High winds to be primary concern with latest storm set for Sonoma County

High gusts of wind will be the top concern of the storm system, which is expected to hit Sonoma County beginning Monday night, the National Weather Service said.

Gusts of up to 50 mph are possible with the storm, along with 3 inches of rain and potential thunderstorms. Rain and stronger winds will start around 11 p.m. Monday and increase in speed and intensity until peaking between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Tuesday, Rick Canepa, a weather forecaster with the Monterey Office of the Weather Service, said Monday.

A wind warning is in effect for the Sonoma Coastal Range and North Bay Interior Mountains from 11:00 p.m. Monday to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Persistent southerly winds could reach 35 miles per hour in Sonoma County’s hills, mountain ranges and coastal areas during the storm’s peak, while gusts could reach 50 miles per hour in areas under a wind warning.

Locations inside the valley — including the cities of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Rohnert Park — could see gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, Canepa said.

Trees already stressed by weeks of heavy rains and high winds across the region could topple over from the added pressure, he said.

The center of the storm, which will be just off the Oregon coast when the storm begins, will continue to move south, reaching about 60 to 70 miles off the coast of San Francisco by Wednesday.

The showers will be scattered after the current cold front left the North Bay Tuesday morning. But the chances of thunderstorms will increase as the new system moves into the Bay Area, Canepa said.

There is a low chance of thunder and lightning on Tuesday and up to a 20% chance on Wednesday. Thunderstorms are more likely along the coast.

The storm is expected to leave the region Wednesday night through Thursday morning, with some potential isolated showers lasting through Thursday afternoon, Canepa said.

“It is at least moderate to high confidence that it will continue to be rainy, wet, restless, cold and chilly with the possibility of a thunderstorm or two on Wednesday,” he said.

Total rainfall across Sonoma County is expected to be about 1 1/2 to 3 inches, with higher numbers in the Mayacamas Mountains and Coastal Mountains. Santa Rosa should expect 1 1/2 to 2 inches of rain while Cloverdale could receive 2 to 3 inches.

You can reach Madison Smalstig at 707-521-5489 or [email protected]. On Twitter @madi.smals.