Latest Storm Sets Rainfall Records

Bay City News Service

The storm that struck Thursday night triggered more than 700 lightning strikes around the Bay Area, set new records for rainfall and left thousands without power, officials said today.

The National Weather Service recorded 750 lightning strikes overnight in the area extending from the North Bay to Monterey County, an unusually high number for one storm, according to meteorologist Chris Stumpf. That total includes strikes that occurred off the coast.

Several areas saw new records set for rainfall on Thursday, breaking previous records for this date set in 2003, Stumpf said.

Downtown San Francisco received 1.24 inches of rain on Thursday, breaking the previous record for April 12 of 0.92 inches. Downtown Oakland got 1.26 inches, well above the previous record of 0.59 inches. Oakland International Airport got 1.2 inches, shattering the previous record of 0.77 inches.

The storm helped increase rainfall for what has generally been a dry year, but totals still remain well below average for this time of year, Stumpf said.

"I know a lot of places are sitting around 60 percent of normal for this time of year, but we're still nowhere near where we were last year," Stumpf said. "Last year we were either at or above 100 percent for many places."

The worst of the storm has passed, but some light showers could still occur today. However, baseball fans worried about rain affecting the San Francisco Giants' home opener this afternoon should relax, Stumpf said.

"If anything, it's going to be a brief shower, it's not going to end the game," he said. "Although later in the afternoon we're going to see some strong winds push through, so it might get breezy toward the end of the game."

Thursday's storm caused flight delays, mudslides, minor flooding and power outages around the Bay Area, but much of that is starting to clear up today.

Sunny skies are forecast for most of the weekend.