Heavy rain, strong wind arrives Thursday

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - It will be mostly cloudy Wednesday before heavy rain arrives in the Bay Area Thursday.

KTVU's Steve Paulson says moderate to heavy rain will start in the North Bay during the morning, then move south as the day turns to night. He says the heaviest rain could hit for the evening commute Thursday for areas including San Jose.

There is a High Wind Watch posted for Thursday as a cold front moves in.

Areas in the coastal hills, North Bay and Santa Cruz Mountains could get as much as 4-5" of rain. Steve said inland areas in the Bay area should get about 1.5" of rain, with wind gusts around 35-45 mph.

For the Sierra there is a High Wind Warning and Winter Storm Watch for Thursday.

Steve says by Friday night the rain will be gone but the cold air will move in.