A very strong cyclone slammed into the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas bringing flooding rains, high winds, record high surf and coastal flooding. Hundreds of thousands of residences and businesses were without power, some for several days due to high winds toppling power lines.
Every event with a place to put it; 39 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MTR wrote it up.
A very strong cyclone slammed into the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas bringing flooding rains, high winds, record high surf and coastal flooding. Hundreds of thousands of residences and businesses were without power, some for several days due to high winds toppling power lines. Property damage in the millions was reported due to falling trees hitting cars and structures as well as damage to roads due to heavy rain. Preliminary totals indicate over $1.5 million in damage in the City of Oakland, nearly $1 million in Monterey County and about $150,000 in Santa Cruz County.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS San Francisco Bay Area, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 3, 10:00 PM PST, 4 hours earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO CA
1000 PM PST THU JAN 3 2008
UPDATED AVIATION
.DISCUSSION...FORECAST REMAINS ON TRACK THIS EVENING. A FEW NEW
ADVISORIES/WATCHES TO HIGHLIGHT FOR FRIDAY. AN URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR SONOMA...MARIN...AND NAPA
COUNTIES BEGINNING AT 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING UNTIL 4 PM PST FRIDAY
AFTERNOON. A SECOND URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY WAS
ISSUED FOR THE REMAINING COUNTIES IN OUR CWA FROM SAN FRANCISCO SOUTH
BEGINNING AT 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING UNTIL 10 PM FRIDAY EVENING.
RAINFALL TOTALS WILL EASILY REACH 2 TO 6 INCHES BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON
AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. HIGHER ELEVATIONS HAVE THE
POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER RAINFALL TOTALS. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR
HEAVY RAINFALL WITH THIS SYSTEM WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD
WATCH FOR THE NORTH BAY COUNTIES OF SONOMA...MARIN AND NAPA FROM 4 AM
FRIDAY MORNING TO 1 PM FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
RAINFALL TOTALS THUS FAR HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE FROM HALF AN INCH TO
NEARLY 1.5 INCHES IN THE NORTH BAY TO HALF AN INCH TO 1.25 INCHES IN
THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. WE HAVENT EVEN SEEN HALF OF THE RAINFALL
WE ARE GOING TO GET WITH THIS STORM. RAINFALL TOTALS WILL CONTINUE
TO IMPRESS US THROUGH THE NEXT 48 HOURS. SOME TOTALS TO HIGHLIGHT
IN THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS INCLUDE OLEMA VALLEY AND HAWKEYE WHICH
REPORTED 1.12 AND 1.88 INCHES RESPECTIVELY AS OF 8 PM. SINCE THE
LAST DISCUSSION RAIN HAS SWEPT INTO THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
DROPPING AN IMPRESSIVE 1.25 INCHES AT BEN LOMOND...1.0 INCHES IN
SCOTTS VALLEY AND 0.79 INCH IN BOULDER CREEK.
WINDS HAVE REMAINED STEADY WITH SOUTH WINDS AROUND 15 TO 30 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO 50 MPH. STRONGEST WINDS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED MAINLY IN THE
HILLS WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 62 MPH IN THE NORTH AND EAST BAY
MOUNTAINS AS WELL AS THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS.
FROM PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...BEHIND THE FRONT...A YET EVEN STRONGER
STORM IS DEVELOPING. A RATHER IMPRESSIVE 180KT JET NEAR 140W WILL
CONTINUE TO DIG AS A RESULT A STRONG LOW PRESSURE WILL BUILD. THE
STRONG WINDS CURRENTLY ON GOING WILL REMAIN AND ACTUALLY INCREASE TO
HIGH WIND WARNING LEVELS(SEE SFONPWMTR) OR 25 TO 45 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
60 MPH PLUS IN THE HILLS WITH THE APPROACHING SECOND SYSTEM. ALSO...
AS THE LOW DEEPENS(960MB) OFF THE PACNW COAST AND THE NOSE OF A 140KT
MOVES OVER NORCAL...LIFT INCREASES DRAMATICALLY LATE TONIGHT/EARLY
TOMORROW. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE PERIOD OF THE HIGHEST RAINFALL
RATES(08Z-20Z). IN FACT...SIX HOURLY RAINFALL RATES EARLY FRIDAY WILL
LIKELY BE IN EXCESS OF 2 INCHES IN TERRAIN FAVORED AREAS.
ELSEWHERE...1 TO 2 INCHES WILL LIKELY BE THE NORM. AS THE COLD FRONT
MOVES ONSHORE MIDDAY FRIDAY...LOW LEVEL SHEAR...LAPSE RATES AND SFC
CAPE ALL INCREASE COMBINED WITH THE VERTICAL VELOCITIES/COOL AIR
ALOFT WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THUNDER. HAVE ADDED THUNDER TO THE
FORECAST FRIDAY AND FRIDAY EVENING. BY LATE FRIDAY...THE INTENSE
RAINFALL SHOULD DIMINISH...BUT SHOWERS WILL REMAIN FRIDAY NIGHT.
FOR SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...THE HEART OF THE COLD AIR ASSOCIATED
WITH UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE OVERHEAD FURTHER DESTABILIZING THE
AIRMASS. THEREFORE...WILL CONT THE MENTION OF THUNDER. PRECIP
AMOUNTS WILL NOT BE AS HIGH AS THE FRIDAY SYSTEM AND SHOULD BE
MORE SHOWER LIKE IN NATURE...BUT STILL MEASURABLE. SNOW LEVELS WILL
ALSO LOWER THROUGH THIS PERIOD...BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH TO MENTION FROZEN
PRECIP YET. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED OVER THE NEXT DAY.
YET ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE IN ON SUNDAY CONTINUING THE
CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
LONG TERM(MONDAY-THURSDAY)...
NO REAL BREAK IN AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS EXPECTED DURING THE
EXTENDED. LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN ACTIVE
STORM TRACK OVER MUCH OF THE WEST COAST. THE SYSTEM SLATED FOR
TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY LOOKS TO BE GAINING SOME STRENGTH WITH
ANOTHER ROUND OF DECENT RAIN. HAVE INCREASED POPS TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY. THERE AFTER...HIGH PRESSURE TRIES TO BUILD LATE IN THE
PERIOD.
&&
.AVIATION...SFC WINDS AT SFO REMAINED SE THROUGH THE EVENING. THE
PRESSURE FIELD NOW BECOMES MORE FAVORABLE FOR INCREASED SE WINDS
THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING AS A ROBUST COLD FRONT PRESSES IN FROM THE
WEST. THERE IS STRONG WIND POTENTIAL ESPECIALLY SURROUNDING FRONTAL
PASSAGE. MVFR WITH LOCALIZED IFR WILL PREVAIL TONIGHT AND FRIDAY.
&&
.PREVIOUS MARINE...SWELL HEIGHTS ARE ABOUT 15 TO 16 FEET AT PT ARENA
AND BODEGA BAY BUOYS. SWELL WILL CONTINUE INCREASE SOUTH ALONG THE CA
COAST TONIGHT...WARRANTING A HIGH SURF ADVISORY. WAVE MODELS ARE
FAIRLY CONSISTENT SHOWING W-NW SWELL PEAKING ON SATURDAY. BY SATURDAY
SWELL HEIGHTS STILL MAY REACH TO ABOUT 28 FEET WITH 15 SECOND
PERIODS.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.TNGT....GALE WARNING ALL WATERS BY THIS EVENING WITH ROUGH BAR.
.TNGT....HIGH WIND WARNING ENTIRE SAN FRANCISCO AND
MONTEREY BAY AREAS TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
.TNGT....COASTAL FLOOD WATCH AND HIGH SURF ADVY TONIGHT THROUGH
FRI AFTERNOON FROM SONOMA COUNTY THRU MONTEREY COUNTY.
.FRI....URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR SONOMA...
MARIN AND NAPA COUNTIES FROM 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING
UNTIL 4 PM PST FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
.FRI....URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR SAN
FRANCISCO...SAN MATEO...ALAMEDA...CONTRA COSTA...SANTA
CLARA...SANTA CRUZ...MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES
FROM 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING UNTIL 10 PM PST FRIDAY
EVENING.
.FRI....FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR SONOMA...MARIN AND NAPA COUNTIES
FROM 4 AM PST FRIDAY MORNING UNTIL 1 PM PST FRIDAY
AFTERNOON.
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST: C WALBRUN/MEHLE
AVIATION/MARINE: CANEPA
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
The Sacramento radar (KDAX), 104 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:01 UTC.
43 high wind, 4 coastal flood, 1 high surf, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
High Surf buffeted the Marin County coast - reaching heights near 25 feet. A professional diver fell into the thrashing bay waters during the event, suffered hypothermia and died 2 days later.
Gusts to 81 mph were recorded at Pt.Reyes Lighthouse.
Gusts to 72 mph were recorded at Inverness.
RAWS site in Barnaby (810 ft) measured a gust to 58 mph.
Winds sustained at 41 mph were reported at Pt. Reyes.
Winds gusted to 58 mph at Pt.Reyes.
Sustained winds reached 45 mph at Pt.Sur Lightstation.
Sustained winds reached 45 mph at Pt.Sur Lightstation.
RAWS Site in Hawkeye (2024ft) had sustained winds of 42 mph.
Big Rock RAWS Site (1500ft) measured a gust to 83 mph.
Winds gusted to 58 mph at the SF School for the Arts.
Sustained winds of 57 mph were recorded at Pt. Reyes Lighthouse.
Sustained winds of 45 mph were recorded at Bodega Bay.
Sustained winds of 45 mph were recorded at Bodega Bay.
Wind Gusts reached 58 mph in Bodega Bay.
Sustained winds of 40 mph were measured at Mt. Tam (762ft).
Pigeon Point measured sustained winds of 48 mph.
Sustained winds reached 45 mph at Granite Canyon NPS site.
A gust to 63 mph was recorded at Carmel Middle School.
Winds at Twin Peaks in San Francisco gusted to 75 mph.
Winds gusted to 65 mph at Ft.Funston in San Francisco.
Mt. Tamalpias Bay Area Air Quality Site measured a gust to 75 mph.
San Francisco Airport measured sustained winds at 53 mph.
Winds gusted to 66 mph at Pigeon Pt.
Sustained winds reached 41 mph at Highlands Peak.
Winds gusted to 70 mph at the Golden Gate Bridge.
Winds gusted to 58 mph at Mission Bay in San Francisco.
San Francisco Airport gusted to 67 mph.
Winds gusted to 79 mph at Calaveras RAWS Site - and also were sustained at 55 mph.
Winds gusted to 70 mph at Los Vaqueros RAWS site and were sustained at 51 mph.
Sustained winds reached 49 mph at Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab.
Sustained winds reached 49 mph at the Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab.
Pillar Point had sustained winds of 58 mph.
Pillar Point gusted to 81 mph.
Sustained winds reached 41 mph at Bethel Island - and later gusted to 60 mph at 10am.
Winds gusted to 110 mph at Kregor Peak, then later gusted to 71 mph.
Sustained winds of 55 mph were realized at the Golden Gate Bridge wind sensor.
Gusts reached 62 mph at Valley Ford.
Middle Peak RAWS Site measured a gust to 70 mph.
Winds were sustained at 42 mph at Oakland North RAWS.
Sustained winds of 40 mph were observed at Ft. Funston in San Francisco.
Oakland Airport reported gusts to 58 mph.
Winds gusted to 72 mph in Daly City.
Winds gusted to 69 mph in Sunol.
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in the Santa Cruz Mountains with many roadways including Highway 9 closed for several hours. Rainwater submerged the hardwood gym floor at Scotts Valley High School causing $300,000 in damage.
High tide and strong onshore wind pushed ocean water onto streets in Stinson Beach and Bolinas in Marin County. Water also enveloped Highway 1 at Scotty Creek in Sonoma County.
Ocean water toppled over onto the Great Highway in San Francisco and closed the roadway for a time. Also, the Embarcadero in San Francisco became flooded at the Ferry Building near the Bay Bridge.
Ocean water overtoppled barriers due to high winds, high tides and huge surf. Highway 1 was flooded near Half Moon Bay just south of Pillar Point. Large rocks and boulders also washed ashore. A boat washed up in Pillar Point along with major coastal erosion.
High surf and strong onshore winds pushed ocean water over the sandbar into the Carmel Lagoon. Water rose in the lagoon over 2 feet in just a couple of hours. Approximately 30 homes were affected to some degree by flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in California, January 2008
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 67875, 66201, 66202, 66325, 66200, 66205, 67360, 67362, 66326, 66327, 66195, 66197, 66198, 66199, 66204, 66324, 67347, 67359, 67361, 66192, 66194, 66382, 67343, 67349, 67363, 66193, 66196, 67344, 67354, 67355, 67357, 67358, 67346, 67348, 67351, 67353, 66190, 66203, 66384, 67356, and more.