SFO: Police temporarily shut down Terminal 1, winds cause more than 300 delays

SAN FRANCISCO - Police shut down Terminal 1 at SFO on Friday morning to clear a suspicious package, following powerful storms that caused travel disruptions at San Francisco International Airport, the day after Christmas.

Police were called out to the airport about 8:15 a.m. regarding a suspicious package, and authorities evacuated the area, police said. 

At a news conference nearly three hours later, police spokesman Robert Reuca said the airport has since been deemed safe, and the terminal reopened. He did not discuss the contents of the package, who may have left it behind, or reveal much else about it. 

Even before that, travel was difficult at SFO. 

High winds led to flight delays. As of early morning, at least 153 flights had been delayed due to gusty conditions. As of the afternoon, more than 300 delays had been reported. 

Among those affected were travelers from Georgia heading to Southern California. 

Ruby Montesinos said her family’s flight, originally scheduled to depart at 7 a.m., was delayed by more than two hours.

"We were supposed to leave at 7, but we’re leaving at 9:30," Montesinos said. "It sounds pretty delayed. I’m a little worried that it’s probably going to shift."

Across the region, heavy rain flooded roads and toppled trees. In Menlo Park, residents woke up on Christmas Eve to flooded streets, floating vehicles and widespread messes that made some areas impassable.

"The only thing that really happened in terms of the storm was flooding," said Damian Montesinos. "You couldn’t even get through the area because it was so flooded."

Storm conditions also prompted a tornado warning in Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley. In the North Bay, downed trees knocked power lines onto roads, leading to outages and complicating cleanup efforts for crews.

Officials urged residents and travelers to remain cautious as storm impacts continue across the Bay Area.