2017-01-08

A host of weather warnings are in effect Sunday as a storm featuring heavy rain and damaging winds batters the Bay Area.

A flood warning is already in effect for Napa, Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties while flash flood watches have been implemented in almost every Bay Area county. High wind warnings and wind advisories are also in effect across most of the region.

Storm Timeline: Gusty Wind, Heavy Rain and Possible Flooding

The weather already proved to be deadly on Saturday, where one woman died in a freak accident after she was hit by a falling tree in Contra Costa County.

The latest forecast calls for rain totals likely around two to four inches for lower elevations, NBC Bay Area Chief Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri said. Higher elevations of the Santa Cruz Mountains, which already accumulated two inches of rain late Saturday, could see more than six inches of rain this weekend.

Woman Struck, Killed By Falling Tree at Golf Course

Rivers, creeks and streams could rise to near flood stage, Ranieri said.

The San Lorenzo River in Felton late Saturday was at eight feet. The river in Santa Cruz County on Sunday afternoon is projected to be running 21 feet — well above flood stage. The San Francisquito creek near Stanford University on Sunday is also expected to reach flood stage.

San Lorenzo River May Rise 'Well Above' Flood Stage

In Sonoma County, all eyes are on the Russian River, which is already projected to flood on Sunday. Folks are also paying close attention to Sonoma Creek, Carmel River, Napa River and Fairfax Creek among others.

The Guadalupe River in the South Bay is also expected to get close to or even reach flood stage.

In San Francisco, flood barriers have been set in the area of 17th and Folsom streets to move water away from properties as the big storm moves in.

The winter storm, which is blanketing the Sierra Nevada in rain as opposed to snow, is causing some ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada to partially close or close completely because of dangerous winds. Alpine Meadows will not be in operation on Sunday while Squaw Valley will only offer limited accessibility.

The heavy rains come as California enters a sixth year of drought, starting in October with more rain falling than in three decades, mostly in Northern California. Los Angeles is experiencing the wettest winter in six years, forecasters said.

View the latest weather alerts here

View NBC Bay Area interactive radar to track the storm here

To sign up for flooding alerts near San Francisquito Creek click here

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Show more