Nature’s Ledger: Rainfall Totals and the Wet Start to the Water Year

In the gentle, reflective hush after a storm, the landscape often seems to pause — taking stock in puddles, drips from eaves, and the sweet-earth scent that follows a good rain. For the San Francisco Bay Area, that contemplative quiet comes on the heels of a weekend “super soaker” that left measurable marks on the region’s rain gauges and everyday life.

Over the past 72 hours, successive storm systems swept across the Bay Area, bringing moderate to heavy rainfall and adding to what has already been a notably wet start to the water year. The National Weather Service and local observers have noted that while not every locale saw drenching amounts, the distribution of rain was broad and impactful.

Northern parts of the Bay Area saw the most impressive totals. In Santa Rosa, gauges recorded just over 2.1 inches of rain, with some elevated areas along the coastal ranges receiving more than 4 inches. Meanwhile, around the region’s transportation hubs — sensitive indicators of widespread conditions — Oakland Airport reported about 1.17 inches of rain and San Jose Airport about 1.37 inches. San Francisco itself recorded roughly 0.88 inch of rain since Friday.

These totals helped push several locations above their normal precipitation levels for this point in the water year. San Francisco’s readings are now around 118% of average, with the San Francisco Airport reporting about 150% of normal. Other cities, including Santa Rosa, Oakland and San Jose, are also ahead of typical seasonal totals.

Yet as with many weather stories, the tale is not solely about numbers. Along low-lying roads and shoreline areas, the combination of rainfall, elevated tides and occasional storm surge brought minor flooding and travel disruptions over the weekend. And while these recent storms have bolstered regional rainfall figures, meteorologists caution that more precipitation will be needed in the coming weeks to sustain long-term drought recovery.

For now, though, the Bay Area has taken stock of nature’s recent bounty — a mix of relief, reflection and readiness for whatever the season may bring next.

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Sources SFGate National Weather Service / Observations