday. "While the models continue to disagree on the timing and amount of rain, there is decent agreement that the jet stream will migrate from far Northern California to the Bay Area over the weekend."

The National Weather Service noted the incoming shift in weather looks like decidedly good news, with several periods of light rain expected rather than a deluge. The return of precipitation is a welcome change following the rather slow start to the water year seen last month.

"This will open the storm door, with a series of low-pressure systems and associated fronts bringing several light rain events through the middle of next week," forecasters said. "This continues to look like a purely beneficial event, with light rain spread out over several days."

While forecasters are still keeping a close eye on the models, they said at least a moderate chance of rain looks favorable from Saturday through Tuesday. North Bay communities may see the wettest outcomes, potentially logging an inch of rainfall by Tuesday. The Peninsula and East Bay could pick up to a half-inch of precipitation, with a quarter-inch possible for the South Bay.

Extended weather models favor a dry stretch around the middle of next week, but Bay Area forecasters say the next round of rain may not be far behind.