Updated at 9:00 a.m.
A thunderstorm rattled the Bay Area early Sunday, causing downed trees and power lines, threatening property damage with winds of up to 70 mph and frequent lightning strikes that possibly caused several brush fires.
The National Weather Service issued its first severe thunderstorm warning at 3:01 a.m. for Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, which was supposed to last until 5:01 a.m. Forecasters have since then updated the warning, extending it to Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties, set to end at 8 a.m.
A special weather statement was extended until 9:30 a.m. Monday morning for the Bay Area and down to Monterey, with threats of frequent lightning, wildfires, gusty and erratic winds, downed trees and power lines, possible power outages and difficulty driving due to winds.
There have been at least ten different blazes Sunday morning, with the largest of them in Livermore at about 50 acres.
Just before 5:30 a.m., Cal Fire reported the Arroyo fire in South Livermore. As of 6:50 a.m., the fire has burned 50 acres and is at 50% containment, with crews conducting an extensive mop up due to a Eucalyptus grove.
Images of a large wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains were captured by PG&E webcams at around 5:30 a.m.
KPIX-5 reported that there were no immediate details available except that it was in the Bonny Doon area.
Cal Fire's San Benito-Monterey Unit reported an approximately 20-acre fire with about 5% containment.
The Santa Clara County Fire Department and Cal Fire responded to a vegetation fire on Brush Road in the Redwood Estates area, possibly threatening structures, but at approximately 8:00 a.m., it was reported to be 100% contained.
According to the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. it dispatched all available units to a grass fire caused by dry lightning on Briones Valley Road in Brentwood. Around 8:00 a.m., Cal Fire said crews are currently battling three to five separate fires totaling 50-75 acres with a moderate rate of spread in the Round Valley Area in Contra Costa County.
The Santa Rosa Fire Department said reports of downed trees and power lines, as well as other lightning-related incidents, are being responded to by agencies around Sonoma County.
Cal Fire has yet to confirm whether all fires Sunday morning have been caused by lightning but said that it has crews responding to seven other vegetation fires in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties.
Meanwhile, power is out for tens of thousands of people across the Bay Area in hundreds of different power outages. Most of the outages look to be storm-related, with reports of downed and damaged power lines throughout the region. The largest outage currently looks to be in Richmond, with over 5,000 customers affected. About 4,500 customers were effected in San Mateo County. PG&E said they are working on restoring power. This morning's power outages are unrelated to the recent blackouts from hot temperatures and strain on the electrical grid.
Sunday morning's power outages are unrelated to the recent blackouts from hot temperatures and strain on the electrical grid.
Bay Area residents quickly took to Twitter to share their experiences and stunning visuals.
KCBS Radio's Holly Quan captured this video from the Oakland Hills.
The National Weather Service has advised the public to move indoors immediately. Cal Fire has reminded the public to maintain a minimum of 100 feet of defensible space around their structures.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Reporting contributed by Andy Clausen and Bejan Siavoshy.
