SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — At least two deaths are being connected to Wednesday night’s storm and thousands of Bay Area residents are without power this morning. Heavy rain, downed trees, flooding and road closures impacted the Bay Area Wednesday and more heavy rain is in the forecast for Thursday. Follow our blog for the latest live storm updates.
Tune into KRON4 for continuing storm coverage. You can also stream on kron4.com or on the KRONon app available on Apple TV, Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
Latest Bay Area storm updates:
Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023
5:40 p.m. — Crews remove fallen tree from road in Sonoma County
At around 12:30 p.m., crews from the Occidental Fire Department removed a tree blocking Occidental Road. Video posted by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Facebook page (below) shows crews at the scene.
5:07 p.m. — Flooding and road closures continue on SR-12 and SR-121
Authorities have cautioned residents of flooding and road closures on SR-12 and SR-121, California Highway Patrol tweeted at 4:56 p.m. Photos by CHP show flooded roads; CHP tells travelers to not cross those roadways.
3:13 p.m. — Officials announce when East Bay parks will reopen
Since closing its parks on Wednesday due to the storm, East Bay Regional Parks announced they expect to reopen Friday. A list of all the East Bay Regional Parks parks can viewed here.
2:09 p.m. — PG&E: Over 66K Bay Area customers affected by power outages
As of 2 p.m., 66,441 customers across the Bay Area have been affected by power outages, according to PG&E. There are 24,127 customers affected in the North Bay, 17,190 in the Peninsula, 15,334 in the East Bay, 7,587 in the South Bay and 2,203 in San Francisco.
There are also 13,658 Central Coast customers affected.
1:25 p.m. — Downtown SF gets its wettest 10-day period since 1871
It was the wettest 10-day period in downtown San Francisco since 1871, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced on Twitter. The area received 10.33 inches of rainfall from Dec. 26 to Jan. 4.
The all-time record for a 10-day period was 14.37 inches in January 1862, NWS said.
12:51 p.m. — CHP San Jose officer injured after being struck by fallen tree on highway
A fallen tree injured a CHP San Jose officer Thursday morning, the law enforcement agency said in an email. Due to rainy weather conditions, a tree fell on the right shoulder of SR-17 (south of I-280) around 10:55 a.m. The officer was not able to get out of the way in time and was struck by the tree.
The officer was awake and alert and was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose for non-life-threatening injuries, CHP said. Initially, the officer was in the area responding to a crash at around 10:08 a.m.
Authorities said there were no other injuries or property damage caused by the fallen tree.
12:40 p.m. — Santa Cruz’s iconic SS Palo Alto swept into the sea by mega swell
12:30 p.m. — Storm sees Bay waters surging onto the Embarcadero at the Ferry Building
12:10 p.m. — Big-rig crash on Northbound 242 in Concord blocks traffic
A big-rig involved crash on the Northbound 242 in Concord just south of Grant Street has blocked the left lanes. A photo of the incident shows the big rig tangled with a pickup truck and wet weather conditions on the roadway.
11:44 a.m. — Photos and videos show continuing destructive power of storm
10:50 a.m. — Capitola Wharf split in half as 30-foot waves pound beaches
Capitola Wharf was split in two Thursday when a section of it collapsed into the ocean. Video shows the devastation as waves pound nearby structures.
10:35 a.m. — Tree falls on residential building in Oakland
A tree fell onto a three-story apartment building in Oakland on Wednesday night, according to a tweet from Oakland Fire Chief Dr. Reginald Freeman. There were no injuries and one occupant has been located. Power to the building — located at 3293 Lynde St. — was compromised. The structure was turned over to Oakland Housing Authority, according to Chief Freeman.
10:20 a.m. — More Bay Area Flood Advisories issued
The National Weather Service has issued additional Flood Advisories have been issued for:
- San Francisco County
- Santa Clara County
- Contra Costa County
- San Mateo County
- Santa Cruz County
10:08 a.m. — Flood Advisory for Alameda County
A Flood Advisory is in effect for Alameda County due to moderate to heavy rain, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office announced in a tweet. The advisory is currently in effect until 12:45 p.m.
10:00 a.m. — Highway 1 blocked by rockslide in Marin County
Highway 1 between Stinson Bech and Muir Beach is blocked due to a rockslide, according to a tweet from Marin County. Responders are on the scene but there is no ETA on reopening.
9:45 a.m. — East Bay town of Danville picks up after storm
This neighborhood on brookside drive near downtown Danville took a beating on Saturday when they were caught off guard by just how hard it rained. They made sure to be ready for the latest round as they have sandbags in front of their homes. The rain on Saturday just wiped out their front yards, sending mud into the streets. This time they made sure to remove the mud from the streets and keep the gutters and drains clear.
9:25 a.m. — Scaffold collapses into powerlines in SF
Scaffolding collapsed into structures and wires on 30th Avenue in San Francisco Thursday, according to a tweet from the San Francisco Fire Department. No injuries have been reported. Residents are being advised to avoid the area.
8:20 a.m. — Downed power lines, trees lead to road closures in North Bay
KRON4’s Sara Stinson reports from Mill Valley.
7:45 a.m. — Mudslide blocking Highway 1 in Pacifica
A mudslide is blocking the no. 2 lane on Northbound Highway 1 north of the Monterey Road onramp in Pacifica, according to a tweet from Pacifica Police. Drivers are being advised to use Sharp Park Road as an alternative route. CHP and Caltrans are on the sene.
6:32 a.m. — BART advises of weather-related delays
BART is advising of delays of up to 20 minutes systemwide due to wet weather conditions.
6:18 a.m. — High winds cause downed trees as rain begins to pickup
Gusts of up to 39 mph are blowing in parts of the Bay Area as rain is beginning to fall, just as morning commuters are hitting the roads.
6:06 a.m. — Wednesday night’s storm turns deadly
At least two deaths are now being connected to Wednesday night’s storm. In Sonoma County, a baby was killed when a tree fell on a home in Occidental. In Fairfield, a 19-year-old woman was killed when she hydroplaned into a utility pole. Neither victim’s name has been released.
Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023
10:42 p.m. — Evacuation warning issued by Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County issued an evacuation warning for people that live near the watershed areas of Uvas Reservoir and Pacheco Pass River Basin due to the weather conditions.
Pacheco Pass River Basin includes the following:
- El Torro Rd. South of Hwy. 152 to Bloomfield Av
- Lovers Lane between Shore Rd. and Hwy. 152
Watershed Areas of Uvas Reservoir include those living:
- South of Uvas Reservoir including Thousand Trails RV Park and Uvas Pines RV Park
- South of Sycamore Drive and Watsonville Rd.
- South of Lions Peak
- South of Day Road and Geri Lane
- Watsonville and Hwy. 152
An evacuation warning does not mean evacuating is necessary immediately. The county warned residents to gather essential items and be prepared to evacuate if need be.
9:41 p.m. — Tent blows into power lines, causing power outage in Santa Rosa
The Santa Rosa Fire Department reported that a tent blew into some power lines on Maraga Drive, causing a “large” power outage near the fairgrounds. PG&E’s outage map shows that 509 customers are without power in the area.
“Please ensure outdoor loose objects are secured prior to the onset of forecasted wind events,” SRFD said.
8:20 p.m. — Fallen tree causes San Francisco Muni train to lose power
A MUNI train lost its power and blocked an intersection near St. Francis Circle in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood, SFMTA tweeted Wednesday evening. SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin tweeted these photos below.
7:38 p.m. — Pleasant Hill faces flood warning, road closure due to fallen tree
A flood warning has been issued Wednesday evening in one Pleasant Hill neighborhood, police announced in a Nixle alert. The alert was sent out at 6:53 p.m. saying residents should avoid the area of Astrid Drive/Cleaveland Road at Warhol Way where the street is flooded and closed.
As of 7:40 p.m., Old Quarry Road is closed between Camelback Road and Chilpancingo Parkway due to a fallen tree (pictured below), city officials tweeted.
6:54 p.m. — Downed power lines, fallen trees reported in San Mateo County
Throughout the day, crews have responded to traffic accidents, downed power lines and trees falling on vehicles. The North County Fire Authority, which serves the cities of Brisbane, Daly City and Pacifica, tweeted photos (below) of some of the damage.
In Colma, a downed tree caused the southbound lanes of Hillside Boulevard at Serramonte Boulevard to close, police tweeted. Those who want to access Lucky Chances Casino will need to go northbound on Hillside Boulevard from Lawndale Boulevard.
As of 8 p.m., the southbound lanes of Hillside Boulevard at Serramonte Boulevard remain closed.
6:30 p.m. — SFFD: Person taken to trauma center after tree falls
A tree fell on a person around 4:45 p.m., the San Francisco Fire Department announced on Twitter. The unidentified person was taken to a trauma center and is in stable condition. The incident happened at 1 Zoo Rd where the San Francisco Zoo is located.
6:22 p.m. — Storm damages Valero gas station in South San Francisco
A Valero gas station in South San Francisco is damaged after strong winds from the storm blew through the area. At least two of the gas station’s pumps were damaged by the fallen roof.
That Valero gas station is located at 3964 Callan Blvd. Watch video of the damage HERE.
6:06 p.m. — Shelter-in-place issued in San Rafael neighborhood
Authorities have announced a shelter-in-place in one San Rafael neighborhood. Residents from Canal Street up to mid-block Novato Street are urged to stay inside because of transformers and live high-voltage wires that were downed, according to a Nixle alert by the San Rafael Police Department.
The alert was sent out at 6:04 p.m. Novato Street and Canal Street is located near the San Rafael Creek.
The shelter-in-place was lifted roughly one hour later, San Rafael police announced in a Nixle sent out at 7:06 p.m.
5:55 p.m. — Fallen trees block roads outside of San Francisco Public Library
A downed tree was blocking Grove Street — right outside the San Francisco Public Library — Wednesday evening. The library tweeted Hyde Street was also closed.
As of 6:50 p.m., the tree on Grove Street and Larkin Street has been removed, the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) tweeted. SFFD added a family was rescued from the incident of the downed trees.
Officials say travelers in the area should avoid all sidewalks near Hyde Street and Larkin Street as “falling trees continue to be a concern.”
5:45 p.m. — Tree blocks lanes on Hwy 1 in Pacifica
A large tree has blocked both southbound lanes of Highway 1 between Palmetto Avenue and Francisco Boulevard, according to the Pacifica Police Department. Authorities say travelers in the area should expect delays.
4:59 p.m. — NWS issues flood warning in these Bay Area counties
A flood warning will be in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday in San Francisco and San Mateo County, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced in an alert sent out at 4:39 p.m. The alert replaces the flood advisory from earlier.
NWS warned it’s possible for 1 to 3 inches of additional rainfall to join the 0.2-0.5 inches that have already fallen in parts of Northern California, including the aforementioned counties.
A flood warning was also issued for all of Contra Costa County until 10:30 p.m., according to NWS. Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties are also under a flood warning until 10:30 p.m.
4:06 p.m. — Motorist injured after downed trees in Pacifica
A motorist was injured after a tree fell across Linda Mar Boulevard, the Pacifica Police Department said in a Facebook post. The department said it has already received several calls for downed trees. A photo from the incident shows a Lexus SUV was damaged.
Linda Mar Boulevard at Adobe Drive was temporarily closed as crews worked to remove the tree from blocking the roadway. The condition of the driver is unknown at this time.
3:45 p.m. — Multiple fallen trees cause road closures at Point Reyes National Seashore
Lanes have been blocked on Limantour Road after multiple trees fell, leading Mt. Vision Road to also close. Point Reyes National Seashore tweeted “roads are a mess,” and trees are coming down all over the Seashore.
Park officials encourage people to not come to the Seashore. Bear Valley Visitor Center closed early Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. due to the storm.
3:15 p.m. — Lightning strikes off North Bay coast
The National Weather Service’s 3:15 p.m. radar update wrote, “The heavier rain is knocking on our door. Starting to see heavier rain off the coast with a few lightning strikes near Point Reyes.”
More thunderstorms with possible lightning are in the forecast tonight.
3:15 p.m. — Alameda County officials make recommendations to residents to leave their homes
Residents who live on Kilkare Road, Palomares Road and Niles Canyon Road are highly recommended to leave their homes, according to the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services. The county cites “storms, saturated soils and current runoff.”
3:08 p.m. — Cars in Marin County drive through heavy flooding along highway
Authorities have announced road closures due to flooding in Mill Valley, California Highway Patrol said on social media. Highway 1 at Manzanita Park and Ride is flooded, and residents are asked to go around the road closures and use alternate routes.
2:39 p.m. — Bay Area Apple Stores closing early
Several Apple Store locations will be closing at 3 p.m. Wednesday including:
- Apple Corte Madera
- Apple Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek
- Apple Union Square, San Fransisco
- Apple 4th Street, Berkeley
- Apple Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto
2:38 p.m. — SFO flight delays
Flight departures and arrivals at San Francisco International Airport are being delayed until at least 3 p.m. due to wind, according to officials.
2:32 p.m. — Landslide blocks right lane of CA-92
A landslide has blocked the right lane of eastbound CA-92 at Alameda De Las Pulgas in San Mateo.
2:31 p.m. — Tree falls in Crockett residential neighborhood
A tree fell in the 400 block of Pomona Ave., the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department tweeted at 2:14 p.m. Photos show multiple fire trucks were at the scene in response. The incident happened about one block away from J & L Market.
2:20 p.m. — All parks in Santa Clara County close
County officials tweeted all parks are closed “due to weather conditions.” There are over 25 parks operated by Santa Clara County.
2:07 p.m. — Over 11,000 Bay Area customers without power: PG&E
2:00 p.m. — Downed power lines lead to Marin County road closures
Lucas Valley Road in Marin County was closed from Nicasio Valley Road to Big Rock due to power lines across the road, according to a tweet from Marin Public Works. PG&E has been notified and is on the way to fix it.
As of 4:30 p.m., Lucas Valley Road has reopened.
12:48 p.m. — Powell/Hyde Cable Car Line blocked in both directions by downed tree
The Powell/Hyde Cable Car Line is blocked in both directions by a downed tree near Jackson/Hyde, according to a tweet from SFMTA Muni. Crews are working to clear, according to the tweet.
12:45 p.m. — Sandbags available in San Francisco again
The San Francisco Public Works Department has sandbags available again, the department announced in a tweet. “We now have sandbags available for pickup at our Operations Yard,” the tweet stated. “Come to gate at Marin & Kansas streets.” Supplies are limited to five per address for San Francisco residents and businesses. The lot will be open until 8 p.m.
12:27 p.m. — HSH makes shelter beds available for those impacted by storm
The San Fransisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has made shelter beds available at several locations, according to a tweet from District 6 San Fransisco Board of Supervisors member Matt Dorsey.
Beds will be available through Sunday, Jan. 15 on a first-come-first-served basis at the following locations in San Fransisco:
- Next Door Shelter: 1001 Polk Street (intake 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
- MCS South: 525 5th Street (intake 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
- Sanctuary: 201 8th Street (intake 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
- St. Mary’s Cathedral: 111 Gough Street (intake begins at 6 p.m.)
- SF County Fair Building: 1199 9th Avenue (intake 24/7 through Jan. 6)
12:22 p.m. — Richmond neighborhood evacuated due to potential landslide.
Fifteen homes in a Point Richmond neighborhood have been evacuated due to potential landslides, Richmond Mayor Tom Butt confirmed to KRON4.
12:08 p.m. — California Governor’s Office declares State of Emergency due to storm
11:42 a.m. — Flooding on 101 in Mill Valley
The CHP is advising of a severe traffic alert and flooding on the CA-101 Northbound and Southbound ramps to Sausalito. Connector ramps are blocked in both directions. The CHP advises motorists to avoid the area.
11:30 p.m. — Bay Area power outages impacting thousands
Power outages are affecting thousands of Bay Area residents. PG&E said it has mobilized crews to faster respond to outages. More information on the utility’s preparations can be read here.
11:03 a.m. — Mudslide closes CA-84 in Fremont
Flooding and mudslides closed all lanes of eastbound and westbound CA-84 at Mission Boulevard in Fremont, Calif., according to the California Highway Patrol. Avoid the area if possible.
10:00 a.m. — Santa Cruz County issues evacuation warning
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office issued the warning Wednesday for the Weston Road neighborhood in the Santa Cruz mountains near Ben Lomond due to heavy rain and runoff threatening closure of the main access roads. Officials said residents should be prepared to be isolated for an extended period of time or consider evacuating the area. Emergency vehicles will not be able to access the neighborhood, according to Santa Cruz County officials.
The Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation warning for zone SCO-E002. Residents may look up their evacuation zones at community.zonehaven.com.
9:58 a.m. — Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon closed
Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon is closed in both directions between San Ramon and Castro Valley, according to a tweet from San Ramon Police. There is limited access for residents only, police said.
9:40 a.m. — Brunt of the storm still to come: NWS
This morning’s rain is not the main event, according to a tweet from the National Weather Service Bay area. “Heavier rain is expected later today,” read the tweet which was accompanied by a satellite image of the approaching storm.
KRON4 Meteorologist John Shrable said the storm will pack its biggest punch with a windy cold front beginning at 2 p.m. Shrable advised Bay Area residents to stay inside this afternoon.
9:13 a.m. — Tree down in SF at Hyde and Washington
A tree is down in San Francisco at Hyde and Washington, according to a tweet from the San Francisco Fire Department. People are being advised to avoid the area.
8:59 a.m. — BART delay now at 20 minutes
BART is advising riders to expect a systemwide delay of up to 20 minutes due to wet weather. “Please watch your step on wet platforms and stairways,” said BART in a tweet.
8:54 a.m. — Landslide in Felton blocks lanes on CA-9
A landslide on CA-9 at Glengarry Road in Felton is blocking lanes in both directions, according to the CHP. Motorists are advised to expect delays, use alternate routes and avoid the area. There is no estimated time to reopen the roadway.
8:45 a.m. — Flooding disrupts traffic in Mill Valley
KRON4’s Sara Stinson reports live from the scene.
8:37 a.m. — City of Dublin makes sandbags available to residents
A self-serve station for sandbags with sand, bags and a shovel has been made available at the City of Dublin Corporation Yard, according to a tweet from the city. There is a limit of 10 per household while supplies last.
8:32 a.m. — SF Bay Ferry service disrupted
Service on the Harbor Bay and South San Francisco Routes is suspended all day on Wednesday, Jan. 4 due to weather, according to a tweet from SF Bay Ferry. Vallejo, Oakland, Alameda Seaplane and Richmond routes are currently running on schedule. No disruptions are expected for Chase Center service tonight.
8:10 a.m. — Niles Canyon/CA-84 in Fremont remains shut down
8:08 a.m. — Consistent rain, flooding across the Bay Area
8:00 a.m. — NWS: Heavy rain with flooding possible and stronger thunderstorms
The National Weather Service has advised of heavy rain and possible flooding as stronger thunderstorms move in.
7:54 a.m. — Town of Danville declares local emergency as big storm rolls in
7:40 a.m. — Flooding on 101 in Marin appears to have subsided
Following earlier reports of one foot of water on the 101 near the Sir Francis Drake offramp, flooding appears to have cleared, according to KRON4’s Sar Stinson, reporting from the scene.
7:30 a.m. — San Leandro City Parks closed until further notice
City of San Leandro parks are closed until further notice in the interest of public safety, the city announced in a tweet. “For weather-related updates, please follow City and Police Department social media pages,” the tweet read in part.
7:15 a.m. — Flooding, landslide and road closure on CA-84 in Fremont ongoing
All lanes remain blocked on Westbound and Eastbound CA-84 in Fremont.
7:04 a.m. — Watch continuing storm coverage live on KRON On.
6:52 a.m. — Bay Area airports report flight cancellations
As of 6:45 a.m.:
- SFO: 53 canceled; 36 delayed
- OAK: 4 canceled; 13 delayed
- SJC: 8 canceled; 18 delayed
6:49 a.m. — San Francisco out of sandbags
The San Francisco Public Works Department has run out of sandbags, the department announced in a tweet. “We do not have any sandbags available at this time to give out but expect new supply to be available today,” the tweet read. Timing on when more bags would be available is TBD.
6:40 a.m. — Flooding on 880 in Oakland
Roadway flooding has been reported in Oakland on the I-880 Northbound at the 98th Avenue offramp.
6:15 a.m. — First steady rainfall from today’s storm crossing the Bay Area
Wednesday’s storm poses the risk of flooding, downed trees, power loss and accidents on the road. The heaviest rainfall will arrive in the early afternoon after morning rainfall saturates the soil, increasing the risk of the water rising quickly.
5:58 a.m. — Flooding creates traffic hazard on Northbound 101 in Marin
There is one foot of water on the Northbound 101 in Marin at the Sir Francis Drake offramp, resulting in a traffic hazard.
5:50 a.m. — BART reports systemwide delays due to weather
There may be BART delays of up to 10 minutes systemwide due to wet weather, according to a tweet from the transit system. “Please watch your step on wet platforms and stairways,” the tweet advises. BART is also recovering from an earlier 20-minute delay on the Berryessa Line due to an equipment problems.
5:22 a.m. — Landslide in Fremont
Flooding and a landslide on CA-84 Eastbound and Westbound at Mission Boulevard in Fremont has resulted in all lanes being blocked in both directions. The California Highway Patrol is advising motorists to avoid the area.
5:20 a.m. — Storm poses a challenge for roads and travel
“Wednesday is going to be a challenging day for the Bay Area with high wind and flooding rain on tap,” said KRON4 Meteorologist Kyla Grogan. “Our first hit of rain will arrive early in the pre-dawn hours making the morning commute very difficult if not impossible. Our second wave of rain and wind will arrive in the early afternoon and extend into the evening. That is when the heaviest showers are set to kick off bringing two inches of rain to the Bay, higher amounts are expected in the North Bay and our coastal and North Bay peaks could see anywhere from 4-6 inches.”
“My best advice for people is that if they have a choice, stay put on Wednesday as travel is going to be tough. Hopefully people have taken the time to prepare their homes and are ready to bear the brunt of the storm.”
