San Francisco just had its second-rainiest day since 1849
On the last day of 2022, the atmospheric river made a stop in San Francisco. And rain, rain, rain.
It rained so much that the National Weather Service announced it was the second wettest since records began in 1849. In 24 hours, a gauge in downtown San Francisco measured him 5.46 inches. This was his second on November 5, 1994, and on November 5, 1994 he was just ahead of that number with 5.54 inches.
Historic heavy rains have caused widespread flooding, road closures and even landslides across the region.
According to the National Weather Service’s Bay Area Office, this single day of rain accounted for nearly 47 percent of the city’s total rainfall in December.
Atmospheric rivers are tropical storms. That means it’s warmer and packs a punch than a typical winter storm. If there is no wind to carry them, heavy rains can last for hours or days in the area. That’s exactly what we saw in parts of the Bay Area yesterday, when flood waters rose and rain continued.
In Auckland, records only go back to 1970. That means his tally of 4.75 inches yesterday is the largest ever measured. The previous record was set in January 1982. Yesterday, his third wettest place in the Bay Area was Redwood City. 4.47 inches, making it the third wettest day since 1906.
The Bay Area will take a break from the rain on Sunday, and sunny skies are expected on New Year’s Day. A second atmospheric river is forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, and a spectacular amount of rain is also possible.
“Our soil won’t be dry by then,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brooke Bingaman told SFGATE on Saturday. “All the effects we’re seeing today will either recur next week or be a little worse.”
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