A dry cold front swept through the Central Coast and Bay Area on Sunday February 2nd. Wind gusts were observed between 35 to 45 mph generally with gusts near 50 mph over the higher peaks.
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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 dry cold front swept through the Central Coast and Bay Area on Sunday February 2nd. Wind gusts were observed between 35 to 45 mph generally with gusts near 50 mph over the higher peaks.
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 2, 9:50 AM PST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area
950 AM PST Sun Feb 2 2020
.SYNOPSIS...A dry cold front will sweep from north to south across
our region early today. Much cooler temperatures will follow the
front today, along with gusty northwest winds. Locally strong
winds are expected during the afternoon and early evening hours,
mainly near the coast. Three consecutive cold nights are forecast
starting Sunday night, with the coldest night expected to be
Monday night when overnight lows will drop to around freezing in
the valleys, and perhaps into the 20s in the coldest valleys.
Gradual warming is forecast from Wednesday through the end of next
week. Aside from a few sprinkles possible today, dry weather is
forecast through next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...as of 08:41 AM PST Sunday...Active weather day
across the Bay Area as a dry cold front sweeps through the region.
The biggest impacts will be change in temperatures and winds. Per
latest surface analysis the cold front has already pushed through
much of the Bay Area and is currently moving southward through
Monterey and into SLO. The temperature drop and increase of winds
behind the front is already being realized to the north.
Observations over the higher peaks of the North Bay currently show
gusts 30-40 mph with temperatures in the mid 30s- mid 40s. Those
current temperatures with windy conditions translate to a wind
chill in the mid 20s-mid 30s. Lower elevations aren't as cold or
as windy, but still a blustery to start the day. In the wake of
the cold front cold advection will persist through the rest of the
day. Therefore, not expecting much of a temperature rise from the
current temperatures. This will be especially true over the
higher peaks. No update on temperatures or wind needed a this
time. Wind Advisory remains in effect to capture the gusty winds.
The latest hi- res models continue to show some instability
behind the front leading to some pop up showers. Showers will be
most likely over the coastal waters and possibly the peaks above
Big Sur later this afternoon and overnight. Given the cold air
aloft if showers do develop small hail will be possible.
Needless to say, this afternoon will be good day to stay off the
waters and enjoy some indoor activities.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION...As of 2:50 AM PST Sunday...Current surface
observations are indicating locally dense fog in portions of the
the North and East Bay Valleys, and near the Monterey Bay. As
winds pick up with the approaching system, look for visibilities
to improve. IR Satellite imagery shows the approaching frontal
system moving across far Northern California, with the upper
trough digging over the far eastern Pacific west of Oregon and
Washington.
The dry front is forecast to move from northwest to southeast
across our area this morning. Winds are already ramping up over
the coastal waters, and will continue to do so as the front moves
through. Northwest winds will also ramp up over land, especially
near the coast and in the higher terrain, during the day today.
RAWS observations in the hills indicating northwest winds gusting
from 25-30 mph at this time. The strongest winds are expected
during the afternoon and early evening hours when wind gusts of
between 35 and 45 mph will be possible inland (strongest in the
hills) with gusts of 40 to 50 mph possible near the ocean. A Wind
Advisory is in effect from much of our forecast area from early
this morning through early Monday morning. Winds are expected to
gradually subside tonight, but breezy northerly winds will
continue into Monday.
A much cooler airmass will follow the cold front. High
temperatures today will mostly be in the mid to upper 50s,
markedly cooler than those on Saturday, and in some locations, as
many as 10 to 20 degrees cooler. The blustery conditions will
make the cooler temperatures even more noticeable.
the cold airmass along with clearing skies will result in very
chilly nighttime temperatures across the area, but especially
in inland areas. Low temperatures by Monday morning will likely
dip into the 30s and lower 40s, but continued breezy conditions
will probably keep temperatures from dropping below freezing in
all but the most wind-protected valleys. Monday night still looks
to be the coldest night of the week when the airmass will be drier
and still relatively cold along with much lighter winds. This
will allow overnight lows to drop to around freezing in most
inland areas, and even in some low lying spots near the coast. The
coldest inland valleys of the North Bay may see early morning
lows in the upper 20s on Tuesday, while the southern interior
valleys of Monterey County drop into the mid 20s. A Freeze Warning
may be needed for the interior valleys of Monterey County and San
Benito County for late Monday night and early Tuesday, and also
perhaps for the North Bay Valleys. Nighttime temperatures are
forecast to moderate slightly by Tuesday night, but there still
will likely be freezing temps in some of the coldest valleys that
night.
An upper level ridge is forecast to gradually build over
California during the second half of next week, which will result
in a gradual warming trend. However, a dry airmass and mostly
clear skies will mean continued chilly nighttime temps.
&&
.AVIATION...As of 4:50 AM PST Sunday...Strong northwest winds are
expected throughout the day and evening, tapering off overnight.
Sustained winds generally 15-25kt, locally to 30kt near the
coast/coastal gaps, and gusts 25-35kt, locally up to 45kt in the
windiest spots. Winds will gradually veer from W to N, becoming
predominately N/NNW in many areas by tomorrow. Gusty conditions
persist into Monday but will not be as strong as today. Some
passing high clouds this morning. Remaining low level clouds
should be scoured out by late morning.
Vicinity of KSFO...VFR. Gusty northwest winds, especially now
through 03-04Z MON with peak gusts 35-45kt. NW winds weaken
overnight but ramp up again by tomorrow morning/afternoon. Passing
high clouds.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to KSFO but weaker winds near the
bridge approach.
Monterey Bay Terminals...Low clouds near KMRY/KSNS will be scoured
out within next hour. Gusty onshore winds through the period,
moreso near the coast at KMRY.
&&
.MARINE...as of 09:33 AM PST Sunday...Strong northwest winds
across the waters today with regular gale force strength winds and
gusts. Infrequent low end storm force gusts are also possible
during the day and evening today. Northwest winds will generate
steep wind waves and create hazardous seas across the waters.
Winds will diminish gradually through the next few days, remaining
moderate to locally strong on Monday into Tuesday.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.Tday...Wind Advisory...CAZ006-505>509-511>513-517-528>530
GLW...Mry Bay
GLW...Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm
GLW...Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm
GLW...Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm
GLW...Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm
GLW...Pt Arena to Pigeon Pt 10-60 nm
GLW...Pigeon Pt to Pt Piedras Blancas 10-60 nm
SCA...SF Bay until 1 PM
GLW...SF Bay from 1 PM
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST: MM/Sims
AVIATION: DRP
MARINE: DRP
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayareaThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Mesonet station (PG&E) on Coast Road recorded gusts between 45 and 50 mph with a peak gust of 54 mph.
Black Diamond RAWS site reported gusts of 46 mph.
San Francisco Airport ASOS reported gusts of 40 to 45 mph.
Big Rock RAWS station reported gusts.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2020
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: 872173, 872168, 872167, 872166.