Sierra travel remains ‘difficult to impossible’ as storm in Bay Area fades though cold remains
Roads remain closed and conditions dangerous as a winter storm that slammed the Sierra continued Sunday, with low temperatures and freeze watches on tap for the Bay Area this week, even as the worst of the region’s rain and wind subsided.
Bay Area rain showers and isolated thunderstorms were expected into Sunday night, forecasters said, although not with the same intensity as Saturday’s storm.
The National Weather Service predicted rain totals across the region of a quarter of an inch to an inch for most regions. Some areas Saturday saw more than an inch. Morgan Hill reported some of the heaviest rainfall in the Bay Area over a 24-hour period ending at 5 p.m.: 2.83 inches.
Snow and ice on Mount Hamilton’s Highway 130 (Mount Hamilton Road) caused the California Highway Patrol to close the road at the mountain in Santa Clara County at midday Sunday. It was still closed Sunday evening, with no estimated time to reopen.
Twitter users reported brief hail to the weather authority Sunday morning in southern San Jose, Los Gatos and Santa Cruz.
Agencies worked earlier Sunday to restore power and clear trees knocked down in the Saturday storm. After a dry morning in San Francisco, a band of heavy rain moved through around 3 p.m., dropping 0.22 inches in the city.
By Sunday night, heavy fog had moved in and forced at least two flights bound for San Francisco International Airport to land instead at Oakland International Airport after circling for a while. They included a Delta flight from New York and a Cathay Pacific jet from Hong Kong. The latter had to make several loops over the ocean before being directed to Oakland.
“These aren’t common occurrences, but they do happen,” said Russell Mackey, a duty manager at SFO. “Once every two months, if I had to average it out through the year.”
Temperatures were dropping into the 40s with Sunday’s early sunset, heading to an overnight low of 40 in San Francisco. While cold, that is not near the daily record of 31 degrees. By Tuesday lower temperatures are forecast. Coastal areas and the bay shoreline will drop into the mid-30s.
A freeze watch is in effect from late Monday through Tuesday morning in the North Bay valleys, encompassing Santa Rosa and the Napa Valley. Overnight it will range from 32 down to 26, with frost, but no snow, in the forecast. Warming centers in the region include those open in Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Altos and other Santa Clara County locations, with free bus rides included.
In the North Bay, a warming center will be open in the Vallejo from Monday night through Thursday night.
The National Weather Service warned of dangerous travel in the Sierra through 4 a.m. Monday, with a possible 1 to 2 feet of new snow Sunday above 4,500 feet. The service warned that travel “will be difficult to impossible,” with whiteout conditions, major travel delays and chain controls and road closures likely.
The Liberty power company reported nearly 22,000 customers were without electricity in the Tahoe area Sunday evening, mostly in South Lake Tahoe, with restoration for most anticipated around midday Monday.
Caltrans reported Sunday that several roads in the Tahoe area remained closed, with no estimated time of opening. Highway 50 between Meyers and Placerville was reopened Sunday evening, with chains required. Interstate 80 in the Sierra reopened Sunday for most vehicles, though trucks were still being turned around at Colfax and the Nevada border.
San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Sam Whiting contributed to this report.
Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter:@mallorym
