SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A powerful storm expected to pack hurricane-force winds and heavy rain triggered emergency preparations across Northern California on Wednesday, with residents gathering sand bags, crews clearing storm drains and San Francisco school officials canceling classes for the first time since 9/11. As much as 8 inches of rain could fall on coastal mountains over a 24-hour period starting late Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. Ski resorts in the northern Sierra Nevada could get more than 2 feet of snow.KERN COUNTY WEATHER FORECAST >> 'It's a short amount of time for that amount of water,' Weather Service forecaster Diana Henderson said. 'We are anticipating some localized flooding, maybe some downed trees and downed power lines. It could have an effect on a wide range of people.' The storm is expected to be one of the windiest and rainiest in five years and could also cause debris slides, especially in areas affected by this year's intense and widespread wildfires. Public schools in San Francisco and Oakland and some private schools in the Bay Area planned to stay closed Thursday. San Francisco Unified School District Superintended Richard A. Carranza said he didn't to put students at risk and that staff absences and power outages could affect the district's ability to supervise and feed students. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph were expected on mountain tops, creating possible blizzard conditions in the Sierra. Rain, pounding surf and gusty winds were forecast for Southern California starting Thursday evening. In California's agricultural heartland, farmers were looking forward to the dousing after three consecutive dry years. Parts of the state have experienced above-average rainfall this year, but not enough to make much of a dent in the drought. James McFarlane, a third-generation farmer in Fresno County, said workers would have to stop picking citrus crops during the storm, but rain this time of year makes fruit bigger, allowing it to fetch higher prices. 'If we're not getting some Mother Nature-dictated time off out in the field, that probably means we're going to have a hard time finding surface water in the warmer months,' he said. The rain and the snow in the Sierra Nevada fills reservoirs that supply irrigation water during hot, dry months. In San Francisco, where as much as 4 inches of rain was forecast, crews cleared storm drains and removed loose rocks from a hillside to prevent them from crashing down. Residents were advised to sweep up leaves and debris in front of their properties to prevent them from clogging drains. 'We have crews working starting tonight in 12-hour shifts,' said Rachel Gordon, a spokeswoman for San Francisco's public works agency. 'It will be all hands on deck.' Farther north, a series of strong weather fronts with high winds and heavy rains could lead to flooding and landslides this week in western Washington state. The National Weather Service expects as much as 14 inches of rain between Monday and Thursday in the Olympic Mountains west of Seattle. Saturated soils will bring the risk of mudslides, while winds could topple trees. High winds were also forecast in Oregon. ___ Associated Press writer Scott Smith in Fresno contributed to this report.
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inclement weather can be beautiful
Coming out of a restaurant in Taft, I happen to look up to see this wonderful view. We were hoping for more rain. Instead, we got a show from God.
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Man Made Drought
h.a.a.r.p.,,,nexrad,,,chemtrails. look this stuff up.You will be upset..The deceitfulness of are so called defacto government.not a dejure one.This is whats causing are drought.All that global warming non sense.Has been not factual but consensus.Based on b.s. So now they call it climate change.
Entities 0 Name: SAN FRANCISCO Count: 5 1 Name: Sierra Nevada Count: 2 2 Name: National Weather Service Count: 2 3 Name: Diana Henderson Count: 1 4 Name: Scott Smith Count: 1 5 Name: Fresno County Count: 1 6 Name: Sierra Count: 1 7 Name: Southern California Count: 1 8 Name: James McFarlane Count: 1 9 Name: Associated Press Count: 1 10 Name: Bay Area Count: 1 11 Name: Oregon Count: 1 12 Name: Seattle Count: 1 13 Name: California Count: 1 14 Name: Rachel Gordon Count: 1 15 Name: AP Count: 1 16 Name: San Francisco Unified School District Count: 1 17 Name: Taft Count: 1 18 Name: Fresno Count: 1 19 Name: Richard A. Carranza Count: 1 20 Name: Washington Count: 1 21 Name: Northern California Count: 1 22 Name: Weather Service Count: 1 23 Name: Oakland Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1IBhN6V Title: Bay Area braces for powerful storm Description: The Bay Area, which last month had seen hardly more than a few sprinkles since spring, was hit with a bout of storms last week that brought upward of 3 inches of rain to most cities and 6 inches to the hills.
