Bay Area pounded by heavy rain in atmospheric river storm

By Tim Fang

An atmospheric river storm brought heavy rain and strong winds throughout the Bay Area and Monterey Bay on Thursday, leaving behind flooded road and downed trees in communities across the region.

Much of the rain fell over the region during the overnight hours and into the morning commute. The National Weather Service said there were reports of standing water on roadways and minor flooding.

As of 9 a.m., the Weather Service said locations in the North Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains experienced the most rainfall over the past 24 hours. The strongest wind gust over the past 24 hours was an 80 mph gust on Pine Mountain Fire Road in Marin County.

In San Francisco, the storm brought down a tree near McAllister and Steiner streets, near the city’s Painted Ladies. Across the bay in Oakland, heavy branches fell on vehicles parked along Moss Avenue, while in the city’s Oakmore neighborhood, a power line was brought down by falling branches.

Forecasters have issued flood advisories in several Bay Area counties, which remain in effect through Thursday afternoon. An advisory for northwestern Monterey, south central Santa Clara and southeastern Santa Cruz counties is in effect through 3 p.m., while an adivosry for Marin and south central Sonoma counties is in effect through 2:30 p.m.

In addition to the flood advisories, a wind advisory for the the East Bay, South Bay, the San Francisco Bay shoreline and the Monterey Bay region has been extended through 4 p.m. Thursday.