San Francisco weather: Wind, rain

OAKLAND, Calif. – Early morning traffic Thursday was sluggish and dangerous for some, as drivers gripped their steering wheels trying to avoid crashes, which were prevalent during the rainy commute.

Crashes, slow traffic 

Just before 6 a.m., the California Highway Patrol showed about 20 crashes throughout the Bay Area, including one at the end of the Bay Bridge by Fremont Street. The Bay Bridge toll plaza was backed up with slow traffic for hours.

There weren’t any major crashes to report, but many smaller ones.

“I don’t like rain when it comes to the commute,” KTVU traffic reporter Sal Castaneda said.

Some people, like David Whitener from Vallejo, opted not to drive. 

“Usually, I ride my scooter,” he said. “But not in the rain, so today I’m taking a Lyft.” 

Wind, closures

Parts of the Bay Area were placed under a high wind warning, as the storm is expected to linger for much of the day.

This storm isn’t so much about the rain, or the temperature. Meteorologists say this storm will be about the wind.

On Thursday, signs on the Bay Bridge warned drivers about the gusts. 

Strong southerly winds will be a major factor for much of the region.

 In San Francisco and San Mateo counties, gusts could reach 50 to 60 mph, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a high wind warning through 10 a.m. 

In San Francisco, roads in Golden Gate Park including the intersections of MLK and Transverse drives, 25th Avenue and Lincoln, and northbound Sunset Boulevard from Irving Street to MLK Drive are closed due to flooding. 

Also, Stern Grove, Pine Lake, the San Francisco Botanical Garden, and Japanese Tea Garden were closed but expected to reopen later on Thursday. 

Crashes start to pile up in Bay Area rain

Forecasters said the coastal North Bay and Marin Hills could see gusts of 55 to 60 mph, with winds as strong as 70 mph possible along coastal ridges and higher elevations.

Power plan 

PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian said the wind really impacts the utility’s equipment the most. 

“We are definitely expecting gusty winds,” she said. “So our team has been very prepared. We have more than 2,600 crew members ready to respond to any outages that may occur.” 

What’s next 

A few thunderstorms early Thursday were also possible. 

The early afternoon should dry out a bit with cloudy skies.

But the NWS said that showers are expected to return between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and last through the evening.

Temperatures should drop to the mid-50s by evening, which will also see intermittent showers. 

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