Wind Advisory, Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain To Slam The Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — A wind advisory will take effect Friday along the coast, mountains and East Bay Hills as the next storm blows into the Bay Area. Forecasters at the National Weather Service expected only light showers Thursday ahead of a stronger system Friday that promises widespread rain and a chance of thunderstorms.

Updated forecasts showed good odds for at least an inch of rain throughout the Bay Area by Sunday, with higher amounts in the coastal mountains and a chance for locally heavy rain, hail and lightning if thunderstorms materialize.

"Thunderstorm and scattered shower chances move in behind the main rain band," NWS Bay Area wrote Thursday. "The spread of these post-frontal rains still spread across the Bay Area and Central Coast Friday night through Saturday evening, with [thunderstorm] chances peaking around 25% during that timeframe."

Forecasters expect the wind will start to pick up Friday morning, with gusts up to 50 mph possible in the areas under the wind advisory.

Clear skies should prevail after some lingering showers Sunday morning, setting the stage for a sunnier, warmer run of weather due next week. New climate outlooks favor above-average temperatures gracing the Golden State for the first week of April.

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