Stormageddon Forces San Francisco School Closures

The strongest forecasted storm in recent memory is prompting officials in San Francisco and other communities to close public schools on Thursday.

The storm is forecasted to arrive in the North Bay tonight before it peaks in intensity tomorrow morning during the morning commute in San Francisco. It is expected to drop 2 to 4 inches of rain in San Francisco and as much as 10 inches of rain in isolated areas at higher elevations, such as Marin and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Wind gusts in urban areas are expected to be as high as 50 m.p.h.

Flooding is expected in areas where drainage systems are overwhelmed and near Bay Area waterways and local creeks. The storm is also expected to produce 20-foot waves at the coast.

“I did not arrive at this lightly,” San Francisco schools Superintendent Richard Carranza said in a statement, first reported by the Chronicle. “First and foremost, we don’t want to risk having our students injured or seriously delayed transporting (them) to and from school.”

One benefit—in addition to the extra hours of video game time for local teenagers—Tahoe is expected to receive up to two feet of snow below 7,000, clearing the way for what could be the first powder runs of the season for local snowboarders and skiers this weekend.

Oakland and Marin schools will also be closed on Thursday. The rain is expected to continue through Friday with less intensity.