Updated forecast: Here’s when rain is coming to the Bay Area
March is shaping up to be an active month of weather in California, with a moderate storm this week likely to precede several potent rain and snowmakers next week.
A system that dropped snow in the Sierra Nevada and sparked thunderstorms in the Central Valley on Sunday is on its way eastward, leaving the state mainly dry Monday. On Tuesday morning, a fizzling front could bring light rain to Northern California, primarily north of San Francisco.
The main storm of the week will arrive Wednesday and continue Thursday.
Wednesday’s storm is expected to target Central and Southern California, with up to an inch of rain in San Diego and Los Angeles. Bay Area rainfall amounts should remain below a quarter of an inch as most of the system’s moisture will stay south of the area.
Significant snowfall is expected from the storm. Mammoth Mountain and higher elevations of Yosemite National Park could pick up 1 to 2 feet of snow by Friday morning. Tahoe ski resorts are in line for about a half-foot of snow, but forecast totals could change slightly by Wednesday.
In addition to the precipitation, the storm is poised to bring a renewed episode of rough seas. Breaking waves of 20 to 25 feet are possible along west- and northwest-facing beaches. Multiple water rescues caused by large waves forced a temporary closure of Capitola Beach in Santa Cruz County on Saturday.
Dry weather will return Friday and continue Saturday, with temperatures returning to the 60s in the Bay Area. All signs point to adverse weather ramping up Sunday and continuing through mid-March, with several storms expected to hit California.
Monday breakdown
San Francisco: It will be a chilly, breezy day in the city. A cool westerly wind gusting 15 to 25 mph should keep temperatures a few degrees below average, in the mid-50s. There will be plenty of sunshine, but a few lingering low clouds over the hills. High clouds will increase around sunset. Overnight lows will be in the upper 40s.
North Bay: Patchy morning fog in the valleys will clear for a mix of sun and clouds the rest of the day. Highs are expected to reach the upper 50s in Napa, Petaluma and San Rafael and the low 60s in Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Fairfield and Vacaville. Wind will consistently gusts 15 to 20 mph, occasionally stronger. The wind will subside overnight, but high clouds will increase with lows in the low to mid-40s.
East Bay: Mainly sunny skies are expected in the morning. Puffy cumulus clouds may form over the hills midday but clouds will increase swiftly in the late afternoon and evening ahead of a weak disturbance expected to arrive Tuesday. Highs will be in the mid- to upper 50s in Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward and Fremont. The inland valleys will be close to 60. It will be breezy near the water and in the passes, with gusts up to 25 mph. Lows will be in the mid-40s inland and upper 40s near the bay shoreline.
Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Partly to mostly sunny skies are expected along the Peninsula. Highs will be on the cool side, in the low to mid-50s in Daly City, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay and the mid- to upper 50s in South San Francisco, San Bruno, San Mateo and Redwood City. West-northwest winds could occasionally gust up to 30 mph in the San Bruno Gap. Clouds will increase in the evening, with lows in the upper 40s.
South Bay and Santa Cruz: A stray morning shower cannot be ruled out in the hills and mountains. Otherwise, Monday will be dry with a mix of sun and puffy cumulus clouds over the hills. Highs will be in the upper 50s to low 60s in San Jose, Mountain View, Milpitas and Santa Cruz. A cool air mass will keep temperatures in the low to mid-50s in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Overnight lows will fall to the low to mid-40s with increasing clouds.
Reach Anthony Edwards: [email protected]; Threads: @edwardsanthonyb; Bluesky: @edwardsanthonyb.bsky.social
March 3, 2025
Newsroom Meteorologist
Anthony Edwards is a newsroom meteorologist at The San Francisco Chronicle.
He joins the Chronicle from the University of Washington where he was previously the president of the campus weather forecasting team and an editor at the student newspaper, The Daily UW.
Edwards enjoys exploring San Francisco's parks, playing tennis, hiking, swimming and attending a ballgame when the Mariners visit the Giants and the Athletics.