Most of the Bay Area could see up to ¾ inch of rain Thursday

As the storm moves through the Bay Area chilly temperatures will follow, plunged below freezing in some areas.

The start of December could be a wet one, with the Bay Area expected to see its first major rainstorm in three weeks, according to National Weather Service forecasts Thursday morning.

From San Jose to San Francisco and across the bay in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, forecasters expect between ½ and ¾ of an inch of rain Thursday, with most of the downpour coming before 4 p.m. The storm originated in the Pacific Northwest and pushed south early Thursday, sweeping into the North Bay around 5 a.m.

Anyone up late awaiting the rain? Here is the latest with regards to timing of the heaviest rain & frontal boundary. Expecting rain to increase in coverage & intensity over the North Bay through 5 AM, San Francisco Bay Area by 5-9 AM, & Central Coast by 9 AM – 1 PM. #CAwx #CArain pic.twitter.com/QD1lengIDj

— NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) December 1, 2022

Public transit agencies prepared for the storm and warned that it could affect morning commuters throughout the region. BART issued an alert just before 5 a.m. warning that trains may experience 10-minute delays throughout the day because of the weather.

There may be up to 10-min delays systemwide due to wet weather conditions. Please watch your step on wet platforms and stairways. Thank you.

— BART Alert (@SFBARTalert) December 1, 2022

A cold front is trailing the storm, meaning temperatures are expected to drop soon after the rain slows. In San Jose, temperatures overnight Thursday and into Friday are forecast at 29 degrees. The East Bay was expected to see temperatures in the mid-30s late Thursday, while temperatures on the Peninsula and in San Francisco are expected in the high-30s, the weather service says.

While rainfall soaks the Bay Area, the weather service issued a winter storm warning for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra from Thursday until early Friday. Travel to Lake Tahoe could be “very difficult” Thursday, as snowfall is expected to reach between 10 and 20 inches. Parts of the Sierra Nevada are expected to receive as much as 3 feet of snow.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.