After a prolonged warm and dry spell a strong low pressure trough made its way out of the Gulf of Alaska and into California. This trough began the series of cool weather systems that produced six consecutive days of precipitation in the San Francisco Bay Area and the central California coast. Damaging wind, locally flooding rain, intense hail and even moderate snowfall above 1500 feet were experienced during the first wave of this series.

Strong Wind in SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE, CALIFORNIA
From 17-FEB-11 04:30:00 to 17-FEB-11 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 30.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Gusty wind caused a tree to fall onto the westbound connector of State Route 4 to westbound Interstate 80 at approximately 5:05 a.m. PST. The roadway reopened at 7:00 a.m. PST.

Flood in SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
From 17-FEB-11 09:30:00 to 17-FEB-11 16:30:00 (PST-8)
Location: PENNGROVE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: River/Stream Gage

After four days of rain with over seven inches falling in the higher terrain, the Willow Brook Creek swelled beyond its banks causing minor flooding along its channel. The stream gages at Old Redwood Highway and Penngrove Park went over their flood stages.

Heavy Rain in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
From 17-FEB-11 10:00:00 to 17-FEB-11 14:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: CRISSY AAF
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy rain drenched San Francisco causing storm drains to back up which resulted in minor flooding throughout the city. The Public Utilities Commission reported 25 minor floods at various locations. Nineteen of those floods occurred at intersections and six occurred at homes or businesses.

Storm Surge/Tide in COASTAL NORTH BAY INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-11 08:00:00 to 16-FEB-11 10:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

High tide combined with rain runoff to cause tidal flooding in Mill Valley. The Park and Ride at Highway 101 and Shoreline Highway was impacted by the high water. The high tide at Sausalito reached 6.4 feet around 9:33 a.m. PST.

High Wind in NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 15-FEB-11 18:00:00 to 15-FEB-11 20:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong and gusty wind developed ahead of a long wave trough. Southwest to west wind began to increase during the afternoon and peaked in the evening. A trained weather spotter reported a measured wind gust of 60 MPH at 6:15 p.m. PST. Other automated observation systems around the area above 1,000 feet in elevation reported gusts up to 83 MPH. The wind caused large trees and power lines to fall. Also, road closures occurred due to the downed trees and power lines. Of note, Porter Creek Road was closed until 3:00 p.m. Wednesday due to the efforts of removing a large tree that fell across the roadway. Overall, more than a dozen power poles were pushed down in Marin County.

High Wind in SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE, CALIFORNIA
From 15-FEB-11 20:30:00 to 16-FEB-11 00:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong and gusty wind developed ahead of a long wave trough. Southwest to west wind began to increase late in the afternoon and peaked in the late evening. A mesonet automated weather reporting system measured a wind gust of 60 MPH at midnight. Other automated observation systems around the area above 1,000 feet in elevation reported gusts up to 83 MPH. The wind caused large trees and power lines to fall. Also, road closures occurred due to the downed trees and power lines. Of note, a tree fell onto a house on Alta Avenue in Piedmont. Overall, more than 6,500 customers lost power in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Heavy Rain in SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-11 00:00:00 to 16-FEB-11 15:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: OCCIDENTAL
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Pre-dawn downpours caused localized small stream flooding in some areas in central Sonoma County. Those of note were Todd Road west of Stony Point Road outside of Santa Rosa, and Green Hill Road near Ross Road in Granton, where a man drove into the high water and became stuck for a time just after 7:00 a.m. PST. Flooding also caused the closure of Green Valley Road near Sullivan Road, where another vehicle stalled in the high water, and made a pond out of Shiloh Road near Windsor Road. Minor rock and mud slides were reported throughout the area between Santa Rosa and Calistoga.

Strong Wind in NORTHERN MONTEREY BAY, CALIFORNIA
From 17-FEB-11 08:30:00 to 17-FEB-11 12:30:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 45.00 EG
Property damage: 90.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong and gusty wind knocked over an 80 foot tall Monterey pine tree onto two fifth-wheel trailers around 10:00 a.m. PST at the New Brighton State Beach campground. The trailers were destroyed and there were no injuries. More trees and also power lines were downed in and around Santa Cruz. At Santa Cruz and Centennial Streets around noon power lines fell causing power outages.

Heavy Rain in SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
From 17-FEB-11 08:00:00 to 17-FEB-11 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Location: BIG BASIN
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Heavy rain led to small stream flooding and minor rock slides in Santa Cruz County. Near Riverdale Boulevard north of Boulder Creek, water washed over a bridge at Highway 9 around 8:40 a.m. PST. Around 2:00 p.m. PST a minor rock slide was reported near Laurel Glen and Soquel San Jose Roads. And, about 3:50 p.m. PST another rock slide occurred on Highway 129 at Rogge Lane near Watsonville, which stopped traffic.

High Surf in COASTAL NORTH BAY INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, CALIFORNIA
From 16-FEB-11 19:50:00 to 17-FEB-11 21:50:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Coast Guard

Strong winds and rough seas combined to cause a 15-foot boat to capsize near Bodega Bay resulting in the death of a 65 year-old man.

Strong Wind in NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 17-FEB-11 17:00:00 to 17-FEB-11 19:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 35.00 EG
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong and gusty wind caused trees and power lines to fall resulting in several hundred customers to lose power and about a half-dozen roads to close. Of significance was an oak tree that damaged a vehicle as it was knocked over by the wind around 6:30 p.m. PST on River Road near Trenton Healdsburg Road.