‘Snow already falling’ in Bay Area: Latest on winter storm

Several people woke up to light snow dustings at low elevations in the Santa Cruz Mountains on Thursday morning, and forecasters say more is on the way.

Parts of the Bay Area could get several inches of snow Thursday night as an intense cold weather system makes its way through the region. Widespread rain, snow and strong wind gusts will carry through Thursday evening into Friday morning.

“We don’t often get this cold of air coming into California,” Brooke Bingaman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said of the “anomalous” storm.

Current radars show that the winter storm has already hit Sonoma County and will continue to spread across the Bay Area.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings and wind advisories across the Bay Area Thursday evening, with snow, hail, thunderstorms and gusty winds in the forecast that could make Friday morning’s commute unsafe. Parts of the region also have a frost advisory.

“We are looking at snow already falling in northwest California, even down to the coast in Humboldt and Mendocino county, and that’s sinking down into the Bay Area,” NWS Meteorologist Brian Garcia said in a video statement.

Snow and gusty winds caused power outages across the Bay Area this week and closed Highway 101 for powerline repairs. As of Thursday evening, more than 22,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers were without power.

“One of our bigger concerns is the fact that the winds are going to be picking up as the system moves through overnight,” Bingaman said. “It’s a cold air mass, so it’s going to be cold in the morning. If people lose power because trees are blown down and impact the power line, that’s going to be really cold for people.”

Wind gusts are estimated to reach up to 40 mph at lower elevations, and up to 50 mph in the mountains. Bingaman said if there are widespread outages, residents could be left without power for days.

Garcia said the highest snowfall would likely be above 2,000-2,500 feet, though flakes could make their way down to the valley floors and coastline.

“There is probability there that we could see snow all the way down to the valley floors, and even to the coast, but we have a very, very low probability, I’d say about 5%, that we’ll see any accumulating snow at the coast,” Garcia said.

A first round of snowfall reached the Santa Cruz Mountains on Thursday morning, totaling 3 inches of snow in higher elevations.

“Be prepared. If you don’t have to go out and drive tomorrow morning — don’t,” Garcia said. “Wait until the afternoon when the showers pass. Let Caltrans and other road crews do their job of clearing the road and be safe. Make sure that you stay safe.”