Severe Weather

The National Weather Service said Sunday afternoon that a high wind advisory for most areas within the nine Bay Area counties will be in effect until 7 a.m. Monday. Forecasters predict the strongest winds will sweep through early Sunday evening; the highest elevations will get the strongest gusts.

The blast of wind was captured around 7:45 a.m. by an instrument at 9,186 feet on Kirkwood Mountain south of Lake Tahoe, said National Weather Service forecaster Alex Hoon.

Strong rip currents and large and dangerous breaking waves are expected in the region, weather officials said.

The Kincade Fire burn area is likely to see half an inch or more of rain each hour Friday night when the heaviest rainfall is expected. 

Weather officials said temperatures may drop to the mid 20s to near 30. Isolated areas may see temperatures in the low 20s. 

With a second storm expected this weekend, the wet weather brings concerns for mudslides in Sonoma County burn areas.

A winter storm warning continues in the Tahoe area through 4 p.m. Thursday, but the National Weather Service has dropped the threat of blizzard conditions from the forecast.

The California Highway Patrol said traffic in both directions was being held on both sides of Donner Pass north of Lake Tahoe Tuesday afternoon so crews could clear the highway of multiple spinouts and collisions.

The red-flag warnings have expired, but now a freeze warning has been issued in parts of the Bay Area tonight through Thursday morning.

The mixture of high temperatures in the Bay Area and smoke from the Kincade Fire are expected to produce poor air quality across the region. 

A wildfire in Sonoma County that has 2,000 people under evacuation orders started near where Pacific Gas & Electric shut down power amid dangerous weather conditions, the utility giant said Thursday. 

Several fire agencies are remaining at the scene of a vegetation fire in Santa Rosa that broke out at Annadel State Park on Thursday morning. 

A Spare the Air alert issued for Thursday by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will extend to Friday as smoke from the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County is expected to impact the region.

Residents in parts of the North Bay and the Sierra Foothills are without electricity for a second round of PG&E power shutoffs amid forecasts of dry, hot and windy weather conditions that pose elevated risks for wildfires. 

 A Red Flag fire danger warning has been issued for Contra Costa County from Wednesday to Thursday afternoons.