Live updates: Flash Flood Warning in East Bay as atmospheric river pummels Bay Area

The atmospheric river is causing serious delays at SFO for people trying to get a head start on their Thanksgiving holiday.

The Thanksgiving holiday travel rush is already well underway with about 1.2 million people expected to fly every day over the next week.

But this weather is already causing serious delays for people trying to get a head start on their Thanksgiving holiday.

According to FlightAware, as of 11:30 a.m. Friday there were already nearly 340 delays and nearly 50 cancellations at SFO.

Satnam and Jaz Baines from Union City are getting out of dodge with a pre-Thanksgiving trip to Cabo.

"I think that we're getting away at the right time," Jaz Baines said. "And yeah my brother and sister-in-law's anniversary, 50th anniversary, it's going to be fun. Bringing the family together, we're excited and looking forward to it."

But other travelers weren't so lucky, hundreds of flights have been delayed, all before noon, because of reduced visibility, the onset of rain and gusty winds.

Although peak traffic is not expected until Sunday, airport officials are still expecting around 160,000 people in and out of SFO Friday alone.

"The strength of the winds and also the direction that they're coming from has caused us to reconfigure how we're using our airport," SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said. "So we're taking off and landing in kind of a different configuration than we normally see and that's really contributing to the delays and cancellations that we're seeing today."

Typically, flights will take off in the direction of either Oakland or Pacifica but on Friday they've taken a 180.

"In other words, our flights are taking off towards the San Mateo Bridge and they're landing coming from Oakland," Yakel said. "This is what we call a southeast plan because of that unusual direction of the winds associated with this storm."

Because of reduced visibility, SFO is also increasing the separation between planes on the runway for safety reasons.

No matter what time the flight, the best advice the Baines family had for fellow travelers is to give yourself more time to get to the airport during these conditions.

"The earlier the better right, earlier the better," Jaz Baines said.

New federal regulations mandate airlines to issue automatic refunds for all domestic flights delayed more than three hours and all international flights delayed more than six hours.

Eighteen-year-old Zoe Chait was in the right place at the right time Thursday and helped pull in a surfer who got caught in rough surf in Pacifica.

A teenage lifeguard was in the right place at the right time Thursday when a surfer got caught in some rough surf in Pacifica.

"He was super chill, very happy to see me, and tired. It was a good rescue, I was stoked," 18-year-old Zoe Chait said.

Chait, who lifeguards in Half Moon Bay, was surfing in Pacifica Thursday afternoon when she noticed a flurry of first responders.

She immediately knew something was wrong, and wasted no time jumping in to help.

"There were actually two, they were super far out," Chait said. "The one guy made it in and I could barely even see him, how far he was. And I went and checked with the firefighters and they told me, I had this in my car, my bouy and fins, and I just went out, I knew I could do it and was stoked to pull him in."

Chait says she swam to shore while tugging the surfer on his board. The man who was rescued was not hurt and was extremely thankful.

More rain falling in the North Bay and those who live here are starting to get a little tired of it.

More rain falling in the North Bay and those who live here are starting to get a little tired of it.

"I love rain but this is a little much," said Gretchen Reisch who lost her electricity Thursday night.

Yes, 10-plus inches in certain spots of Santa Rosa in less than 48 hours probably qualifies as a little much, the video we shot though came from Rohnert Park where there has also been "a little much," it's led to drivers having to determine, should I go through the flooded area or turn around?

"We've never had this much rain so, I had two sump pumps running but I have no power so I'm really worried that we might say hello to some water in the house," said Reisch.

Reisch's home was one of dozens without electricity in Santa Rosa.

"It's been intense, a lot of rain, we have quite a bit of water in our backyard, a little bit of flooding but luckily we're on a hill so it all tends to drain down the street," said Katie Bullard who also lost her electricity. Bullard was out on a walk with her kids when we spoke with her.

As bad as the flooding and rain can be at times, it's always the kids with that glass half full kind of attitude.

"Okay, so we don't have electricity. It's been out for an hour and a half we've just put a fire out and then just trying to have fun," said Bullard's 8-year-old daughter Lucy, "I prefer having the power, this guy probably wants the power too!"

"What is it that you miss so much when you don't have electricity?" asked ABC7 News reporter J.R. Stone.

"I really want to watch the TV," said Lucy.

But her big brother seems to be the realist in the family.

"This happens pretty often during the winter so you just got to get used to it," said Henry Allan.

"Hopeful that electricity comes back," said Stone.

"Yeah, they said within 24 hours but we're hoping before the evening," said Bullard.

And an update: As of late Thursday night, PG&E was able to restore power to Bullard and Reisch's neighborhood.

Heavy rain pelted Sonoma County for the second day. The Atmospheric river showing little mercy.

The storm brought torrential rain to Santa Rosa. A Hampton Inn hotel and Sutter medical office joint parking lot was underwater with multiple cars submerged.

"With the weather we have currently coming through, the waterway in this area got overwhelmed and flooded the parking lot. Some people are staying at the Inn and Suites were trying to get out, stuck in the water," said Will Powers from Santa Rosa Fire Department.

Danielle Perlenfein's mom was stranded at her job, cut off from dry pavement.

"I've seen it flood before but never this bad, I thought we could come and help her, way above civilian help, I'll leave that to the professionals," said Perlenfein.

Heavy rain pelted Sonoma County for the second day. The Atmospheric river showing little mercy.

In Forestville, homeowners on Mirabel Road were dealing with flooding which came on fast with little warning.

"The drainage was clogged and within five minutes our yard was two-feet deep, it's been happening all morning," said Anthony from Forestville.

Some of the floodwater, nearly covered some garages, neighbors say, the water was coming from a nearby drainage culvert.

"I woke up this morning and saw the water rising, I started to freak out so we put bags out just in time, a little water got in. I feel for my neighbors, they're taking it worse than I am," said Kela Gore.

Sonoma County crews were working to clear the culvert and give the rising water somewhere to go.

Many roads in the Russian River Valley are closed due to flooding but some drivers, ignored the signs and got stuck. With more rain on the way, residents like Kela Gore are hoping for the best.

"Trying to take one step at a time and keep praying," said Gore.