A Pacific storm system moved across the Bay Area on February 28. It dropped several inches of rainfall and brought gusty winds to the area.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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 Pacific storm system moved across the Bay Area on February 28. It dropped several inches of rainfall and brought gusty winds to the area. This resulted in flooding of urban areas, small streams and creeks, and damage to power lines and trees as well as a few localized mud and rockslides.
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 Feb 28, 3:07 AM PST, 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
307 AM PST FRI FEB 28 2014
.SYNOPSIS...A STRONG STORM WILL BRING RAIN AND STRONG WINDS TO THE
AREA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF ON SATURDAY WITH
DRY CONDITIONS SUNDAY. AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN WILL KEEP SHOWER
CHANCES IN THE FORECAST OFF AND ON WELL INTO NEXT WEEK.
&&
.DISCUSSION...AS OF 3:07 AM PST FRIDAY...STEADY MODERATE TO HEAVY
RAINFALL IS OCCURRING ACROSS THE DISTRICT AS A STRONG STORM BEARS
DOWN ON THE STATE. OVER THE PAST THREE HOURS OVER AN INCH HAS
FALLEN IN THE SANTA LUCIA RANGE...WITH AROUND 0.8 INCH IN THE
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. SINCE MIDNIGHT OVER A HALF INCH HAS FALLEN AT THE
WEATHER OFFICE IN MONTEREY...AND DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO HAS SEEN
JUST OVER A TENTH OF AN INCH. PERIODS OF RAIN ARE EXPECTED THROUGH
THE MORNING...THEN SHOWERS WILL PERSIST INTO THE AFTERNOON AS THE
UPPER LOW NEARS THE COAST.
SOUTHEAST WINDS BE GUSTY INTO THE MORNING HOURS WITH WIND GUSTS
TO 45 MPH EXPECTED AT TIMES. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 AM
FRIDAY FOR THE COAST AND MOUNTAIN AREAS. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY
DECREASE THIS AFTERNOON.
RAIN WILL BE HEAVIEST OVER THE SANTA CRUZ AND SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS.
A FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON WITH RAIN TURNING
TO SHOWERS FOLLOWING FRONTAL PASSAGE. COLDER AIR ALOFT WILL MOVE
INTO THE AREA BRINGING A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
AND EARLY EVENING. THE LOW CENTER WILL COME VERY CLOSE TO THE BIG
SUR COAST BY SATURDAY MORNING THEN TRACK SOUTHEAST TOWARDS
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AS A RESULT THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS WILL
SEE ANOTHER ROUND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
FOR THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND BIG SUR COAST.
TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 3-6 INCHES IN THE SANTA
LUCIA AND SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS WITH UP TO 8 INCHES LOCALLY...1-3 INCHES
IN THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS...1-2 INCHES IN THE VALLEYS EXCEPT FOR
LESSER AMOUNTS IN RAIN SHADOWED AREAS LIKE THE SANTA CLARA AND
SALINAS VALLEYS.
SHOWERS WILL END SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY WILL BE DRY. AN UNSETTLED
PATTERN IS EXPECTED THROUGH AT LEAST THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WITH
RAIN SHOWERS AT TIMES. HIGH PRESSURE IS PROGGED TO REBUILD ALONG
THE COAST BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...AS OF 9:50 PM PST THURSDAY...FORECAST REMAINS ON TRACK
WITH RAIN...LOWERING CIGS AND STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS
EXPECTED AS THE STORM SYSTEM APPROACHES. LLWS REMAINS POSSIBLE
ACROSS MOST OF THE TERMINALS STARTING AROUND 09Z TONIGHT. THE
APPROACHING FRONT WILL PRODUCE A FAVORABLE SETUP FOR MUCH STRONGER
WINDS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE. SPEED SHEAR COULD BE OVER 25 KT AT
TIMES WITH PRONOUNCED DIRECTIONAL SHEAR OF 80 DEGREES FROM THE
SURFACE TO 020 FAVORING KMRY. A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS
REMAINS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY. MODERATE FORECAST.
VICINITY OF KSFO...MVFR CIGS AND RAIN EXPECTED THROUGH THE
OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN WITH LLWS
SHEAR EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. A SLIGHT
CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY.
MODERATE CONFIDENCE.
KSFO BRIDGE APPROACH...SIMILAR TO KSFO.
MONTEREY BAY AREA TERMINALS...VFR CIGS AND RAIN EXPECTED THROUGH
THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN WITH LLWS
SHEAR EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING. A SLIGHT
CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS REMAINS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT INTO FRIDAY.
MODERATE CONFIDENCE.
&&
.MARINE...AS OF 2:40 PM PST THURSDAY...A POTENT STORM SYSTEM
CONTINUES APPROACH OUR AREA. AHEAD OF THE STORM SYSTEM EXPECT
SOUTHERLY WINDS TO INCREASE TO GALE FORCE LEVELS BY THIS EVENING.
STORM FORCE GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY FOR SOUTHERN
SECTIONS OF OUR AREAS SUCH AS LOCATIONS SOUTH OF POINT SUR.THESE
STRONG WINDS WILL PROMOTE HAZARDOUS SEA CONDITIONS THROUGH AT
LEAST SATURDAY MORNING AND ALSO PRODUCE HIGH SURF CONDITIONS FOR
FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON. MARINERS PLEASE USE CAUTION
WITH THIS DANGEROUS STORM SYSTEM EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE COAST
TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.TDAY...WIND ADVISORY...COASTAL LOCATIONS FROM SONOMA COUNTY SOUTH
THROUGH MONTEREY COUNTY AS WELL AS THE EAST
BAY HILLS UNTIL 10 AM
FLASH FLOOD WATCH...SOUTHERN MONTEREY AND BIG SUR COAST
GLW...PT ARENA TO PT REYES 0-10 NM
GLW...PT REYES TO PIGEON PT 0-10 NM
GLW...PIGEON PT TO PT PINOS 0-10 NM
GLW...PT PINOS TO PT PIEDRAS BLANCAS 0-10 NM
GLW...PT ARENA TO PT REYES 10-60 NM
GLW...PT REYES TO PIGEON PT 10-60 NM
GLW...PIGEON PT TO PT PINOS 10-60 NM
GLW...PT PINOS TO PT PIEDRAS BLANCAS 10-60
SCA...SAN FRANCISCO BAY NORTH OF THE BAY BRIDGE
SCA...SAN FRANCISCO BAY SOUTH OF THE BAY BRIDGE
SCA...MONTEREY BAY
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST: SIMS
AVIATION: CW
MARINE: BELL/LARRY
VISIT US AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SANFRANCISCO
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WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/NWSBAYAREAHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 148 PM PST THU FEB 27 2014 CAZ505-280900- COASTAL NORTH BAY...INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE- 148 PM PST THU FEB 27 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NORTH BAY COAST OF SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES. .DAY ONE...THURSDAY NIGHT INCREASING CLOUDS THIS EVENING WITH RAIN DEVELOPING AROUND MIDNIGHT. A WIND ADVISORY GOES INTO EFFECT AT 10 PM FOR INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 35 MPH...GUSTS TO 45 MPH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AN INCOMING STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES AND EVEN SOME POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND THEN AGAIN FRIDAY EVENING INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT ALONG THE COAST THROUGH 10 AM FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH LIKELY ALONG THE COAST. SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF DURING THE DAY SATURDAY WITH DRY WEATHER SUNDAY. WEAK SYSTEMS MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL BRING MORE RAIN CHANCES TO THE NORTH BAY COAST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS PER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ006-509-529-530-280900- SAN FRANCISCO-SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST-NORTHERN MONTEREY BAY- SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST- 148 PM PST THU FEB 27 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE COAST FROM SAN FRANCISCO SOUTHWARD TO MONTEREY COUNTY INCLUDING SANTA CRUZ AND BIG SUR. .DAY ONE...THURSDAY NIGHT INCREASING CLOUDS THIS EVENING WITH RAIN DEVELOPING BY MIDNIGHT ALONG THE COAST. AS THE FRONT APPROACHES SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE. A WIND ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH GOES INTO EFFECT AT 10 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AN INCOMING STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES AND EVEN SOME POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND THEN AGAIN FRIDAY EVENING INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE BIG SUR REGION...IN PARTICULAR IN THE VICINITY OF THE PFEIFFER FIRE BURN SCAR FROM MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH 4 AM SATURDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION TO POSSIBLE FLOODING NEAR THE BURN SCAR...MINOR SLIDES ARE POSSIBLE ALONG HIGHWAY ONE AS SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN WILL FALL IN THE COASTAL HILLS ABOVE THE HIGHWAY. THE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT ALONG THE COAST THROUGH 10 AM FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH LIKELY ALONG THE COAST. THE INCOMING STORM WILL PRODUCE BIG SEAS SO A HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM SAN FRANCISCO SOUTHWARD ALONG THE MONTEREY COUNTY COAST FROM 8 PM FRIDAY THROUGH 3 PM SATURDAY FOR SWELLS FROM 14 TO 16 FEET WITH 14 SECOND PERIODS. LOCAL BREAKERS UP TO 20 FEET ARE EXPECTED SOUTH OF POINT PINOS. SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF DURING THE DAY SATURDAY WITH DRY WEATHER SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS PER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ517-280900- SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST- 148 PM PST THU FEB 27 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS ABOVE BIG SUR INCLUDING THE LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST .DAY ONE...THURSDAY NIGHT INCREASING CLOUDS THIS EVENING WITH RAIN DEVELOPING BY MIDNIGHT. AS THE FRONT APPROACHES SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE. A WIND ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH GOES INTO EFFECT AT 10 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AN INCOMING STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES AND EVEN SOME POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND THEN AGAIN FRIDAY EVENING INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE BIG SUR REGION...IN PARTICULAR IN THE VICINITY OF THE PFEIFFER FIRE BURN SCAR FROM MIDNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH 4 AM SATURDAY MORNING. IN ADDITION TO POSSIBLE FLOODING NEAR THE BURN SCAR...MINOR SLIDES ARE POSSIBLE ALONG HIGHWAY ONE AS SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN WILL FALL IN THE COASTAL HILLS ABOVE THE HIGHWAY. THE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 AM FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 55 MPH LIKELY ALONG THE COAST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS PER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CAZ511-512-528-280900- EAST BAY HILLS AND DIABLO RANGE-SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS- NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY...HOLLISTER VALLEY...AND CARMEL VALLEY- 148 PM PST THU FEB 27 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS...EAST BAY HILLS AND NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY .DAY ONE...THURSDAY NIGHT INCREASING CLOUDS THIS EVENING WITH RAIN DEVELOPING BY MIDNIGHT IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. AS THE FRONT APPROACHES SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE. A WIND ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH GOES INTO EFFECT AT 10 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AN INCOMING STORM WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN...HEAVY AT TIMES AND EVEN SOME POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS. THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AND THEN AGAIN FRIDAY EVENING INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE HIGHEST RAIN AMOUNTS WILL BE IN THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS WHERE SEVERAL INCHES OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WHILE THE NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY WILL SEE MUCH LIGHTER AMOUNTS. THE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 10 AM FRIDAY MORNING FOR SOUTHERLY WINDS FROM 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 45 MPH. SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF DURING THE DAY SATURDAY WITH DRY WEATHER SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS PER STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
The San Francisco radar (KMUX), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:33 UTC.
16 flood, 7 strong wind, 4 debris flow, 3 high wind, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
A gust of 71 MPH was measured at the Highlands Peak Mesonet site, elevation 2490 feet.
Several inches of standing water covering all lanes near Interstate 280 and Highway 87.
Measured gust of 59 MPH at the Santa Rita RAWS at elevation 5000 feet.
Roadway flooding reported on Walters Road.
Roadway flooding reported on the US 101 and Portero Avenue On ramp at Cesar Chavez.
Traffic hazard due to downed tree and power lines near Bonny Dune Road and Smith Grade.
Flooding reported on the Interstate 280 Off Ramp at Saratoga.
Utility company reporting that 2500 customers are without power in Napa at this time.
A 30 foot tree downed by winds at Lincoln Way and 37th Avenue, 6 miles NW of Daly City in San Francisco County.
Firefighters rescued a homeless man from the waters of Coyote Creek near the San Jose Municipal Golf Course. He was stuck in waist deep water, clinging to trees and debris. He was taken to the hospital to be treated for fatigue and hypothermia.
Roadway flooding reported along the Great Highway between Lincoln and Sloat.
Roadway flooding reported on the Dunne Avenue On Ramp at Southbound US Highway 101 in Morgan Hill.
Tree down across both lanes of Jarvis Road.
Flooding reported on Moffett Off Ramp on State Route 85 Northbound.
Report of standing water covering the Shoreline Boulevard on ramp at US 101 Northbound.
Roadway flooding reported over both lanes of State Road 152 between Canada and Ferguson.
A 25 foot tree downed by wind, blocking both lanes of Larkspur Court.
Standing water, six inches deep, was reported covering the roadways at US Highway 101 and Interstate 280.
Flooding reported on the Cochrane Road Onramp to Southbound US Highway 101.
Flooding reported in the left turn lane on Southbound US Highway 101 at San Antonio Road.
Tree down due to winds, blocking the intersection of Knightsen Avenue and Delta Road.
Flooding reported on San Tomas Expressway at Pruneridge Avenue in the slow lane.
Measured 64 MPH wind gust at the Los Gatos RAWS site, elevation 1842 feet.
Flooding reported at the intersection of San Martin Avenue and Monterey Highway in Gilroy.
Flooding reported across all lanes on Tomales Road at Valley Ford Road.
Flooding reported on Northbound US Highway 101 at Bernal.
Mudslide reported on Priest Valley Road.
Power Lines reported downed by winds on San Remo Road.
Small mudslide reported on Highway 1 Northbound near Garrapatta State Park.
Active slide reported from the Pfieffer Burn Scar at Sycamore Canyon Road.
Rock and mudslide blocking portions of Highway 1 at Panoramic.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2014
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: 503853, 503746, 503850, 503748, 503749, 503862, 503750, 503856, 503848, 503754, 503751, 503752, 503828, 503753, 503755, 503757, 503847, 503756, 503758, 503762, 503840, 503759, 503765, 503760, 503763, 503761, 503825, 503823, 503826, 503821, 503769.