Thunder, lightning may accompany first big post-summer storm

The arrival of the first significant post-summer rain storm Wednesday began overnight when drops began to fall over the Pacific Ocean, and those drops came with an additional guest that could make its way inland in some areas as the storm proceeds.

“We have thunderstorms, too,” National Weather Service meteorologist Nicole Sarment said. “We could see them make their way all the way up to the Bay Area.”

That prospect for residents in the central Bay Area and into the North Bay still remains a long shot, Sarment said. Not so much for residents in Santa Cruz County and south of it. Sarment said the storm’s path is likely to take it directly through that area, and the heaviest rain and most frequent lightning is likely to happen there.

The weather service said they recorded lightning strikes across the coastal waters offshore at about 3 a.m., and that the rain was expected to increase. At least a quarter-inch was expected in the Santa Clara Valley and areas south of it through Monterey. The East Bay and North Bay were expected to get at least one-tenth of an inch, but Sarment said that total could be higher.

“We’re keeping an eye on the next bulk of precipitation, and seeing what it will produce,” Sarment said of the primary storm cell, which was expected to arrive later Wednesday. “It’s going to be showers, so it will be off again and on again, heavy at times. And we’ll wait to see what that means as far as the thunder and lightning.”

The weather service remained uncertain of when the heaviest rain would fall, saying it would depend on the pace at which the storm is moving. Its path and pace early Wednesday suggested an evening arrival, Sarment said.

“The best chances are going to be around the evening commute time,” she said. “In some places, it will be heavy downpours. Other spots there just may be a rain shower or two. Whether these become thunderstorms or just rain showers, we’ll wait to see.”

The bulk of the rain rain is expected to be finished by Thursday, though Sarment said some showers still will remain early in the day. By Friday, the region is expected to be enveloped in sun, with temperatures in the hottest places expected to creep into the low 70s.