In early March an upper low moved through California and in a pattern more typically observed during fire season bringing gusty offshore winds to the region. Gusts of 45 to over 65 mph were recorded across the North and East Bay Hills.
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.
In early March an upper low moved through California and in a pattern more typically observed during fire season bringing gusty offshore winds to the region. Gusts of 45 to over 65 mph were recorded across the North and East Bay Hills. A wind gust of 72 mph was observed at Healdsburg Hills.
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 Mar 1, 9:48 AM PST, 2 hours 52 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area
948 AM PST Sun Mar 1 2020
.SYNOPSIS...Cool and breezy conditions will prevail today
throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Can't rule out a slight
chance of light rain showers along the central California coast in
Monterey County as well as in San Benito County. Offshore winds
will develop through the day and continue overnight into Monday
morning, leading to increased fire weather concerns. Mild and dry
conditions are forecast for the work week with a chance of rain
returning next weekend.
&&
.DISCUSSION...as of 8:46 AM PST Sunday...Visible satellite
imagery reveals a mixture of clouds and sun on this first morning
of March (also the first day of Meteorological Spring!). KMUX
radar shows a few light echos in the North Bay ahead of an
approaching upper level low, but have yet to see any reports of
measurable rainfall as some dry air remains in place in the mid-
levels of the atmosphere. Most locations are expected to remain
dry today; the best chance of any sort of precipitation will be to
the east in the Sierra Nevada and in parts of Monterey and San
Benito County. The main impact with this system will be the breezy
offshore winds that develop through the day and continue
overnight. Mount Saint Helena is already reporting NNE winds with
gusts over 40 mph. A Wind Advisory goes into effect in the next
few hours for the North Bay Mountains, East Bay Hills, and East
Bay Valleys. Later this afternoon, the Santa Cruz Mountains,
Pacific Coast of the SF Peninsula, and the Northern Monterey Bay
Shoreline will be added into the Wind Advisory. No major changes
planned for the short-term forecast as it remains on track. For
additional forecast details, please refer to the previous
discussion section.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION...as of 2:50 AM PST Sunday...An upper level
trough moving from the Northeastern Pacific toward California
brought an increase of moisture and higher levels out ahead of it
earlier this evening. But the drier air near the surface held
tough and no precipitation was observed at the surface, capping
off a dry month of February. San Francisco Airport, Oakland
Airport, and Santa Rosa Airport tied (KSFO) or set (KOAK and KSTS)
records for 0.0 inches of precipitation for the month of February
- all new record minimums. We will relay additional statistics,
most likely via social media, as we comb through the data.
March is here, which means meteorological spring! And on this first
day of the month, the previously mentioned low will bring a chance
showers, cooler temperatures and stronger northerly wind gusts. As
the trough closes off into a low aloft and strengthens, there is a
chance of isolated rain showers for parts of the region south of San
Jose and down the Central Coast. Rainfall accumulations will be
minimum. But several higher resolution models are showing a bit more
instability associated as the system approaches the coastline. There
is a low chance for thunder in our area; but if it does occur, it
will most likely be out to sea or right at the immediate coastline.
Temperatures on Saturday were cooler than the much warmer
temperatures experienced at the end of last work week. As the low
sinks southward, the cold front associated with it will continue to
bring cooler temperatures. Morning lows this Sunday will see many
areas drop into the upper 30s with some patchy frost possible.
Afternoon temps will be mostly in the mid to upper 50s with isolated
areas in the low 60s.
Winds are currently onshore and locally breezy, particularly closer
to the coastline. As the cold front passes, winds will shift and be
out of the north. These dry and gusty northerly winds will increase
through Sunday, particularly at higher elevations. A wind Advisory
has been issued for the North Bay Mountains, East Bay Hills and
Valleys, beginning at 10 AM PST Sunday and the San Francisco
Peninsula Coast, the Santa Cruz Mountains and Northern Monterey Bay
beginning at 4 PM PST. The gusty winds are expected to continue into
Monday as the Advisory is set to expire at 9 AM PST. Winds will
remain offshore and breezy through Tuesday. Luckily live fuel
moistures are still relatively high, but given how dry February
was, the event will be closely monitored due to fire concerns.
Caution should be used for any outdoor burning. For more
information, see the fire weather section below.
An upper level ridge begins to grow late on Monday and high pressure
at the surface rebuilds. A gradual warming trend will bring
afternoon temperatures back to the low to mid 70s by Wednesday.
Models are starting to more regularly show another system
approaching the Bay Area region next weekend. There should be enough
lift along the front to produce some rain, it - for now - it still
looks as though accumulations would be minimal. While there is still
low confidence at this time for the event specifically next weekend,
it does give optimism towards a chance in a change in the pattern
for more wet weather later on.
&&
.AVIATION...as of 9:45 AM PST Sunday...For 18z TAFs. Generally
light winds prevail over the region this morning with an increase
in northerly winds this afternoon and evening with local gusts.
SCT/BKN clouds will generally remain above 3,000 ft with FEW/SCT
possible in the lower levels, especially with any showers that
develop over the southern portion of the region. Thus, VFR
conditions likely to persist through the TAF period. N to NE winds
aloft will also increase this evening to between 30 and 40 kt
creating the potential for LLWS. Surface wind speeds ease a bit
overnight with clearing sky conditions.
Vicinity of KSFO...VFR with mid/high level clouds likely to
persist. Northerly surface winds increase a bit this afternoon
and evening with even stronger winds aloft out of the N to NE
creating potential for LLWS.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to KSFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...VFR with potential for brief MVFR
ceilings at times this morning and afternoon. Light winds this
morning will increase out of the W to NW this afternoon and
evening. There is also the potential for showers in the vicinity
this afternoon and early evening. Winds ease overnight with
clearing sky conditions.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...as of 8:46 AM Saturday...Fuels remain at record
dry levels for this time of year. Offshore winds will develop
through the day on Sunday as an upper level system drops south
through California. The North Bay Mountains, East Bay Hills, and
even the Santa Cruz Mountains could see gusts in the 30 to 40 mph
rang with locally higher gusts (e.g., Mount Saint Helena, Mount
Diablo). Winds will being to subside on Monday morning. These
offshore winds will generally bring poor relative humidity
recoveries to the higher elevations, especially for this time of
year. Most locations will remain dry as this system slides south
through the Golden State, though can't rule out light rain showers
for parts of Monterey and San Benito County.
Soils are still somewhat moist and live fuel moistures are much
higher than in the fall. Rapid fire spread is unlikely given this
and relatively green fine fuels. However, air quality districts
report a lot of prescribed burning going on as well as residential
burning. Use caution with any ignition sources (barbecues,
parking on grass, pile burning, debris clearing, etc) as fire
danger is higher than it ordinarily would be for early March.
&&
.MARINE...as of 8:43 AM PST Sunday...Northerly winds will
increase through this afternoon and become gusty as an upper
trough moves through the region. Gale force gusts are expected
across the northern and outer waters through at least this
evening. These strong winds will generate steep wind waves
creating hazardous seas conditions over the waters. Additionally,
cannot rule out the possibility of isolated thunderstorms over the
southern waters later today. Moderate period northwest swell will
continue through mid-week.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
.Tday...Wind Advisory...CAZ509-512-529
Wind Advisory...CAZ507-510-511
SCA...Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm
SCA...Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm
GLW...Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm
GLW...Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm
GLW...Pigeon Pt to Pt Piedras Blancas 10-60 nm
GLW...Pt Arena to Pigeon Pt 10-60 nm
SCA...SF Bay
SCA...Mry Bay
&&
PUBLIC FORECAST: Rowe/DK
AVIATION: RGass
MARINE: RGass
FIRE WEATHER: Rowe/RWW
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayarea3 strong wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Healdsburg Hills mesonet (PG&E) site reported wind gusts between 45 and 55 mph.
Healdsburg Hills North mesonet (PG&E) site recorded wind gusts between 60 and 70 mph with a peak gust of 72 mph.
Highland Peak Road mesonet (PG&E) station reported wind gusts between 45 and 50 mph.
Healdsburg Hills North mesonet (PG&E) site reported gusts between 45 and 50 mph the majority of this time frame.
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, March 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: 876759, 876763, 876769, 876765.