A cold front came through California on January 31, bringing widespread rain and high winds. Impacts and post-frontal showers continued through February 1.
Every event with a place to put it. 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 cold front came through California on January 31, bringing widespread rain and high winds. Impacts and post-frontal showers continued through February 1.
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 31, 11:26 PM PST, 38 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1126 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 1123 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
Scattered showers persist today with unsettled conditions
persisting into late week. Another storm system takes aim on the
region on Sunday into Monday with another round of heavy rain and
gusty winds possible. Keep up with forecast changes.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(Thursday and Thursday night)
Issued at 1123 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
A powerful low pressure system was occluding offshore from the
Pacific Northwest with its associated surface cold front pushing
onshore across the Bay Area. Bands of moderate to occasionally heavy
rain were occuring along and ahead of the front within a moist and
convergent warm advection regime. As the front progresses this
should allow the heavier/steadier precipitation to advance through
the region with rain rates on the decrease through the early morning
hours. It's been a busy evening for radar watch with several Flood
Advisories still in effect. Flooding so far has been mainly of the
nuisance variety with flooding of streams, urban areas, and roadways
being the primary reports received so far. Winds were quite active
as well with gusts of 60-70 mph reported within the peaks. However
winds are on the downswing with wind products soon expiring.
For the remainder of the day a surface trough attendant to the
occluding low should swing through the region. This, combined with
cold temperatures aloft will result in instability showers across
the Bay Area and Central Coast today. Can't rule out a few claps of
thunder or some small hail as well given elevated instability and
lowering freezing levels. Rain amounts this afternoon shouldn't be
overly impressive, but can't rule out some localized amounts around
0.25" or greater within some of the heavier convective showers.
Expect a cooling trend in temperatures with highs in the 50s and
lows tonight dropping into the 40s. Some of the colder inland areas
may dip into the upper 30s towards sunrise.
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Friday through next Wednesday)
Issued at 1123 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
Friday and Saturday:
A series of low amplitude perturbations will ride zonal flow across
the region. Given residual moisture on-and-off showers remain in the
forecast. Overall rain amounts during this period should remain
light.
Sunday and Monday:
Considerable amplification of the upper flow pattern evolves as a
low pressure system develops off the California coast. There are
some model differences in the evolution of the the surface low and
how rapidly it deepens, but overall this has the makings of another
impactful system. Some factors in play include plenty of dynamics
and a focused push of warm/moist advection via a 50 kt southwesterly
low-level jet (LLJ). Impacts from rain and wind appear likely, with
a particular focus on the Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia ranges.
Forecast rain amounts have increased, with most likely totals in the
3-7" range for the coastal ranges with lesser amounts for inland
areas and the rain shadowed valleys. The Weather Prediction Center's
Day 3 Excessive Rainfall Outlook now highlights much of our area
within a slight risk with the Climate Prediction Center's extended
risk outlook highlighting our area for heavy rainfall. In addition
given the strength of the LLJ we may run into issues with downed
trees and power lines as well. Keep up with forecast changes as we
fine tune this potentially impactful period.
Tuesday and Wednesday:
Troughing aloft appears to keep hold on the area. This should keep
periodic shower chances in place.
&&
.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 924 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
Rain is the main issue of the moment across the region. Across the
North Bay, steady rain continues for the next few hours, but gusty
winds have diminished and remain relatively light for the rest of
the night. Elsewhere, the narrow cold frontal rainband (NCFR) is
currently going through the Bay Area and the Monterey Bay region,
bringing the most intense winds and rain. Behind the NCFR, expect
winds to diminish and remain light. Steady rain should continue for
a couple of hours behind the NCFR, but will devolve into scattered
showers overnight and through Thursday. Winds will remain light to
moderate and shift to a westerly flow on Thursday. IFR-MVFR
conditions across the NCFR, with VFR-MVFR conditions elsewhere and
through the TAF period.
Vicinity of SFO... The narrow cold frontal rainband (NCFR) has
passed the terminal and winds have diminished. Expect winds to
remain light through the rest of the night, with scattered showers
through the TAF period. Moderate westerly winds set up on Thursday.
VFR-MVFR ceilings through the TAF period.
SFO Bridge Approach... Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals... A narrow cold frontal rainband (NCFR) is
passing through the region with intense rain and winds associated
with the NCFR. Expect winds to diminish after the NCFR passes.
Steady rain will continue for the next few hours, until diminishing
into scattered showers for the rest of the TAF period. Moderate
westerly winds will develop on Thursday. VFR-MVFR ceilings through
the TAF period.
&&
.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Monday)
Issued at 924 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
The frontal boundary has moved through the northern waters and is
currently moving through the southern waters this evening.
Moderate to heavy rain and fresh to strong gusts will linger
overnight with near gale strength gusts possible in the southern
waters ahead of frontal passage. Gusts of up to 55 knots possible
during frontal passage, but winds will diminish quickly after the
front passes. Storm force winds will continue along the Big Sur
coast into the early morning. Wind and rain chances have started
to diminish in the northern waters but remain elevated in the
southern waters ahead of frontal passage. Large westerly swell at
15 to 16 seconds will continue to build overnight into Thursday,
resulting in large breaking waves near the coastline. Conditions
hazardous for small crafts will continue through the end of the
work week. Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue into
Thursday. More widespread rain and gusty conditions return this
weekend.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Flood Watch through late Thursday night for CAZ006-502>506-
508>510-512>518-528>530.
High Surf Advisory until 3 PM PST Thursday for CAZ006-505-509-
529-530.
Wind Advisory until 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ006-504-506-508-510-
513-514-516-528-529.
High Wind Warning until 4 AM PST Thursday for CAZ502-503-505-509-
512-515-517-518-530.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PST Friday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt
to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Arena
to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes
to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Storm Warning until 3 AM PST Thursday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras
Blancas 0-10 nm.
&&
SHORT TERM...SPM
LONG TERM....SPM
AVIATION...DialH
MARINE...Kennedy
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayareaPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1120 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 PM Flood 3 NNE Campbell 37.32N 121.93W
01/31/2024 Santa Clara CA Law Enforcement
Roadway flooding at I280 N / Bascom Ave
Onramp.
&&
RKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1128 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1127 PM Flood 5 ESE Salinas 36.66N 121.55W
01/31/2024 Monterey CA Law Enforcement
Roadway flooding at Old Stage Rd / Zabala
Rd. 3 ft of water on roadway.
&&
RKPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1145 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1000 PM Flood 3 SW Windsor 38.51N 122.84W
01/31/2024 Sonoma CA Fire Dept/Rescue
Water rescue on Mark West Station Rd at
Starr Rd. Time is approximate.
&&
SPMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1154 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1146 PM Flood 5 SE Salinas 36.64N 121.57W
01/31/2024 Monterey CA Dept of Highways
Alisal Rd closed from Salinas City limits to
Zabala Rd due to flooding.
&&
SPMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1158 PM PST Wed Jan 31 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1135 PM Flood 2 SE Aptos 36.97N 121.87W
01/31/2024 Santa Cruz CA Dept of Highways
Paulsen Road flooded between Dias and Lapis
Rd.
&&
SPMPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
1201 AM PST Thu Feb 1 2024
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1149 PM Flood 4 SE Salinas 36.65N 121.58W
01/31/2024 Monterey CA Dept of Highways
Vehicle stuck in water. Hartnell Rd at
Alisal Rd.
&&
SPMThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Roadway flooding was reported on Paul Avenue at Cornwall Street.
Flooding was reported on the onramp from the Alameda to Interstate 880.
A large amount of water on the end of the offramp from southbound Interstate 880 to West Grand Avenue blocked all but one lane.
Southbound US Highway 101 at the truck scales near San Martin was reported to be breaking apart in the slow lane.
Paulsen Road was closed approximately a mile south of Green Valley Road due to flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2024
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: 1155064, 1155065, 1155067, 1155068, 1155069.