(KRON) — Rain continued in the Bay Area through Friday morning as the first in a series of atmospheric rivers hit the Bay Area. The storm is expected to continue through the weekend with another atmospheric river on deck set to begin next week.
Stick with KRON4 for the latest updates on the storm.
Bay Area storm updates:
Friday, March 10
1:00 p.m. — Flood warning canceled for Santa Cruz, San Mateo counties
The flood warning has been canceled for a portion of Northern California, including San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, according to the National Weather Service.
11:50 a.m. — I-580 reopened
Expect residual delays on westbound I-580 between High Street and 35th Avenue in Oakland. The road was previously closed due to flooding.
11 a.m. — Gilroy 101 closure update
US 101 in Gilroy in the southbound direction is closed due to flooding from 10th Street to State Route 25, according to the CHP. “With the additional rains forecasted, there is an unknown ETA for reopening,” the CHP advised. “Please drive slowly in inclement weather.”
10:45 a.m. — President Biden approves emergency declaration for California storms
President Joe Biden has declared that an emergency exists in the State of California and ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts to emergency conditions resulting from the current round of storms. Emergency conditions cited by the president in an official declaration include flooding, landslides and mudslides. The declaration issued on Friday, began on March 9 and is continuing.
The declaration read in part:
“The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Amador, Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba.”
10:20 a.m. — Eastbound 580 reopened
The eastbound I-580 through Oakland is now open again, according to the CHP Oakland. The westbound lanes are still closed and drivers are advised to avoid westbound between High Street and 35th Avenue. “We are experiencing flooding across all lanes,” said the CHP in a social post. “We are working closely with Caltrans to fix the issue as soon as possible.”
Alternate routes the CHP suggests:
- Exit northbound SR-13, take westbound SR-24 and continue until the I-580 transition
- Exit MacArthur Boulevard/High Street, continue onto MacArthur Boulevard, make a left onto Southbound 35th Avenue and reenter westbound I-580
9:45 a.m. — State Route 101 closed due to flooding
State Route 25 is currently closed between Highway 101 and Bloomfield in Gilroy due to major flooding. Traffic is currently being routed around at Bloomfield.
9:40 a.m. — Wind Advisory canceled
The Wind Advisory for the entire Bay Area has been canceled, according to the National Weather Service. Winds peaked overnight and continues to subside. The area could still see gusts between 20 and 30 miles per hour through Friday afternoon.
8:40 a.m. — Flooding in Clayton
Video sent to KRON4 from a viewer shows flooding in Clayton Friday morning.
8:30 a.m. – Latest road closure info: Flooding impacts morning commute
Several roadways are experiencing flooding or standing water and traffic collisions as a result of the rainfall Thursday. The National Weather Service issued a Flood Advisory in areas of the North and South Bay Friday warning of flooding on highways, streets and overpasses.
- Northbound Highway 101 near Lucky Drive in Corta Madera.
- All lanes closed on 580 between High Street in Oakland.
- All lanes of Highway 580 closed from MacArthur Boulevard/High Street to 35th Avenue.
- The Bay Bridge is seeing reports of sitting water.
- Northbound and southbound Highway 121 are both impacted by flooding in the North Bay.
- All lanes of Highway 152 are closed between Watsonville Road and the Santa Clara/Santa Cruz County line due to a rockslide and debris flow.
- All lanes on Highway 1 are closed between the Mendocino County Line and School Street in Sonoma County.
- All lanes closed on Highway 84 between Mission Boulevard in Fremont and Pleasanton Sunol Road in Scotts Corner.
All roads remain wet and slippery. Remember to drive slower and add extra time to your commute.
7 a.m. — 4.4K customers without power
According to PG&E’s latest power outage report, about 4,424 customers were without power as of 6:45 a.m. Friday. This is an improvement from the earlier number of customers without power, which was around 7,272 as of 4 a.m. Friday.
PG&E began mobilizing in the Peninsula Thursday morning to provide rapid response to the expected power outages brought on by the storm.
| 6:45 AM | Affected Customers |
| San Francisco | 40 |
| Peninsula | 1,935 |
| North Bay | 1,290 |
| East Bay | 434 |
| South Bay | 725 |
| Bay Area Total | 4,424 |
6:35 a.m. — Flood Advisory issued in North and South Bay
The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory in parts of the South Bay including San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties effective until 12:30 p.m. Friday.
The Flood Advisory issued for the North Bay has also been extended to 9:45 a.m. Friday.
Expect flooding of highway, streets and underpasses and drive with caution.
5:45 a.m. — Power restored to about 2K customers
PG&E’s latest power outage report showed about 5,291 customers were without power as of 5:45 a.m. Friday. This is an improvement from the earlier number of customers without power, which was around 7,272 as of 4 a.m. Friday.
PG&E began mobilizing in the Peninsula Thursday morning to provide rapid response to the expected power outages brought on by the storm.
| 5:45 AM | Affected Customers |
| San Francisco | 41 |
| Peninsula | 2,713 |
| North Bay | 1,219 |
| East Bay | 650 |
| South Bay | 668 |
| Bay Area Total | 5,291 |
4:20 a.m. — PG&E reports more than 7K without power
According to PG&E’s latest outage report, about 7,272 customers are without power Friday morning.
| 4:00 AM | Affected Customers |
| San Francisco | 36 |
| Peninsula | 3,084 |
| North Bay | 1,576 |
| East Bay | 1,945 |
| South Bay | 631 |
| Bay Area Total | 7,272 |
Thursday, March 9
10:42 p.m. — San Jose opens overnight shelter for unhoused people
The City of San Jose issued evacuation orders for unsheltered people who live along the Guadalupe River, Coyote Creek, and Penitencia Creek. Officials used long-range acoustic devices and loudspeakers to get the message out.
The city also partnered with the Red Cross to open a 24-hour emergency shelter at the Seven Trees Community Center. KRON4’s Justin Campbell has the report from the South Bay.
10:35 p.m. — Heavy rain moves through the East Bay
Castro Valley was pounded in the last series of big storms. One home along San Lorenzo Creek had part of its backyard slip and break off.
KRON4’s Dan Thorn was in Castro Valley with more.
10:27 p.m. — Highway 12 closed in both directions due to flooding
State Route 12 at Stony Point Road is closed in both directions due to serious flooding. Drivers in Santa Rosa are told to avoid unnecessary travel.
View video of the flooding below.
10:20 p.m. — Tree blocks lanes on I-280
A tree fell on I-280, just north of Trousdale Drive, and blocked the three right lanes. Drivers are told to expect delays and use alternate routes.
9:40 p.m. — Tree falls on Tesla in Portola Valley
Two occupants were inside a Tesla in Portola Valley when a large tree fell on the car, according to California Highway Patrol. The incident happened on Skyline Boulevard.
According to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, both victims avoided serious injuries.
9:35 p.m. — Rain and flooding impacts businesses in SF
Business managers in San Francisco say the relentless rain has been affecting their bottom line as there are fewer people walking the streets.
For Roark Expedition, a clothing store on Chestnut Street, the storm is a double-edged sword — it helps the store sell more warm clothing but there is less foot traffic. KRON4’s Sara Stinson has more.
9:22 p.m. — State Route 121 closes due to flooding
Highway 121 in Sonoma County is the latest road to close due to flooding. The highway is closed from Fremont Drive just north of State Route 116.
9:15 p.m. — Gov. Newsom requests presidential emergency declaration to support storm response
Gov. Gavin Newsom requested a presidential emergency declaration Thursday night in hopes of receiving federal assistance as California deals with the storm.
“California is deploying every tool we have to protect communities from the relentless and deadly storms battering our state,” he said. “In these dangerous and challenging conditions, it is crucial that Californians remain vigilant and follow all guidance from local emergency responders.”
The request includes generators, road clearance equipment and potential sheltering. You can find the full request HERE.
9:09 p.m. — Highway 29 closed in Napa County due to flooding
Flooding closed Northbound Highway 29 between Green Island Road and South Kelly Road in Napa County. Traffic in the area is being diverted onto Paoli Loop Road.
8:40 p.m. — Heavy rain brings flooding concerns in Mill Valley
Marin County is getting hammered right now with the storm. The rain rolled in around noon and has created treacherous conditions and low visibility.
KRON4’s Terisa Estacio was reporting from Marin County.
8:30 p.m. — Heavy flooding in Sonoma County
KRON4 video shows heavy flooding on Sonoma County roadways. Two vehicles were stuck in the water on Eastside Road near Trenton Road in Forestville.
7:32 p.m. — Evacuation orders issued for parts of Watsonville
Evacuation orders and evacuation warnings have been issued for parts of Watsonville.
The evacuation orders are on the east side of the city, east of East Beach Street and McKenzie Avenue. Check the map below for more.
7:20 p.m. — Palo Alto foothills outage update
Palo Alto Utilities confirmed that crews were able to restore power to some that lost it but were impeded by storm conditions.
Trucks became stuck in the mud, and crews will have to resume work after daylight, Palo Alto Utilities said in a tweet. The estimated restoration time is noon on Friday.
7:15 p.m. — Local hardware stores see spike in business
Bay Area hardware stores are stocked with supplies as people prepare for the storm. That includes first aid kits, flashlights, portable radios and more. KRON4’s Haaziq Madyun visited a hardware store in Dublin for an inside look at the preparation process.
7:00 p.m. — San Francisco residents prepare for potential flooding
San Franciscans are preparing for the upcoming storm to potentially flood streets in the city. While no heavy rain has fallen yet, there was a mad dash at San Francisco’s sandbag location. KRON4’s Rob Nesbitt was in the city with more on the 900 sandbags handed out today.
6:08 p.m. — Downed tree blocks lanes on I-280
A long tree fell on northbound I-280 and is blocking the two right lanes, California Highway Patrol said. The incident happened just south of the Crystal Springs on-ramp in San Bruno. Emergency crews are en route to clear the scene.
5:50 — Walnut Creek crash latest
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District reported that Thursday afternoon’s crash resulted in five injuries. One patient is in critical condition, one had moderate injuries and three had minor injuries.
The bus involved belonged to Contra Costa County. Officials believe the crash was caused by a vehicle going faster than it was supposed to given the weather conditions.
5:45 p.m. — Burlingame residents brace for flooding, power outages
Business owners in Burlingame are putting sandbags in front of their stores to brace for the upcoming storm. On New Year’s Eve, there was heavy flooding in the city. KRON4’s Dan Kerman is in Burlingame with more.
5:35 p.m. — PG&E bracing for widespread power outages
PG&E is bracing for power outages and downed lines across the Bay Area, but its main concern is the Peninsula. Utility crews are in from New Mexico and Washington state to help.
In San Carlos, the rain started coming down in the afternoon, and businesses put sandbags in place. KRON4’s Gayle Ong was reporting from San Carlos.
5:25 p.m. — Foothill College closed for the day due to power outage, downed trees
The main campus and district offices of Foothill College closed for the rest of the day, according to Foothill-De Anza Community College Police Department’s Twitter. The college is experiencing a power outage and fallen trees.
4:58 p.m. — Crews respond to crashes in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County
After the rain started pouring this morning, there have been at least half a dozen car crashes reported in Contra Costa County. KRON4’s Philippe Djegal was at the scene for one of them.
4:55 p.m. — Walnut Creek crash latest: One person in critical condition
Crews responded to the crash shortly before 4 p.m., according to the Contra Costa Fire Department. There were three vehicles involved in the crash, one of which was a bus. It’s unclear what type of bus it was or how many people were aboard. Four patients were transported to the hospital, one in critical condition. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
4:53 p.m. — Heavy rain falls in San Francisco
With rain coming down in San Francisco, there is a flood watch in effect for the city and flood barriers have gone up on Folsom. Marina businesses say the weather has impacted their business.
4:50 p.m. — Multi-vehicle injury accident in Walnut Creek
First responders are on the scene of a multi-vehicle injury accident at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Road and Oakland Boulevard in Walnut Creek, according to a tweet from Contra Costa Fire. “Please avoid area to allow first responders unimpeded access,” the tweet read. “Wet roads and wind are leading to multiple accidents across area.”
Drivers are being advised to avoid the area of the I-680 Northbound at Ygnacio Valley Road.
4:15 p.m. — Flood watch and storm advisory issued for Alameda County
A flood watch is in effect for Alameda County from Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning and a wind advisory is in effect from Thursday afternoon until Friday afternoon, according to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. “Those residing in areas that experienced flooding during the previous storms may experience additional flooding impacts,” the advisory read. “You are encouraged to avoid traveling, unless it is necessary. If you must drive in inclement weather conditions, please do so with heightened caution.”
4:10 p.m. — San Francisco activates Emergency Operations Center
The SF Department of Emergency Management has activated the City’s Emergency Operations Center in anticipation of forecast inclement weather projected to hit city and the region. The EOC will coordinate citywide operations including clearing storm drains, distributing sandbags, responding to fallen trees and keeping city residents informed about what actions to take in preparation for the storms.
3:40 p.m. — San Jose issues evacuation orders for unsheltered residents near creeks
The City of San Jose issued evacuation orders Thursday for all unsheltered residents who live along the Guadalupe River, Coyote Creek, and Penitencia Creek.
As rain began pouring, police officers and Office of Emergency Management officials used long-range acoustic devices and loudspeakers along creeks and rivers to get the message out.
Santa Clara Valley Water District and City field inspection teams are monitoring all flooding hot spots. Areas with the highest risk of water rising rapidly and flooding include:
- Ross Creek at Cherry Avenue
- Guadalupe River at West Alma Avenue
- Upper Penitencia Creek at Mabury and King Roads
- Coyote Creek downstream (north) of Berryessa Road
- Berryessa Creek at Cropley Avenue
3:20 p.m. — Evacuation warnings issued for parts of Santa Cruz County
Low-lying areas of Santa Cruz County have been placed under evacuation warning due to likely flooding, the County of Santa Cruz tweeted. Impacted areas include:
- Felton Grove
- River Grove
- Paradise Park
- Soquel Village
- Rio Del Mar Flats
- Corralitos Creek
- College-Lake-Holohan area
“If you flooded in January, you are likely to flood again,” the tweet read. “Please be prepared to leave if necessary. This is a warning not an order, but leave now if you feel unsafe.”
2:40 p.m. — City of San Carlos announces road closures
Old County Road between Harbor Boulevard and Quarry Road will be closed beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, in expectation of heavy rain and expected flooding, the city tweeted. “Crews are currently working to proactively prepare for the flooding of Belmont Creek and other water sources, and emergency personnel are closing the road in the interest of community safety, the tweet read.
1:40 p.m. — Kirkwood Mountain Resort to close Friday
Kirkwood Mountain Resort will be closed on Friday, March 10 due to severe weather, the resort announced in a tweet Thursday. “Kirkwood will not be open tomorrow, Friday March 10,” a message attached to the tweet read. “Our team will be working everywhere we safely can just to maintain the mountain for future operations. At this time we do not know if we will be able to open on Saturday.”
1:15 p.m. — Northstar California Resort to close on Friday
Due to the atmospheric river, the ski resort in Truckee will be closed March 10, according to Northstar California Resort‘s Facebook page. The resort says it is still considering opening back up on Saturday and Sunday, but that will depend on the weather conditions.
“This weather and its impact on conditions poses a serious risk for our guests and employees alike,” the post read. The resort will open again when it deems the conditions are safe.
1 p.m. — Wind Advisory in effect for entire Bay Area
A Wind Advisory is in effect for the entire Bay Area and Central Coast beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday and ending at 4 p.m. Friday. Residents should expect strong winds between 20 and 30 miles per hour with gusts of up to 50 miles per hour.
The winds may blow down tree limbs and power lines making power outages possible. Drive with caution.
12:15 p.m. — Heavenly to close due to atmospheric river storms
Heavenly Ski Resort will close Friday, March 10 due to the atmospheric river storm that’s led to the declaration of a state of emergency in El Dorado County and the City of Tahoe.
11 a.m. — PG&E mobilizes in San Carlos in anticipation of storm-related outages
PG&E spokespeople gave an update on their storm preparations Thursday morning.
With rain and high winds expected to hit San Mateo County and San Francisco, PG&E crews are mobilizing in San Carlos to be ready to respond to emergencies.
Since the last storm, officials said they learned that it would be crucial to move more crews and ask for more support earlier. That is why they are bringing resources into the Bay Area from other areas including mutual aid crews from New Mexico and Washington State, as well as extra materials to make repairs more quickly.
Officials said the silver lining of the storm-related power outages over the past two months has been exposing where weak vegetation exists so crews can work to remove any dead or dying trees that may pose a threat to power lines.
Over the last two months of storms, officials said about 2 million customers experienced outages with a 93 percent restoration rate from PG&E.
When responding to outages, officials said they begin by sending out teams to assess the damage and prioritize what they need to fix first. Priority one is the largest outages, then the longest outages, then critical facilities including hospitals, schools and firehouses.
With this next storm, customers are likely to see vegetation take out power lines. Officials advise to assume all downed power lines are energized and call 9-1-1 to secure the area. Also, keep devices charged, fill gas tanks, use flashlights instead of candles, stock fresh batteries and secure anything on property that might fly away into electrical lines.
8:35 a.m. — Parks close ahead of storm
Several counties have closed parks ahead of the wind and rain from the storm potentially causing further ground saturation and more trees to fall.
In San Mateo County, Junipero Serra, Huddart, Wunderlich, Memorial, Pescadero, Sam McDonald, and Quarry parks, along with the upper Coyote Point Recreational Area are closed from March 9 through March 12.
Muir Woods National Monument on Twitter also said that it would be closed on March 9 and 10 due to weather conditions. Staff will evaluate the park’s conditions on March 11 in anticipation of a delayed opening at 10 a.m.
5 a.m. — Newsom issues state of emergency for 21 counties
Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency to support storm response and relief efforts in 21 counties, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
The declaration tells agencies like the CHP and Caltrans to start mobilizing before the storm so they can be in place to help them pounce on problems. In the meantime, PG&E is advising people to keep your phone charged, have plans for medical devices that rely on power, have water ready to go and use flashlights and not candles if your power goes out.
A flood watch is in effect for the region from Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning, and a wind advisory is in effect for the entire Bay Area and Central Coast Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. Warm temperatures accompanying this storm will bring rain to higher levels where snowpack has built up, increasing the risk of flooding in those areas.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
