Strong storm to soak Northern California this weekend, forecasters say

A strong storm system moved into the San Francisco Bay Area Friday morning, and the National Weather Service said to expect high winds and coastal flooding through Saturday.

Wind gusts of 40 mph were recorded Friday morning by sensors on the Golden Gate Bridge, said Bob Benjamin, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Monterey.

The Coast Guard urged boaters and beachgoers to be careful around the waters along the Northern and Central California coast due to weather conditions.

“We are expecting parking lots on the beach and low coastal areas may experience some flooding,” Benjamin said.

Forecasters said the storm system is associated with Typhoon Songda, which wreaked havoc in the western Pacific days ago. The storm is expected to bring the most rain to the region since March, Benjamin said.

The weather system could bring some sprinkles to Southern California this weekend, but the best chance for rain in Los Angeles County is Sunday night through Monday morning, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Foothill communities in the San Gabriel Valley could see up to a quarter-inch of rain, Kittell said.

After that system moves through, Santa Ana winds are expected to kick up through the end of next week, he said.

The northern storm system has already dumped up to 2 inches of rain along the Sonoma Coast and the mountain ranges, Benjamin said.

The severe weather is also expected to bring snow to upper elevations of the Sierra on Saturday into Sunday, according to forecasters.

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UPDATES:

10:50 a.m.: This article has been updated with additional comments from the National Weather Service about predicted weather in Southern California.

This article was originally published at 8:35 a.m.