A rapidly intensifying cyclone and atmospheric river combined from February 3rd to the 5th, creating a period of strong winds, heavy rain, and high surf. The entire region saw numerous impacts including roadway flooding, fallen trees, and power outages.
Every event with a place to put it; 15 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 rapidly intensifying cyclone and atmospheric river combined from February 3rd to the 5th, creating a period of strong winds, heavy rain, and high surf. The entire region saw numerous impacts including roadway flooding, fallen trees, and power outages. Flood prone areas near rivers and along the coast were evacuated. Notable impacts also included pre-emptive closing of state parks, the cancelation of the San Francisco Half-Marathon, and the PGA canceling the final round of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament. On Monday February 5, several schools were closed due to damage from the storm.
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 3, 4:17 PM PST, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
417 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
...New AVIATION, MARINE...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 207 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
The next strong storm system takes aim on the region tonight into
Monday with another round of heavy rain and gusty, potentially
damaging winds possible. Keep up with the latest forecast changes.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 207 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
Key Messages as the weather changes into the night:
* Strong weather system brings another round of strong,
potentially damaging wind and rain
* Greatest impacts Saturday evening through Monday
* Flooding of roads, streams, and poorly draining areas
* Flood Watch remains in effect
* Flash Flood Watch for River Burn Area
* Downed trees possible due to strong, gusty winds
* Greatest wind damage concern along coast and in high elevations
* Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings in effect beginning tonight
* Very hazardous sea state
Light to moderate rain will begin this afternoon along the Big Sur
coast and spread northward through the overnight hours. It is the
overnight when a majority of the rainfall will occur with an
increase in coverage and intensity. Winds will also be on the
increase with gusts as high as 80 mph in the peaks and ridges. Some
gusts of 70 mph could mix down to the surface, especially along
coastal areas from early Sunday morning through the afternoon.
In wake of the frontal passage by early Sunday afternoon, expecting
scattered to widespread rain showers with the potential for isolated
thunderstorms.
Here are the updated totals starting from Saturday afternoon through
Monday afternoon:
2.00" to 3.00": Santa Clara Valley, Interior East Bay: there is the
potential for lesser rainfall in the rain shadowed valleys
2.50" to 3.50": San Francisco, Oakland, East Bay Hills, lower
elevations of San Mateo Co, interior North Bay, interior Monterey
Co and San Benito Co
3.50" to 5.00": Santa Cruz Co and higher elevations of the North Bay
6.00" to 8.00": The highest peaks of the Santa Cruz Mtns, the Santa
Lucias and Big Sur Coast
Greater than 8.00": The highest peaks of the Big Sur Coast
&&
.LONG TERM...
(Monday night through next Friday)
Issued at 207 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
Post frontal rain showers will continue into early Tuesday before
tapering off from north to south. Afternoon temperatures through
the remainder of the week struggle to warm out of the mid/upper 50s
(40s for the higher peaks). Overnight lows will range from the upper
30s to mid 40s. Rain potentially returns by Wednesday night/early
Thursday morning with no significant impacts expected at this
time.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 417 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
Radar shows precipitation associated with the incoming system
starting to move into the Central Coast. Precipitation will start at
KMRY and KSNS first before progressing northwards. Strong gusty east-
southeasterly winds will pick up ahead of the incoming system by
late this evening. High confidence that low level wind shear will
develop at all stations as strong upper level winds move through the
area. Initial rain will be fairly light but rainfall intensity will
increase overnight with moderate to heavy rainfall expected.
Thunderstorm chances will start to increase towards the end of the
TAF period (18-00Z).
Vicinity of SFO...Moderate east-southeast winds will prevail until
the mid to late evening before transitioning to strong, gusty east-
southeast winds ahead of the incoming system. Winds will gradually
transition from east-southeast to southeast by mid tomorrow morning.
An airport weather warning has been issued for SFO from 12Z on
Sunday to 03Z on Monday with gusts up to 50kts possible. Rain will
reach SFO by the late evening and will last through the end of the
TAF period. High confidence that low level wind shear will develop
at SFO overnight and last through the end of the TAF period.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...Currently light southwest winds at MRY and
moderate southeast winds at SNS. Winds will strengthen and become
increasingly gusty as the system approaches. MRY is expected to have
gusts up to 50kts and SNS is expected to have gusts up to 55kts.
Isolated gusts greater than 55kts may be possible at the time of
most intense precipitation (early to late morning). High confidence
that low level wind shear will develop at both KMRY and KSNS with
sustained winds at 2,000ft expected to be between 70-80kts tomorrow
morning. Initial light rainfall will intensify to moderate/heavy
rainfall overnight with the most intense precipitation likely to
occur during the morning hours.
&&
.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Thursday)
Issued at 417 PM PST Sat Feb 3 2024
A dangerous storm will impact our coastal waters starting this
evening. Expect marine conditions will deteriorate quickly as
southerly winds start to increase this evening. Storm force gusts
will develop overnight and persist through the afternoon on
Sunday. Heavy rain and thunderstorms will accompany this weather
system this evening through Sunday. In addition, a large southerly
swell will propagate through the coastal waters Sunday and
Monday, building to 15 to 20 feet at 10-11 seconds by Sunday
morning. Winds start to diminish Sunday evening into Monday and
sea conditions will start to improve. A long period northwest
swell moves through Tuesday into Wednesday.
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Flood Watch through Monday morning for CAZ006-502>506-508>510-
512>518-528>530.
Wind Advisory from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Sunday for
CAZ006-502-503-506-508-510-513.
High Surf Advisory from 4 AM Sunday to 4 AM PST Monday for
CAZ006-505-509-529-530.
High Wind Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 PM PST Sunday
for CAZ504-505-509-512-514>518-528>530.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 3 AM PST Sunday
for SF Bay N of Bay Bridge.
Gale Warning from 3 AM to 3 PM PST Sunday for SF Bay N of Bay
Bridge.
Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM PST this evening for Mry Bay-Pt
Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Gale Warning from 9 PM this evening to 3 AM PST Sunday for Mry
Bay.
Storm Warning from 3 AM to 3 PM PST Sunday for Mry Bay-Pigeon Pt
to Pt Pinos 0-10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM-Pt Reyes
to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 PM PST Sunday for Pt
Arena to Pt Reyes 0-10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Sunday for Pt Reyes to
Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning until 3 AM PST Sunday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 0-
10 nm-Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-60 NM.
Gale Warning until 9 PM PST this evening for Pt Pinos to Pt
Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
Storm Warning from 9 PM this evening to 9 PM PST Sunday for Pt
Pinos to Pt Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
&&
SHORT TERM...RGass
LONG TERM....RGass
AVIATION...Kennedy
MARINE...McCorkle
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayareaThe San Francisco radar (KMUX), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:45 UTC.
13 high wind, 9 flood, 2 strong wind, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Northbound US Highway 101 was closed from Hartnell Road to Alisal Road due to flooding.
Six inches of water were reported on the slow lane of Interstate 280 southbound near Cesar Chavez Street.
The number 2 lane and half of the number 1 lane of the connector between southbound Interstate 680 and eastbound Interstate 580 was flooded.
A tree fell on a car on northbound US Highway 101 near Todd Road in Santa Rosa, injuring a man inside and closing the highway.
The Lime Creek Road station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 85 mph.
The Piercy Ranch Road station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 61 mph.
Flooding was reported along a low section of southbound US Highway 101 south of Greenfield.
Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Road went outside its banks, causing flooding.
A landslide blocked Market Street at 18th Street in San Francisco, causing the closure of westbound Market Street.
The Lone Tree Towers station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 75 mph.
The Rana Creek Tower station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 80 mph.
The Point Reyes station operated by PGE recorded a wind gust of 89 mph.
The Umunhum South station operated by SJSU recorded a wind gust of 98 mph.
A tree fell into a home in Boulder Creek on the 14100 block of California Highway 9 near the intersection with Bear Creek Road. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office reported that fire crews arrived around 3:20 PM. Two people were inside the home when the tree fell. One person escaped, but a 45-year old man was trapped inside. The man was killed after the tree fell and died at the scene.
The Nicasio Hills station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 102 mph.
Four people were rescued by a swift water rescue team from the Guadalupe River in San Jose near Autumn Parkway and Coleman Avenue.
Three inch tree limbs were broken, and power lines were downed.
A creek ran over the road near California Highway 25 at Southside Road.
The Kincaid Road station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 65 mph.
Three inch tree limbs were broken, and power lines were downed.
The Cobb Ridge West station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 95 mph.
The Atlas peak RAWS recorded a wind gust of 86 mph.
The Mines Tower station operated by PG&E recorded a wind gust of 82 mph.
The San Francisco International Airport ASOS recorded a wind gust of 67 mph.
Flooding was reported near the southbound Interstate 280/Westborough Boulevard offramp.
The South Black Diamond Way station operated by PGE recorded a wind gust of 81 mph.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind, Santa Cruz Mountains | 2024-02-04 | 45 | Male | Permanent Home | Indirect |
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: 1154820, 1154900, 1154866, 1154793, 1154807, 1154804, 1154901, 1154824, 1154810, 1154805, 1154806, 1154799, 1154801, 1154792, 1154794, 1154809, 1154904, 1154902, 1154802, 1154905, 1154796, 1154821, 1154797, 1154798, 1154903, 1154800.