Bay Area Residents Brace for More Rain, Wind

More rain was expected to arrive in the Bay Area Thursday afternoon as a series of storms continues to pass through the region, a National Weather Service forecaster said.

"We're going to get hammered again tonight," forecaster Diana Henderson said.

The rain will start in the North Bay and move its way south through the Peninsula Thursday afternoon and evening, she said.

Rain is expected to be heavy at times through Friday, with some strong winds, although the winds won't be as powerful as they were on Wednesday, when gusts of about 50 mph were recorded in the North Bay hills. Instead, it will be breezy with winds of up to 20 mph, Henderson said.

Three to 6 inches of rainfall is expected in the North Bay by the end of the day Friday, and 1 to 2 inches is forecast along the Peninsula.

On Wednesday, Bay Area residents were anticipating a daylong deluge of rain and wind, but the storm blew through by noon.

"The system moved faster than anticipated," Henderson said. "It didn't dump as much as we thought it might."

More showers and wind are expected Saturday and Sunday, with intermittent dry periods. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms as well, Henderson said.

Henderson advised using caution while driving on highways, where accumulated oil means slick roads in wet weather.

"It just gets nasty out there," she said. After the weekend, the area should dry out, according to Henderson.

-- Bay City News

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