Bay Area storms could bring less intensity but more consistency Tuesday

The rain wasn’t expected to let up the day after storms throughout the Bay Area were powerful enough to potentially help knock out power for nearly 20,000 people, though forecasters expected less intense — albeit more consistent precipitation on Tuesday.

In an early morning bulletin, the National Weather Service called the rain showers it expects on Tuesday “lingering,” as low-intensity rain was predicted to hang around for much of Tuesday for the entirety of the Bay Area.

The 24-hour forecast between 4 a.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday predicted as much as one inch of rain in San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. Inland totals weren’t expected to be quite as high, with forecasts tapping out at one-half of an inch in San Jose and one-quarter of an inch in Concord and Livermore. Chances of thunderstorms, which could carry more precipitation than meteorologists can predict, were marginal according to the NWS.

Commuters should still take heed of warnings in regard to wet roadways on Tuesday morning despite the lower intensity of the rainstorms as slick conditions were still expected. While small rises in creeks and streams are possible, flooding was not anticipated to be a factor.

The lighter rain Tuesday could be all but a ramp-up for a more intense Wednesday, the NWS said. The midweek storms, likely the last before the holiday weekend, have carried a massive likelihood of instability, meaning chances of thunderstorms and rocky weather have increased. Predictions showed much higher rain totals Wednesday — as much as one inch of rain in San Jose, Livermore and Concord.

More rain is expected today and tomorrow, tapering off by Thursday. Slight chance for tstorms also in store for today and tomorrow. Additional rainfall today into tomorrow may result in nuisance roadway flooding, so be sure to use caution when driving! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/tH9Qx8X9en

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) December 19, 2023

This is a developing report. Check back for updates.