San Francisco, California – Strong and potentially damaging winds could impact the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast late Tuesday into early Wednesday, raising concerns for power outages, falling trees, and hazardous travel conditions.
According to the National Weather Service Bay Area office, a High Wind Watch is in effect from Tuesday evening through early Wednesday morning as southerly winds increase ahead of a powerful storm system. Sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts that could reach up to 60 mph in exposed locations.
The strongest winds are likely along the coast, coastal hills, and higher terrain, but urban areas including San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Santa Rosa, and Monterey could also experience damaging gusts. With soils already saturated from recent rainfall, the risk of trees being uprooted is elevated, increasing the likelihood of blocked roads and snapped power lines.
Travel could become extremely difficult Tuesday night, particularly for high-profile vehicles on bridges, coastal highways, and north-south routes such as Highway 101 and Interstate 280. Widespread power outages are possible if stronger gusts materialize.
Residents are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items, park vehicles away from trees, and prepare for potential outages. The High Wind Watch may be upgraded to a warning as confidence increases, and additional alerts are expected as the storm approaches late Tuesday.
