At 3:30 am Monday, the National Weather Service issued the following weather statement about today’s storm hitting the San Francisco Bay Area:
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 3PM PST MON …POTENT STORM SYSTEM AND ATMOSPHERIC RIVER LIKELY TO RESULT IN WIDESPREAD FLOODING, STRONG WINDS AND INCREASED THREAT FOR ROCK/MUD SLIDES, SHALLOW LANDSLIDES AND POTENTIAL DEBRIS FLOWS IN HILLY TERRAIN AND RECENT BURN SCAR AREAS THROUGH TODAY…
RAINFALL AND WINDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY EARLY THIS MONDAY MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. RAINFALL WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH BAY REGION AND ALONG THE SOUTHWEST FACING COASTAL SLOPES RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING.
IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED FLOODING AT ANY TIME THIS WINTER SEASON, EITHER NEAR YOUR HOME OR ON YOUR DAILY COMMUTE, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR ADDITIONAL FLOODING IN THESE AREAS DURING THE NEXT 12 TO 18 HOURS.
IN ADDITION, SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND RESULT IN A HEIGHTENED THREAT FOR DOWNED TREES AND POWER LINES WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED TO SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES.
THE COMBINATION OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND STRONG WINDS WILL ALSO GIVE WAY TO WIDESPREAD ROCK/MUD SLIDES, SHALLOW LANDSLIDES AND POTENTIAL DEBRIS FLOWS IN HILLY TERRAIN AND RECENT BURN SCAR AREAS. RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO REMAIN VIGILANT AND ENCOURAGED TO STAY UP- TO-DATE WITH THE LASTEST WEATHER INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
THOSE TAKING TO AREA ROADWAYS SHOULD ALSO CHECK THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR POTENTIAL ROAD CLOSURES. REMEMBER, “TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN” WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADWAYS. IT IS NEVER SAFE TO DRIVE OR WALK INTO FLOOD WATERS.
