UPDATES: Bay Area Christmas storm brings downed trees, power outages, road closures

Some in Pacifica are hunkering down for the storm, but the pier was packed.

Some in Pacifica are hunkering down for the storm, but the pier was packed.

Dangerous winds and powerful waves are battering the coast line.

We found dozens of sport fishermen and women in their rain suits on the Pacifica Pier Tuesday evening, despite the rain and wind.

San Jose resident Rafael Manlapas said he and his son crab often; despite the conditions, they love being out here.

"The weather is not too bad, it could be worse - we've been out here in worse, we've actually felt the pier swaying a little bit but that's not happening tonight - the swells have actually been very calm," Manlapas said.

They always look at the weather before heading out.

"Being in the Bay Area, the microclimates are key so we definitely look at the forecast before coming out here so we knew what to expect, which is why we came prepared to be dry, warm and the right spirit to come out here and crab for Christmas," Manlapas said.

They caught two so far - their goal is to get to the limit of 10 each until they head home.

Other crabbers had already been out on the pier for hours with no bites.

Alejandro Robles said he was on the pier for three hours.

"It's kind of been on and off with the rain, the wind is definitely picking up these waves are a lot higher than they do in the Santa Cruz area, I want to say," Robles said.

We spoke to a first time crabber Derek Sylvester from Pleasanton who said the wind is what took him by surprise.

"We kind of had an idea about it but we weren't really expecting it to kind of like hit us as quickly as it did," Sylvester said.

A level three storm will bring strong winds throughout the region, including in the South Bay, which puts a holiday tradition at risk.

A level three storm will bring strong winds throughout the region, including in the South Bay, which puts a holiday tradition at risk. Despite strong wind potential, the management team said the Christmas in the Park will remain open this evening. But Mother Nature is not making it easy for Father Christmas.

Our meteorologists suggest taking down holiday decorations to avoid any damage. But Managing Director Ted Lopez says that's not exactly easy or possible for Christmas in the Park. He says his team has been preparing for the storms and it will allow the walk-thru and drive-thru experiences to remain open through Christmas, as scheduled.

"Customer safety is always and staff safety is always at the forefront," Lopez said. "Luckily we have a great operations team that will have like rigorously cinched down everything to an industrial level. We'll probably have some trees blow over and stuff like that, but it's stuff what we're expecting. So, if you want to bring some of our guys out in the rain, some hot chocolate or something like that, we'd be happy to have that as well."

Conditions are expected to change quickly along the coast - from Half Moon Bay up to Bodega Bay - with powerful winds heading our way.

Conditions are expected to change quickly along the coast - from Half Moon Bay up to Bodega Bay - with powerful winds heading our way.

In Pacifica, people are expecting the weather to get pretty wild-- between the wind, the rain, and the waves.

"It's going to be pretty wild," said Branden Jenkins, owner of Chit Chat Café. "Hopefully our power stays on."

Jenkins doesn't have a generator. He's not doing much to get ready.

He says the pier kind of helps protect his business.

But Jenkins says his neighbors on Beach Boulevard in Pacifica are storm ready.

"These guys put the sandbags up," said Jenkins.

"Down here, it's terrible when it starts to flood. So, I know there's a lot of sandbags out. A lot of people preparing for this," said Carey Bell, a Pacifica resident.

A few miles away, Jennifer Prescott of Pacifica is preparing to host 35 guests for dinner on Christmas Eve. But she's also getting ready for the incoming storm.

"We have to take down all the blow-up toys and everything that's hanging. Take the umbrellas down. batten the hatches," said Prescott. "It's a bummer. It's the holidays. It's the middle of winter."
Prescott and others know the drill.

There's a firehouse and sandbag station right down the street from here.

"Hunker down, get some sandbags and prepare," said Prescott.

PG&E says it's all hands-on deck. A lot of extra people are working through the Christmas holiday to deal with major power outages and such.

"This is going to be an extremely windy weather event. The wind really impacts our equipment. We can really see things like trees or branches or other debris flying through the area and hitting our lines or see rain soaking the soil and uprooting trees and falling into our lines," said Tamar Sarkissian, a PGE spokesperson.

Cal Fire says they're also concerned with trees and branches falling on homes, busy roadways, or people.

"This is a really great excuse to stay home, hunker down with people you care about, relax at home. You are going to be safer at home than to be out with all the trees falling," said Cecile Juliette, a Cal Fire CZU spokesperson.

PG&E, firefighters remind you to prepare for the possibility of extended power outages because of this exceptional storm that's going to hit us.

Have backup batteries, a flashlight and be sure to charge up all your devices; You might also want to have a full tank of gas. And, if you have lawn furniture or holiday decorations, consider taking them inside or securing them.

San Mateo County officials say residents in unincorporated areas may pick up pre-made sandbags (limit 15) free of charge at the locations below. In addition to pre-made sandbags, the county is giving away materials (loose sand and sandbags) on a 24/7 basis for individuals to fill as many bags as they need on their own, according to its website.

Princeton Corp Yard-Half Moon Bay
203 Cornell Avenue
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 728-7993
Available: Pre-made sandbags (limited quantity) and bulk sand & sandbags.

Grant Corp Yard-Redwood City
752 Chestnut Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 363-4103
Available: Pre-made sandbags (limited quantity) and bulk sand & sandbags.
Note: Reservation is required to pick up pre-made sandbags at Grant Corporation Yard.

La Honda Corp Yard-La Honda
59 Entrada Way
La Honda, CA 94020
(650) 747-0341
Available: Pre-made sandbags (limited quantity) and bulk sand & sandbags.

Pescadero High School-Pescadero
350 Butano Cutoff Road
Pescadero, CA 94060
Available: Bulk sand & sandbags.

For more information, click here.

Tuesday's storm is having an impact on Bay Area airports amid the busy holiday travel rush.
At San Francisco International Airport, there are nearly 30-minute delays for outgoing flights.
Incoming flights have seen two hour delays, on average, according to FlightAware.
So far as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, 425 flights have been delayed and 14 have been canceled.
At Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, there have been 60 delays so far.
San Jose Mineta International Airport has seen 67 delays and two canceled flights.
It is best to check in and monitor information with your airline carrier.