Rain is expected to return to the San Francisco Bay Area this week for the first time since before Thanksgiving, according to the National Weather Service.

Light rain is expected late Wednesday into early Thursday, mainly in the North Bay, followed by a stronger system that is forecasted to arrive in the region late Friday into Saturday, bringing up to 3 inches of rain and wind gusts of up to 40-50 mph at higher elevations and along the coast, weather service officials said.

Forecasters say the precipitation is coinciding with king tides that could cause minor flooding and hazardous beach conditions this week. A High Surf Advisory will be in effect from 1 p.m. Thursday through 4 a.m. Friday.

The Northern California rainfall forecast from the National Weather Service from Wednesday, Dec. 12, to Thursday, Dec. 13, 2024. (National Weather Service via Bay City News)
The Northern California high surf advisory from the National Weather Service from Thursday, Dec. 12, to Friday, Dec, 13, 2024.(National Weather Service via Bay City News)

There should be a lull in the rain Sunday but more wet weather is expected to arrive on Monday, according to the weather service.

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.