Thunder, lightning, rain, flash-flood warnings hit Bay Area
Thunder and lightning startled many in the Bay Area early Friday morning as the second of three storms swept the region bringing close to an inch of rain and more is expected as protesters plan to take to the streets to voice outrage over President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
“There’s a chance of more thunder throughout the day (Friday), but not as much as this morning,” said Steve Anderson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, adding that the Bay Area was hit with the heaviest rainfall while many were still asleep.
Scattered showers, heavy at times, will keep the streets wet in San Francisco, Oakland and elsewhere in the Bay Area all day, Anderson added.
Most of the flooding is expected in Sonoma County and in the Santa Cruz Mountains as flash flood warnings were issued for Morgan Hill, Petaluma and San Lorenzo Valley, Anderson said.
Southbound lanes of Highway 17 at the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains were blocked by a big tree that had fallen across the freeway due to the weather, the CHP said.