The National Weather Service has issued multiple wind notices throughout the Bay Area until Thursday morning, with gusts potentially reaching as high as 70 miles per hour at certain peaks.
The agency originally issued a high wind watch for most of the region beginning Monday morning. However, that order was upgraded to a wind advisory on Tuesday for the North Bay Mountains, East Bay Hills and Diablo Range, and Santa Cruz Mountains.
A high wind watch signals the potential for strong winds in the coming days, while the more severe high wind warning indicates the conditions are imminent.
The advisories are expected to last until 9 a.m. on Thursday.
National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass told KCBS Radio the strongest winds are forecasts for Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, with the most powerful gusts confined to elevations above 1,000 feet. The winds will be similar to those experienced in the Bay Area late last month, expected to reach an excess of 60 to 70 miles per hour at the highest peaks and ridges in the North and East Bay Mountains.
"Essentially with high pressure just off the coast, which is providing the dry conditions that we’ve had for so many weeks now, the storm systems are dropping further inland across the western United States," Goss explained. "As those drop southwards away from the coast, it actually causes some stronger winds to develop and that’s becoming offshore flow in the battle of high pressure and the low pressure inland."
Goss warned Bay Area residents about a variety of dangers associated with the looming gusts. First, despite the recent rains, there will be an elevated risk of fires due to the combination of both strong winds and dry weather conditions.
In addition, some trees, especially thickened ones due to drought, could be blown down and potentially take down some power lines. He cautioned drivers on Bay Area roadways to be mindful of the conditions.
"Especially if you’re pulling any kind of trailer or you have high profile vehicles, the winds are going to be of greater concern for you especially through some of the passes and the gaps across the Bay Area," he said. "Be mindful of the time of the day you’re hitting the roads."
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