Credits: Bert Johnson
As predicted, a major storm has walloped the Bay Area on Thursday, leaving thousands without power, leading to BART shutdowns, a child trapped under a fallen tree in Santa Cruz, and constant pouring rain in some areas. We’ll be updating as news unfolds.
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In Berkeley, the ramp is closed on I-80 westbound at Ashby Ave. NBC is reporting three cars under water, though when our photographer scoped out the scene, it appeared just one was left. Photos from the scene:
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Underpass flooded at Ashby Ave. near I-80.
Credits: Bert JohnsonPG&E workers repair downed power lines on Ashby Ave.
Credits: Bert JohnsonCredits: Bert Johnson
Caltrans trying to pump water from a flooded underpass at Ashby Ave in Berkeley. 3 cars in water. pic.twitter.com/FuHilCRvWp
Our photographer Bert Johnson braved the storm in Jack London to get photos near the Port of Oakland of the ferry terminal closure and people from downtown Oakland’s Ambassador program clearing the drains:
Credits: Bert JohnsonCredits: Flickr/Shira BezalelCredits: Bert JohnsonCredits: Bert Johnson
SFGate reports on other traffic and road conditions:
“All lanes of Highway 101 at Oyster Point in San Francisco blocked because of flooding. Signals out along Van Ness Avenue and Lombard Street in San Francisco. Highway 1 closed from Point Reyes Station to Olema. Lanes closed on westbound Interstate 80 in Richmond and on Interstate 880 northbound near Interstate 238 in San Leandro. Highway 116 closed at Gilchrist Road in Petaluma because of downed power lines.”
Looking for up-to-date storm reports? The NWS has created a map, and is updating it regularly.
The North Bay is receiving the worst of the storm, and as the San Jose Mercury Newsreported: “As of 10 am., Santa Rosa has received 4.40 inches of rain and Novato 3.71 inches, downtown San Francisco received 1.24 inches of rain, Oakland .98 inches and San Jose .51 inches.”
This man in Heraldsburg kayaked to his local Safeway:
East-bound ferries leaving Oakland and Alameda were cancelled this morning due to the weather. Expect an update at 2 p.m. In San Francisco, a power outage shut down the Montgomery BART Station, and BART officials are telling people the trains aren’t stopping at that location. Use Powell or Embarcadero if you’re trying to board near downtown.
Oakland, San Francisco, and Novato school districts are closed today, and Gateway School in Santa Cruz sent students home early due to two children being injured by a felled tree on its playground. One student received minor injuries, while another was taken to an area hospital for X-rays when his arm was trapped beneath the branch, said Sherri Helvie, assistant head of school.
Pacific Gas & Electric is reporting that as many as 170,000 Bay Area residents are without power. See which areas were hit with PG&E’s map:
The National Weather Service is reporting 147-mile-per-hour wind at Mt. Lincoln. Blizzard conditions are expected in areas above 6,000 feet.
And in inconsequential storm news, no one can seem to agree what to call the storm. We’ve seen #Stormageddon, #HellaStorm, #BayAreaStorm, and #Rainpocalypse on social media.
