An atmospheric river is hitting Northern California, bringing a series of rainy days with storm impacts through the weekend.
The atmospheric river will bring heavy rain, flood risks and strong winds to the region, with the North Bay taking the brunt of the impacts.
TIMELINE: Here's what to expect as atmospheric river hits Bay Area
The focus of flooding will be on smaller streams, creeks and roads in the North Bay. Our rivers will be able to handle this first storm of the season and are not expected to flood.
Strong wind will bring trees down and isolated power outages across the Bay Area.
While wind and rain pound the Bay Area, heavy snow and strong wind gusts will make travel in the Sierra extremely difficult.
LIVE: Track rain in San Francisco Bay Area with Live Doppler 7
Caltrans says chain controls are now active along I-80 in the Sierra Nevada. "Chains required on all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires. Eastbound Cisco Grove to Truckee, Westbound Truckee to Eagle Lakes. Minimum restrictions for trucks," Caltrans tweeted.
Santa Rosa has not been able to catch a break at all from this rain all morning long. ABC7's Lena Howland says it has been pouring in downtown Santa Rosa for several hours.
The rain has only intensified. It has been a very slick commute.
North Bay fire officials say they are starting to see flooding on smaller streams and creeks in Sonoma County, as well as some minor street flooding in residential neighborhoods.
A Flood Advisory has also been issued through at least 2:15 p.m. which includes both Santa Rosa and Guerneville.
The National Weather Service is forecasting nearly seven and a half inches of rain between Wednesday and Saturday for Santa Rosa.
Both Montgomery Elementary and Fort Ross elementary schools in Cazadero are closed for the day ahead of anticipated severe weather.
As much of Northern California is getting hit by an atmospheric river, a "bomb cyclone" swept across the northwest US with strong winds and rain, causing widespread power outages and downing trees that killed at least two people.
The Weather Prediction Center issued excessive rainfall risks through Friday and hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect as the strongest atmospheric river - a large plume of moisture - that California and the Pacific Northwest has seen this season overwhelmed the region. The storm system that hit starting Tuesday is considered a "bomb cyclone," which occurs when a cyclone intensifies rapidly.
In California, the weather service extended the flood watch into Saturday for areas north of San Francisco due to "increased confidence in flooding impacts." Higher elevations of the Sonoma County wine region recorded up to 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) of rain over 24 hours, forecasters said Wednesday morning. More than 10 inches (25 cm) was predicted for northern parts of the state and down into the central coast. Dangerous flash flooding, rock slides and debris flows were possible, officials warned.
It is a wet and windy morning in the North Bay as people deal with an increased flood risk.
While the roads have been clear so far, it is a slick commute for North Bay drivers as it pours rain.
If you have to go anywhere during the storm, make sure you take things slow, keep your headlights on, and give yourself plenty of extra time.
