More Rain, Snow in Northern California

Another cold front rolled into Northern California, soaking the region Saturday with a steady rain and bringing snow to local peaks for the second straight day.

The system, part of a storm sequence that began Wednesday, has helped bring seasonal rainfall totals closer to normal after an unusually dry January.

Holiday weekend travel to the Sierra Nevada was complicated by heavy snow and motorists driving to the Lake Tahoe basin along California 50 and Interstate 80 needed chains at times to cross Echo Summit and Donner Pass. Traffic often slowed to a crawl.

There was also snow closer to home. Portions of Mt. Diablo, Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Tamalpias and the Santa Cruz mountains were covered by snow.

Doug Atkinson of the National Weather Service said the snow level dropped to about 2,000 feet, creating a snowy backdrop on the highest points in the San Francisco Bay Area.

That’s not unusual, he said.

“We do get this kind of thing a couple of times a year,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson said the recent rains have helped bring San Francisco up to 75% of normal after the dry January.

He said San Francisco has received 10.8 inches of rain this season.

San Jose has climbed to 83% of normal with a total of 9.77 inches.

The weather service issued a small craft advisory for coastal waters.

“It’s been a little breezy along the coast and the seas are up,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson said the rain would diminish early today.