An intense atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area from February 3rd to the 4th, bringing heavy rain and strong wind to the region, especially across the North Bay. The Russian River near Guerneville flooded due to the heavy rain.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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.
An intense atmospheric river impacted the Bay Area from February 3rd to the 4th, bringing heavy rain and strong wind to the region, especially across the North Bay. The Russian River near Guerneville flooded due to the heavy rain.
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, 9:08 PM PST, 48 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
908 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
...New UPDATE, MARINE...
.SYNOPSIS...
Issued at 304 AM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
A second, stronger AR arrives later today and continues into
Tuesday. This system is expected to bring much higher rain totals
and a return to elevated flood risk across the Bay Area and
Central Coast. A Flood Watch will go into effect at 4 PM PST this
afternoon and will remain in effect through 4 AM PST Wednesday.
Wet weather will continue through the remainder of the week.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 907 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
The forecast remains on track this evening with no updates needed.
Light to moderate rain is making its way across the Bay Area with
some impacts already being felt. Local storm reports have been
recorded for: mud/dirt/rock along State Route 29 in Napa County just
south of Old Lawley Toll Road, a tree down in Calistoga, and roadway
flooding in Dublin and Hayward. Expect impacts to increase through
the night and into tomorrow as the cold front gains steam and plows
through the region.
A Flood Advisory remains in effect through 8:45 AM PST for a portion
of Sonoma County between Windsor and Cotati along and to the west of
the US-101 corridor as CGNC1 - Colgan Creek near Sebastopol, GRQC1 -
Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Road, and MWEC1 - Mark West Creek
near Mirabel Heights remain in Minor Flood Stage. Flooding in this
region is expected through at least Friday. Please obey traffic
barricades and remember: turn around, don't drown!
A Wind Advisory is in effect for portions of the Bay Area and
Central Coast for south to southwesterly winds of 20-35 mph with
gusts up to 55 mph expected. North Bay Coast and San Francisco are
in it through 1 AM Tuesday. San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Monterey
Bay Coast, Big Sur Coast, Santa Cruz Mountains, and interior
Monterey County will take effect at 7 AM Tuesday and run through 8
PM Tuesday. The combination of wind and moist soils will increase
the risk for downed trees. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few
power outages may result.
A Flood Watch remains in effect through 4 AM Wednesday for the Bay
Area and Central Coast.
Sarment
&&
.SHORT TERM...
Issued at 1247 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
(This evening through Tuesday)
Key Points:
* Flood Advisory continues for portions of Sonoma County
* Flood Watch goes into effect 4 PM Monday through 4 AM Wednesday
across the Bay Area and Central Coast
* Mon PM-Tue AR ontrack late Monday with moderate to at times
heavy rain
* Mon PM-Tue will also bring gusty winds and thunderstorms
* Thur-Fri AR is expected to be weaker and aimed farther south
* Cold morning temperatures return mid-week but temperatures
will drop more significantly over the weekend
Being upfront - lengthy AFD as lots of interesting and impactful
weather headed our way.
Near term - KMUX is showing an increase in shower activity off the
North Bay coast and northern Sonoma county. The increase is a
result of better forcing tied to a low pressure off the coast
moving eastward. The approaching low has also allowed for gusty
southerly winds across the region this afternoon. This is only a
preview of things to come over the next 36 hrs.
This evening through Tuesday:
The broader meteorological picture still shows a quasi-stationary
boundary to the north. This front extends west to a surface low
near a triple point 37N 128W and farther west of that is an
occluded low pressure 32N 140W also tracking eastward. Aloft is a
little more interesting as split flow with a high amplified polar
jet (digging SW thru BC and then recurving into NorCal) is showing
some phasing with the sub-tropical jet arriving from the SW. These
upper level jet features/phasing will aid in overall large scale
ascent. On top of this features, PWAT satellite imagery shows a
Pineapple Express (AR) plume just SE of Hawaii extending north
along the surface boundaries to NorCal.
So what does this mean and how will it impact the Bay Area and
Central Coast? The upstream "triple point" low will move east and
help to lift the stationary boundary slightly, but also allow for
a more defined surface front. This surface enhancement will be
aided by an upper level jet exit region over NorCal this evening.
Large scale forcing, orographic enhanced, and PWAT transport will
lead to heavier rain spreading over the North Bay this evening.
Could see some decent rainfall rates of 0.5" per hr. Rainfall
coverage and intensity will gradually move S and E over the rest
of the forecast area by Tuesday morning. Not only will rain
increase this evening through early Tuesday, but the winds will
too. The winds will increase rapidly over the northern coastal
waters this evening and then spread to the coastal areas Monterey
Bay northward. A Wind Adv was issued to account for this increase
in winds.
Early Tuesday will feature a brief "lull" in activity as the
"triple point low" fades with an exiting jet region aloft. The
lull will be short lived as even better jet dynamics aloft take
aim at the Bay Area and Central Coast Tuesday mid morning through
Tuesday evening. Expect another rapid increase in winds and precip
on Tuesday as a cold front pushes through the region. This will
bring the most widespread and intense rainfall.
Of particular concern is between 18 and 21 UTC Tuesday, flow
through the column increases. In fact, examining the wind field at
300mb reveals a phased or coupled jet type pattern with a wind
maxima approaching the CA/OR coastline with a broader field of
+120 knot mid level flow. In response, the lowest 1 km wind field
responds and 925mb flow ramping up to around 50 knots. This is
particularly true along and south of the trough/cold frontal
boundary for regions along the Central Coast and Big Sur
Coastline. While instability values will be on the lower end of
the spectrum with under 50 J/kg. Forecast hodographs indicate a
large amount of low level curvature with 0-1 km shear in excess of
30 knots. These types of high shear, low CAPE regimes do support
both the transfer of damaging 55+ mph winds aloft down to the
surface and in some instances brief tornadoes. We'll continue to
monitor trends in high-resolution output, but as it stands right
now, the favored region for enhanced winds of 55+ mph and a
slightly higher tornado risk will be along the San Francisco
Peninsula Coast (Pacific Ocean side) down to the Big Sur Coastline
late Tuesday morning and through the evening hours. That being
said, have included thunderstorms to the forecast for Tuesday
with specific wording highlighting gusty convective winds.
Heavy rain will transition late Tuesday to more shower activity
from N to S behind the departing cold front. Rainfall amounts
tonight through Tuesday night will 4-6" North Bay and coastal mts
(jackpot up to 9" above Big Sur), 2-4" elsewhere, with lesser
amounts 0.75 to 1.5" Santa Clara Valley/Interior Central Coast.
It goes without saying, but these rounds of intense rainfall will
lead to flooding concerns, especially in areas where rain fell
over the weekend. Do expect Flood ADvisories to be issues for
urban and small stream flooding concerns. If you encounter
a flooded roadway or road closure barricades remember - turn around,
don't drown!
&&
.LONG TERM...
Issued at 240 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
(Tuesday night through next Sunday)
Wednesday can be described as another lull in overall activity as
one storm/moisture plume exits and another approaches from the
west.
Thursday and Friday...a surface low will approach the Central
Coast. Unlike the Tuesday AR this system will have less support
aloft and track a little farther south. Additionally, the moisture
tap is less with IVT/IWV values solidly in the Weak AR realm.
Thankfully, this low also appears to be a fast mover with highest
rainfall totals North Bay and Coastal Mts around 1" with
0.25-0.75" elsewhere. Given the more southern track this system
will be cold with lowering snow levels. Snow level will lower N to
S, but by the time the lowest snow levels arrive the precip may be
tapering off Thursday into Friday. Regardless, some wet snow will
be possible over the higher peaks Thursday into Friday. Not
expecting much in the way of accumulation.
Speaking of colder, the precip threat will quickly transition to a
temperature threat next weekend. Cold advection aloft behind the
departing low combined with clearing skies will lead to some
chilly overnight lows. Both Sat/Sun mornings will feature temps
in the 30s (even toward the coast) with far interior in the 20s.
Will likely need a mix of frost/freeze products.
&&
.AVIATION...
(00Z TAFS)
Issued at 508 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
Expect overcast mid-level clouds tot drop to MVFR CIG heights as the
nest rain band enters the region from the north. Breezy to gusty
winds are expected along the coast and in the SF Bay as this rain
band approaches. Visibilities will reduces as the main rain band
moves over each TAF site. Widespread rain is expected overnight with
some sort-lived breaks. Rain rates increase into the late morning on
Tuesday with some lower CIGs possible in the North Bay. Rains and
winds persist beyond the TAF period.
Vicinity of SFO...Gusty winds last through the TAF period. MVFR CIGS
and moderate rain arrive into the night, with reduced visibilities
expected. rain rates increase while winds reduce slightly into late
Tuesday afternoon. Winds turn southwesterly late Tuesday afternoon.
Rains and winds linger beyond the TAF period.
SFO Bridge Approach...Similar to SFO.
Monterey Bay Terminals...Moderate to breezy winds last into the
evening before reducing. Mid-level clouds lower into the night with
showers approaching in the late night. Expect breezy southerly winds
to build into late Tuesday morning as shower activity continues.
&&
.MARINE...
(Tonight through next Sunday)
Issued at 907 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
Widespread breezy to gusty continue across the waters and look to
last through much of Tuesday. Gale force gust look to move out of
the northern waters in the early morning, but winds will still be
hazardous for small craft. Storm force wind look to develop
within the southern inner waters along the Big Sur Coast. Showers
move into the waters overnight and become widespread for Tuesday.
Expect moderate significant wave heights with fresh swells and
steep wind waves resulting in hazardous marine conditions. Another
disturbance will impact our coastal waters later this week
beginning Thursday, and persisting into Friday
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
Issued at 1125 AM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
A second and stronger atmospheric river and accompanying surface
low will bring higher rainfall totals and an increased flood risk
across the North Bay, and the coastal ranges of the Bay Area and
Central Coast through midweek. WPC (Weather Prediction Center)
has placed the North Bay in a Slight Risk (15%) of Excessive
Rainfall and a Marginal Risk (5%) over the Santa Cruz and Santa
Lucia ranges through 12z Tuesday (Day 1). For Day 2 (12z Tuesday
through 12z Wednesday) the Slight Risk of Excessive Rainfall will
continue over the North Bay and has been extended southward across
the Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia ranges with a Marginal Risk across
the rest of the HSA.
A Flood Watch will go into effect at 4 PM PST this afternoon and
will remain in effect through 4 AM PST Wednesday. The Urban and
Small Stream Flood Advisory over Central Sonoma was extended
through 8:45 pm tonight for continued flooding impacts as well as
the impacts associated with the expected rainfall later today. The
Flood Advisory is expected to be extended beyond tonight at the
next issuance.
The latest forecast from the CNRFC keep the main stem rivers
below flood stage across the North Bay (Russian and Napa).
However, the exceedance probabilities (of rising above flood
stage) have increased 5 to 10% over the main stem river forecast
points.
Other non-main stem forecast points to keep an eye on are
MWEC1 - Mark West Creek at Mirabel Heights
GRQC1 - Green Valley Creek at Martinelli Road
CTIC1- Laguna de Santa Rosa at Stony Point Road near Cotati. These
points will remain in or exceed Minor Flood Stage between now and
Friday. These locations will be handled through ongoing Flood
Advisories.
CW
&&
.MTR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CA...Flood Watch through late Tuesday night for CAZ006-502>506-
508>510-512>518-528>530.
Wind Advisory until 1 AM PST Tuesday for CAZ006-502-505-509.
Wind Advisory from 7 AM to 8 PM PST Tuesday for CAZ509-512-517-
529-530.
PZ...Small Craft Advisory until 9 AM PST Tuesday for Mry Bay-SF Bay N
of Bay Bridge.
Gale Warning from 9 AM to 9 PM PST Tuesday for Mry Bay-SF Bay N
of Bay Bridge.
Gale Warning until 3 AM PST Tuesday for Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 0-
10 nm-Pt Arena to Pt Reyes 10-60 NM.
Gale Warning until 9 PM PST Tuesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt Pinos 10-
60 NM-Pt Reyes to Pigeon Pt 0-10 nm.
Small Craft Advisory until 3 AM PST Tuesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt
Pinos 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning from 3 AM to 9 PM PST Tuesday for Pigeon Pt to Pt
Pinos 0-10 nm.
Gale Warning until 9 AM PST Tuesday for Pt Pinos to Pt Piedras
Blancas 0-10 nm.
Storm Warning from 9 AM to 9 PM PST Tuesday for Pt Pinos to Pt
Piedras Blancas 0-10 nm.
&&
SHORT TERM...MM
LONG TERM....MM
AVIATION...Murdock
MARINE...Murdock
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www.youtube.com/nwsbayareaPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
823 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0647 PM Non-Tstm Wnd Dmg 9010 Franz Valley Road 38.58N 122.68W
02/03/2025 Sonoma CA Law Enforcement
Tree down. One lane open, rest is blocked.
&&
NSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
831 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0747 PM Landslide Near 4161 SR29 38.64N 122.60W
02/03/2025 Napa CA Law Enforcement
Mud/dirt/rock on SB SR29 and part of NB
SR29.
&&
NSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
833 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0819 PM Flood 4999 Gleason Dr 37.71N 121.88W
02/03/2025 Alameda CA Law Enforcement
Roadway flooding.
&&
NSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
836 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0823 PM Flood 2434 Whipple Rd 37.61N 122.06W
02/03/2025 Alameda CA Law Enforcement
Roadway flooding.
&&
NSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
923 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0904 PM Landslide 975 Golden Gate Dr 38.28N 122.30W
02/03/2025 Napa CA Law Enforcement
Rockslide blocking NB and SB lanes of SR29
near mile marker 42.
&&
NSPreliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service San Francisco CA
954 PM PST Mon Feb 3 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0946 PM Landslide 5 NE Santa Rosa 38.51N 122.65W
02/03/2025 Sonoma CA Law Enforcement
2 foot boulder in SB lane of St Helena Rd
just north of Calistoga Rd.
&&
NSThe Sacramento radar (KDAX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:55 UTC.
17 flood, 14 high wind, 2 strong wind, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A rockslide was reported on State Route 29 just north of Tubbs Lane.
The Russian River at Johnson's Beach in Guerneville crested at 35.6 feet during the day on February 5th.
A woman drove through a downpour on Platform Bridge Road before a large puddle caused her to lose control and crash into a flooded creek. A Marin County Sheriffs deputy rescued her and helped her reach safety. Some additional vehicles became stuck after they ignored road closure signs.
US Highway 101 was reported flooded south of Healdsburg.
The PG&E station at Road to Ranches reported two gusts of 87 mph.
The PG&E station on Mount St. Helena West reported a wind gust of 63 mph.
The PG&E station at Pine Mountain Fire Road reported a gust of 90 mph.
The Woodacre RAWS station measured a gust of 58 mph.
A tree fell onto a roadway on the 1500 block of Union Road near Hollister.
A house in the 12000 block of Westside Road in Forestville fell into the Russian River around 1:30 PM on February 4th. Debris made its way to the Pacific Ocean.
The PG&E station on Page Mill Road reported a gust of 72 mph.
All lanes of the onramp from Cesar Chavez Street to US highway 101 Southbound were reported completely flooded.
The SJSU Mesonet station at Mt. Umunhum off Loma Prieta Road reported a gust off 71 mph.
Strong winds brought down a tree on top of a person near Goettingen and Ward Streets.
The PG&E station on North Peak Access Road reported a wind gust of79 mph.
The PG&E station on Lone Tree Towers reported a gust of 84 mph.
The PG&E station on Wolf Back Ridge reported a gust of 78 mph.
The PG&E station on Lake Drive reported a gust of 78 mph.
San Francisco International Airport reported a gust of 69 mph.
Two right lanes of southbound Interstate 880 flooded under the overpass carrying State Route 92.
The PG&E station on Lime Creek Road reported a gust of 71 mph.
The PG&E station on Mines Road North reported a gust of 60 mph.
A man was found dead wedged inside a culvert around 4:40 p.m. on February 5 on Franz Valley Road, a narrow, winding route through steep hills northeast of Santa Rosa.
All lanes of northbound Interstate 280 right before the San Bruno Avenue offramp were flooded.
The PG&E station on South Black Diamond Way reported a gust of 66 mph.
The PG&E station on Laureles Grade Road South reported a gust of 63 mph.
Roadway flooding reported on southbound State Route 17 right before the offramp onto Hamilton Avenue, with the offramp reported as almost completely flooded.
A slide partially blocked the northbound lanes of State Route 9 at Santa Cruz County mile marker 24.
Around 8 inches of water were reported on the ramp that connects eastbound State Route 24 to southbound Interstate 680.
The southbound lane of Big Ranch Road at Oak Knoll Avenue was washed out, with the northbound lane flooded.
A landslide tore through a Santa Rosa home built on a burn scar from the 2017 Tubbs Fire, trapping two residents until firefighters pulled them to safety. Fire crews arrived around 5 p.m. Wednesday to the 2800 block of Deer Trail Court in Rincon Valley, where shifting earth ripped apart the home, collapsing sections of its walls and roof. Officials put 16 nearby homes on an evacuation warning out of an abundance of caution.
A man was found dead around 7 a.m. On February 6th at Sanford and Hall roads, a rural stretch west of Santa Rosa lined with scattered homes and open fields. Sheriff’s deputies had been searching for an 83-year-old man reported missing around 9 p.m. on the 5th. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the recovered body is his.
Slides were reported along State Route 198 at Priest Valley Road.
Roadway flooding was reported on the Hacienda Bridge, carrying River Road in Forest Hills.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flood, Sonoma | 2025-02-04 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct | |
| Flood, Sonoma | 2025-02-05 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in California, February 2025
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: 1252664, 1247040, 1252131, 1253742, 1252064, 1252068, 1252078, 1252660, 1252665, 1247020, 1252083, 1252653, 1252094, 1252060, 1252069, 1252090, 1252080, 1252084, 1252088, 1252656, 1252087, 1252075, 1247017, 1252659, 1252076, 1252092, 1252663, 1252662, 1252657, 1252102, 1247019, 1247018, 1252095, 1252099.