The Bay Area’s cold, rainy, windy weather is going to calm down briefly for the next couple of days before possibly transitioning into more storms heading into next week, according to the National Weather Service.
In the last 24 hours, rain totals across the region generally ranged from about a half an inch to nearly 2 inches.
Oakland topped out at about three-quarters of an inch, for example, while locations in the Santa Cruz Mountains measured up to about 1.5 inches of rain and, contrary to the typical pattern, most North Bay locations clocked in at only about a half inch, according to weather service meteorologist Rachel Kennedy.
While the total rain volume wasn’t alarming, several areas were dealing with power outages Thursday morning, with PG&E reporting nearly 24,000 customers in the region with service disruptions at 8:30 a.m.
Roughly half of those affected had power restored about two hours later, according to PG&E.
Along with the rain came frosty temperatures and a light dusting of snow at higher-elevation places like Mt. Diablo, Mt. Saint Helena, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the eastern Santa Clara Hills.
While Thursday is characterized by scattered showers, the sun should start peeking through storm clouds in many places and Friday is expected to be rain-free.
Temperatures will remain on the cold side Thursday night and into Friday morning as the weather system moves to the east, with rain a possibility for Saturday.
During that time, much of the region will be under an Extreme Cold Warning or Cold Weather Advisory, with low temperatures hitting between 24 degrees inland to 34 degrees closer to the bayside and coastal areas from 1 a.m. to about 9 a.m. Friday.
“We’ll have showers through rest of today, then will be on dryer side on Friday and Saturday,” Kennedy said.
An unsettled pattern will move in late Saturday and Sunday with rain chances lingering for much of next week, she said.
“This is a typical storm for us, the most unusual part of it is the low temperatures,” she said.
Counties open shelters amid extreme cold
Forecasts for dangerously low overnight temperatures around the Bay Area have prompted officials in Marin, Sonoma and Santa Cruz counties to open or expand severe weather shelters.
Sonoma County
The Sonoma County health officer issued a freeze alert for Thursday night through Friday morning. Officials recommend that residents limit time outdoors as serious medical conditions, including hypothermia and frostbite, can develop with prolonged exposure to cold weather.
Winter shelters in Sonoma County have expanded capacity on a first-come, first-served basis, with many providing wraparound services as well. Updated information about warming centers and shelter availability in Sonoma County is available online.
Marin County
In Marin County, Health and Human Services has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Shelter. To protect individuals experiencing homelessness, the overnight emergency shelter will open at the Marin Health and Wellness Campus, located at 3240 Kerner Boulevard in San Rafael.
The heated Connection Center Building on the campus will be open from 5 p.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday and again from 5 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Saturday. Guests may bring essential personal belongings, and sheltering is available for families.
Residents can call (415) 473-6100. Additional resources on homelessness are available through Housing First Marin.
Santa Cruz County
In Santa Cruz County, temporary severe weather shelters are open on Thursday and Friday, to provide emergency overnight refuge for the unhoused.
The shelters are a coordinated effort supported by the County of Santa Cruz, the City of Santa Cruz, and the City of Watsonville. The sites are operated by People First of Santa Cruz County.
Lineup for services start at 7:30 pm. Space is limited, and beds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to individuals with disabilities and those facing significant health or safety risks.
Pets are welcome provided they are leashed and remain under voice control. The Santa Cruz County shelter sites are: the Elks Lodge, 150 Jewell St. in Santa Cruz on Thursday from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; Vets Hall, 846 Front St. in Santa Cruz on Friday from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; and Community Health Trust, 85 Nielson St. in Watsonville on Thursday and Friday from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Note to readers: This story has been updated to include information about emergency shelter openings in Marin, Sonoma and Santa Cruz counties.