High surf advisory in effect as light rain moves through Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Light rain moving through the Bay Area is expected to clear out this afternoon, leaving behind high surf along the region's beaches until
Thursday afternoon, National Weather Service officials said.
PHOTOS: Rainbows spotted in Bay Area
Under a tenth of an inch of rain has fallen in most locations, weather service forecaster Steve Anderson said.
Sonoma County has had upwards of .05 inches while .01 inches has fallen in Oakland, .06 in Dublin and .02 inches in Fremont, Anderson said.
Rain is falling on the West Coast from Eugene, Oregon to San Diego, Anderson said.
Anderson said forecasters expect anywhere from .1 to .2 inches of rain in the Bay Area on Wednesday.
In the North Bay, high tides are flooding the Manzanita Park and Ride lot along Highway 101 in Mill Valley, at the Highway 1 turnoff.
"People are now happy, more fruits, more vegetables, happiness everywhere," Santa Rosa resident Jose Mendez said.
Not everyone is thrilled to see it. For some it will impact their lively hood, but they know to appreciate it anyway. "I'm in the motorcycle business and rain means there's no motorcycles on the road, so I'm not really a fan of it. However, we probably need it," Santa Rosa resident Steve Leandro said.
The rain was the wake-up call some needed to start getting prepared. Patrick Newbold headed straight to the windshield wiper aisle at Napa Autoparts Wednesday morning. "I turned on the wiper blades and I saw the streaks, I was like I better pull over in Novato and get some wiper blades," he said.
The drought has turned Californians into eternal optimists, always hoping for the best. "It'll eventually come, but yes we need it more than anything else, so hopefully we'll get some rain sooner than later," Guerneville resident Jonathan Teeter said.
Weather service forecasters said the next chance for rain will be Sunday, with light amounts expected to fall followed by lower temperatures next week.
Temperatures will be about 10 degrees cooler than this week.
A beach hazards statement is in effect through Thursday afternoon because waves in shallow waters will be nine to 12 feet in height.
Anderson said officials suggest staying off rocks at the beach because of a chance of getting washed out to sea.
The surf will be increasing Wednesday and into Thursday. Swimmers are advised to avoid areas with large waves and swim near a lifeguard.
Weather service officials said the large breaking waves can lead to back and neck injuries. It's "not a good day to be in the water or around the water," Anderson said.
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Bay City News has contributed to this report.
