A fast-moving Pacific system is on the doorstep, and the mood is shifting from gray to soaked. The setup mirrors recent events, yet local impacts still matter. The rainmaker reaches the Bay Area first, then turns south for the bigger totals. Timing, amounts, and travel effects depend on where you live, so the details below spell out when showers start, how long they linger, and what changes after skies clear.
Track and timing from Bay to Southland
Showers arrive in San Francisco around midnight Wednesday, then sweep west to east overnight. Most neighborhoods dry out by sunrise Thursday, though pockets of drizzle may persist through the afternoon. Totals across the Bay Area stay under a quarter inch for most spots. However, stronger cells could nudge amounts higher.
Because the system moves quickly, commutes feel the impact mainly at daybreak Thursday. Roads turn slick after hours of light rain, while visibility dips in patchy fog. Since winds remain manageable, tree damage looks limited. Even so, low-lying areas with poor drainage can pond for a few hours.
The rainmaker then tracks toward Southern California, arriving Thursday afternoon and lingering into Friday. Momentum fades as it exits, so rain stretches out as periodic showers. Confidence is higher on the north-to-south progression and lower on hyper-local bands. Timing could shift slightly if the coastal jet wobbles.
Where the rainmaker hits hardest in Southern California
Los Angeles and Santa Barbara sit near the heart of the moisture plume. Forecast guidance clusters around a half inch, which is enough for wet highways yet short of flood risk. Because showers repeat, gutters fill and intersections puddle through Friday, especially near the evening commute.
Orange and San Diego counties look wetter. Up to an inch is on the table, with coastal neighborhoods favored over inland foothills. Since soils already hold recent moisture, runoff quickens in heavy bursts. However, rivers remain below thresholds, and storm drains handle most flows outside brief peak showers.
Rain focuses along the shoreline. Higher terrain captures less with this track, so mountain slopes miss the bigger totals. Because the system lacks a strong cold front, thunder risk is low. Marine layers deepen, ceilings drop, and airport delays become more about low clouds than wind.
Bay Area neighborhoods: what to expect tonight
San Francisco spends Wednesday under thickening clouds, highs near 60, and light, variable wind. Rain chances jump after 10 p.m., with showers lingering into Thursday morning. Lows settle in the low to mid-50s. Streets stay damp through the AM rush, though breaks open late morning.
North Bay clouds arrive first. A rogue shower can pop before the commute, though the main band waits until after. Overnight totals land between a tenth and a quarter inch. Highs hold in the upper 50s to low 60s, with mid- to upper-40s at night. Breezes drift from south and west.
East Bay starts foggy, clears briefly midmorning, then clouds rebuild. Showers slip in after midnight and continue overnight. The rain is lighter than recent storms, so road spray matters more than hydroplaning. Highs run upper 50s to low 60s, lows upper 40s to mid-50s. The rainmaker moves out by midday.
Coast, Peninsula, and mountains as the rainmaker approaches
Along the Pacific Coast, fog and drizzle prime the air. Daly City, Half Moon Bay, and Pacifica top out in the mid- to upper-50s. San Mateo and Redwood City see a short peek of sun, then clouds thicken. Rain chances rise again near midnight and carry into Thursday morning.
Peninsula lows dip to the upper 40s and mid-50s. Winds stay light from the south, so seas and surf change less than in a wind event. Because the band enters from the ocean, coastlines get wet first, then the interior follows. Commuters should allow extra minutes for slick ramps and crosswalks.
South Bay and Santa Cruz start with mixed sun and clouds, then turn mostly cloudy. Drizzle can brush the Santa Cruz Mountains, though steadier rain waits until after midnight. Showers linger into the Thursday morning commute. Highs reach the upper 50s to low 60s, while lows run mid-40s to low 50s. The rainmaker remains gentle.
Snow levels, wind, and the quiet turn ahead
This system is mild, so the Sierra Nevada sees limited snow. Most moisture hugs the coast. What crosses the range falls as rain below 7,000 feet. Less than a half-foot of snow is forecast along Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, which keeps chain controls less likely and travel steadier.
Wind stays a secondary issue. Gusts remain under 30 mph in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Because trees face smaller loads, outages look sporadic. Coastal benches may feel a few stronger pushes near showers. However, the broader pattern lacks the punch for damaging wind fields.
It’s the month’s last in a series, with a dry weekend ahead that should extend through Thanksgiving. Valleys likely wake to morning fog, while higher elevations flirt with freezing nights. Since soils will still be damp, black ice can spot cooler roads. The rainmaker makes way for cool, calm days.
What this shift means for daily plans and safer travel
After the quick hit, California enjoys a reset. Roads dry out, yet cooler mornings favor fog in the usual valley bottoms. Because nights turn cold at elevation, pack layers and watch for frost near sunrise. Plan errands midday, and keep an eye on updates in coastal zones where showers can linger.
