SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A powerful
storm expected to pack hurricane force winds and heavy rain triggered
emergency preparations across Northern California on Wednesday, with
residents gathering sand bags, crews clearing storm drains and San
Francisco school officials canceling classes for the first time since
9/11.
As much as 8
inches of rain could fall on coastal mountains over a 24-hour period
starting late Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.
Ski
resorts in the northern Sierra Nevada could get more than 2 feet of snow
before the storm moves through Southern California and to the east with
less strength through states including Nevada, Idaho, Arizona and New
Mexico. Those states could get rain and snow, but nothing like what
California is expected to experience, forecasters say."It's a short amount of time for that amount of water," weather service forecaster Diana Henderson said. "We are anticipating some localized flooding, maybe some downed trees and downed power lines. It could have an effect on a wide range of people."
The
storm is expected to be one of the windiest and rainiest in five years
and could also cause debris slides, especially in areas affected by this
year's intense and widespread wildfires. Big waves are expected along
the coast.
Public schools in San Francisco and Oakland and some private schools in the Bay Area planned to stay closed Thursday.
San
Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Richard A. Carranza
said he didn't want to put students at risk, and staff absences and
power outages could affect the district's ability to supervise and feed
students.
Wind gusts of up to 70 mph were expected on mountain
tops, creating possible blizzard conditions in the Sierra. Rain,
pounding surf and gusty winds were forecast for Southern California
starting Thursday evening.The weather service issued a high-surf advisory from the Central Coast to Ventura County, saying "waves will over-top jetties and sea walls at times" and "will potentially wash into low-lying beach areas or parking lots."
In
California's agricultural heartland, farmers were looking forward to
the dousing after three consecutive dry years. Parts of the state have
experienced above-average rainfall this year, but not enough to make
much of a dent in the drought.
James McFarlane, a third-generation
farmer in Fresno County, said workers would have to stop picking citrus
crops during the storm, but rain this time of year makes fruit bigger,
allowing it to fetch higher prices."If we're not getting some Mother-Nature-dictated time off out in the field, that probably means we're going to have a hard time finding surface water in the warmer months," he said.
The rain and the snow in the Sierra Nevada fills reservoirs that supply irrigation water during hot, dry months.
In San Francisco, where as much as 4 inches of rain was forecast, crews cleared storm drains and removed loose rocks from a hillside to prevent them from crashing down. Residents were advised to sweep up leaves and debris in front of their properties to prevent them from clogging drains.
"We have crews working starting tonight in 12-hour shifts," said Rachel Gordon, a spokeswoman for San Francisco's public works agency. "It will be all hands on deck."
Farther north, a series of strong weather fronts with high winds and heavy rains could lead to flooding and landslides this week in western Washington state.
The weather service expects as much as 14 inches of rain between Monday and Thursday in the Olympic Mountains west of Seattle.
Saturated soils will bring the risk of mudslides, while winds could topple trees.
High winds were also forecast in Oregon.