A cold front passed over the area Thursday Feb 9. There were strong winds ahead of the front and heavy rains associated with the frontal passage that produced roadway flooding and debris flows.
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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 cold front passed over the area Thursday Feb 9. There were strong winds ahead of the front and heavy rains associated with the frontal passage that produced roadway flooding and debris flows.
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 9, 10:04 AM PST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area
1004 AM PST Thu Feb 9 2017
.SYNOPSIS...Light rain will continue to fall over the region
through early Thursday morning, especially across the North Bay
and along the coastal ranges. A potent cold front will then sweep
through the entire region on Thursday bringing widespread moderate
to locally heavy rainfall, gusty winds and flooding concerns.
Showers are then possible into Friday in wake of the frontal
passage with drying conditions likely for the upcoming weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...as of 09:06 AM PST Thursday...Rain continues to
impact mainly the North Bay at this hour with rainfall rates on
the increase as a cold front approaches the region and deeper
moisture advection spreads inland. Look for this trend to continue
through the morning as the rain band spreads inland and southward.
The forecast remains on track for the day with maybe a slight
delay in the anticipated impacts. Please see previous forecast
discussion below for additional details.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION...as of 3:40 AM Thursday...Overnight light showers
continue to fall over the North Bay and coastal hills. These
showers are in the warm sector of the approaching storm with mild
overnight temperatures. In fact, it almost feels a little tropical
outside with the mild temps and higher dew points. Rainfall
amounts over the last 3-6 hours have been a few hundredths at
most. Additionally, southerly winds have started to increase with
gusts up to 25 mph already being seen over the North Bay hills.
Now onto the much advertised and talked about storm. A potent cold
front is still on track to sweep across the Bay Area today
bringing gusty winds and moderate to heavy rain. The cold front is
currently off the CA/OR border with heavy radar returns showing up
near Eureka and Arcata. Latest timing has slowed a bit with the
front forecast to enter the North Bay around 15z this morning then
progressing southward. As this happens expect rain to increase
across the North Bay and then spread southward. The HRRR/WRF
models note the heavier rain across the North Bay by 15-16Z. The
biggest impact on the morning commute may be mostly confined to
the North Bay and poss SF by the end of the commute. Heavier
precip then moves into the heart of the Bay Area by 18-19z and
eventually down to Monterey by 20Z.
As for moisture, there is plenty of moisture lurking off the
coast with a Pineapple Express. Latest satellite imagery shows
PWATs in the 1.2-1.6" range or 200% of normal. Given the ample
moisture and potent cold front there could some periods this
afternoon with the fropa where rainfall rates are in the
0.5-0.75" an hour. Made only minor adjusts to previous QPF.
Rainfall amounts from this system will range from 2.00" to 4.00"
in the North Bay and along the Coastal ranges with isolated higher
amounts not out of the question. Meanwhile, urban locations from
San Francisco southward can expect between 0.25" to 1.25" (lower
values more likely in the inland valleys and around the Monterey
Peninsula/Salinas Valley). Given the super saturated soils and
already charged streams/creeks expect numerous hydrological
issues later today. The threat for mud/rock slides and landslides
will also increase with more widespread slides this afternoon.
Therefore, a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the entire
North Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains as well as the San Francisco
Peninsula Coast and Northern Monterey Bay zones (including Santa
Cruz) and the Santa Lucia Mountains for Thursday. In addition,
given the anticipation for rain runoff coinciding with higher
than normal tides a coastal flood warning remains in effect for
the coastal North Bay, SF Peninsula Coast down to the Big Sur
Coast
Lastly, the aforementioned increasing southerly winds will
increase further as the cold front gets closer. Therefore, the
wind advisory remains in effect through this afternoon. Southerly
winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts 50 mph are possible across the North
Bay, Santa Cruz Mts and East Bay Hills.
The heavier precip is forecast to diminish from N to S Thursday
evening into Thursday night. Post frontal instability will keep
lingering showers through much of Friday. Showers will eventually
taper off Friday night with clearing skies.
Dry weather is expected to develop this weekend with building high
pressure. Temperatures will warm as well, but overnight lows will
be chilly given the clear skies. Patchy frost will be possible
Sunday morning across the interior as lows dip into the low to mid
30s.
Dry weather conditions and seasonable temperatures are then
forecast for the remainder of the week and into the first half of
next week. The medium/long range models continue to show an
unsettled/wet pattern returning by late next week and potentially
into the following weekend.
&&
.AVIATION...As of 9:45 AM PST Thursday...For 18z Tafs. Periods of
moderate to locally heavy rain will move across the region today
as a potent cold front slides through. Rain could be moderate to heavy
at times, which will drop flight categories down to IFR and
possibly LIFR at times. The front will pass through between 20z
and 00z today. Moderate and gusty southerly winds will accompany
this system resulting in moderate wind shear over area terminals
during frontal passage. Wind speeds of 40-50 kt around 2000 feet
agl.
Vicinity of KSFO...Periods of moderate to heavy rain through the
day, starting in the North Bay first, then drifting southward
through the morning. Generally MVFR CIGs, with IFR CIGs/VIS
possible with heavier pockets of rain that occur. Southeast winds
turning south, then southwesterly through the day, becoming gusty
later this morning. KSJC will likely maintain southeasterly winds
through the day. Wind shear possible over KSTS, KOAK, and KSFO
between 18z Thursday and 00z Friday. Low confidence on extent of
the WS threat, but will monitor situation closely. Moderate
confidence on everything else.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR through at least 20z, then MVFR CIGs
prevail, though there could be pockets of fog that will drop VIS
through the early morning hours. Salinas Valley will see strongest
southeast winds starting around 18z today, 15-20 kt with gusts
near 30 kt, and should die down by 00z. Rain is forecast to start
around 21z and could become heavy at times. Low to moderate
confidence on this forecast.
&&
.MARINE...as of 03:47 AM PST Thursday...Moderate and gusty south
to southeast winds will continue through this morning as a cold
front moves across the coastal waters. Winds will gradually
decrease this afternoon after the front passes. occasional gale
force gusts are possible with the passing front. Moderate to
locally heavy rain will occur just ahead of the front. with rain
tapering to showers on the backside of the front. A secondary cold
front will pass through the area Friday evening maintaining
unsettled weather. Northwest winds will return Friday evening as
high pressure builds in over the region.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.Tday...Coastal Flood Warning...CAZ006-505-509-529-530
Flash Flood Watch...CAZ509-512-517-529
Wind Advisory...CAZ505>507-511-512
Flash Flood Watch...CAZ505>507
SCA...Mry Bay
SCA...Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm
SCA...Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm
SCA...Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm
SCA...SF Bay
SCA...Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm
SCA...Pt Arena to Pigeon Pt 10-60 nm
SCA...Pigeon Pt to Pt Piedras Blancas 10-60 nm
SCA...Rough Bar Advisory for SF Bar
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST: RGass/MM
AVIATION/MARINE: CW
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayareaThe Sacramento radar (KDAX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:59 UTC.
16 debris flow, 11 flood, 3 flash flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Sonoma Creek at Agua Caliente gauge above flood stage.
Golden Gate Bridge 58 mph.
Milliken Creek at Atlas Peak Rd gauge above flood stage.
Mudslide blocking south bound lane Soquel San Jose Rd.
Mudslides blocking most of NB lanes HWY 1.
Mud/dirt/rock slide blocking south bound lanes Skyline Dr at Alpine.
Lakeville HWY at Emies Tin Bar...west bound lanes completely flooded and east bound lanes partially flooded.
All west bound lanes blocked.
Tree and mudslide blocking northbound lane of Highway 1 just south of Chamberlain.
Roadway flooded SR17 and Bear Creek Rd offframp.
Roadway flooding at intersection of Harrison and Sala Rd.
Entire roadway flooded at Oak Glen Ave and Green Acres Ln.
Blocking NB lanes of SR9 and Pierce Road.
Mudslide in blind curves on EB Pescadero jwo Alpine.
Mudslide wb ln River Rd/Odd Fellows Park Rd.
Large boulder blocking southbound lane of Skyline jso Grizzly Peak.
Lots of standing water on northbound SR1/Soledad Dr onramp.
Debris blocking portion of Clayton Rd nr Casa Maderia Ln.
Second mudslide in area and a tree down partially blocking 23600 SR9 near Savannah-Chanelle Vineyard.
Far right lane flooded of SR17 southbound near Hamilton Ave offramp.
Four inches of water in right lane of SB 680 to EB 580.
Fitzgerald Flooded west of Santa Teresa Rd. Santa Teresa Rd starting to flood.
All lanes flooded SR 87 southbound jno Park Ave off ramp.
Mud slide blocking wb lane of Marsh Creek jeo Aspara.
Flooded with strong current across entire roadway EB SR 152 jwo Lovers Lane.
Slide blocking both lanes SB1 jso Timber Cove.
SB Union Rd/Union Heights flooded.
Slide resulted in closed road SR1 at mm 44 jso Nepenthe.
Russian River flooding into Alexander Valley Rd/w Soda Rock ln. Water is six inches deep on roadway.
Mud slide coming down onto SR17 at Laurel.
Mud/dirt/rocks across Crazy Horse Cyn Rd at Wild Horse Rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2017
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: 683441, 683632, 683447, 683636, 683439, 683638, 683639, 683443, 683442, 682735, 682736, 682740, 683669, 683670, 683671, 683672, 682743, 683673, 683674, 682744, 684715, 684717, 684718, 684722, 684723, 684725, 684726, 684727, 684729, 684730, 684732.