Strong and gusty northwest winds impacted much of the Bay Area resulting in downed trees, downed power lines, rough seas and even broken windows. A weak cold front moved through the Bay Area during the overnight hours of April 8th.  As the cold front exited quickly to the south and east of the Bay Area high pressure began to build over the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. As a result, the northerly pressure gradient increased rapidly during the early morning hours of April 8th.
The rather strong northerly pressure gradient helped to produce widespread wind gusts in excess of 35 mph with a few locations over 60 mph. Numerous reports of downed trees and power lines were received as a result of the strong winds. The strong winds also impacted KSFO airport and a Airport Weather Warning (AWW) was issued for gusts up to 40 kts. The last major wind event to impact the Bay Area was January 4th, 2008 where 100 mph gusts were reported.
Over the coastal waters the strong winds helped to produce hazardous conditions with steep wind waves and confused seas. Gale Warnings were in effect for much of the coastal waters including San Francisco Bay. Buoy observations indicated many locations were near storm force conditions with several gusts up to 47 kts. Buoy 26, east of the Farallon Islands, reported one hour of storm force conditions with a gust up to 49 kts. The strong winds and fresh swell also resulted in combined seas up to 20 feet, as noted by the Half Moon Bay Buoy (Buoy 12).

Strong Wind in NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 06:39:00 to 08-APR-13 06:39:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew down a tree, blocking a roadway near Inverness.

High Wind in EAST BAY HILLS AND THE DIABLO RANGE, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 00:18:00 to 08-APR-13 00:18:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 53.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

High winds were measured with a 61 MPH gust at the GOES Station PEAC1 about 9 miles ENE of Fremont.

High Wind in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 00:00:00 to 08-APR-13 12:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

High winds which gusted over 60 MPH across San Francisco and the surrounding areas produced thousands of power outages. Newspaper accounts show at least 17,000 customers out of power in various locations around the Bay Area on April 8. This included nearly 5,000 customers in the city of San Francisco itself.

Strong Wind in NORTHERN SALINAS VALLEY / HOLLISTER VALLEY / CARMEL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 05:44:00 to 08-APR-13 05:44:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew down a eucalyptus tree, blocking the northbound lane of River Road about 10 miles SE of Salinas.

Strong Wind in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 05:40:00 to 08-APR-13 05:40:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 2.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Strong winds blew down a tree on an overhead utility pole, six miles NE of Daly City.

Strong Wind in COASTAL NORTH BAY INCLUDING POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 02:00:00 to 08-APR-13 02:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 7.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Strong wind gusts tore off part of a roof of a small building at Masons Marina on Westshore Road at Bodega Bay. The roof fell onto a propane tank which broke a valve on the tanks and caused a gas leak.

Strong Wind in SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 05:18:00 to 08-APR-13 05:18:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew power lines and a pole down in the roadway with a tree across the roadway, near the intersection of Pine Flat and Ice Cream Grade Roads about 4 miles NW of Felton.

Strong Wind in SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 04:38:00 to 08-APR-13 04:38:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 7.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew down power lines, blocking highway 84 about 3 miles south of Woodside.

Strong Wind in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 03:15:00 to 08-APR-13 03:15:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew a tree down and blocked southbound Highway 101, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge.

High Wind in MOUNTAINS OF SAN BENITO COUNTY AND INTERIOR MONTEREY COUNTY INCLUDING PINNACLES NATIONAL MONUMENT, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 02:57:00 to 08-APR-13 02:57:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

The Santa Rita RAWS in San Benito County measured a peak wind gust of 60 MPH.

Strong Wind in NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 02:52:00 to 08-APR-13 02:52:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Strong wind blew down small tree branches and debris onto streets in the city of Petaluma.

Strong Wind in NORTH BAY INTERIOR VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 02:42:00 to 08-APR-13 02:42:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew down a large tree branch, blocking the middle of the lane at State Road 116 and F Street near Monte Rio.

High Wind in SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA COAST, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 02:15:00 to 08-APR-13 02:15:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

High winds blew out the front window of a house in Daly City with glass everywhere.

High Wind in SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 02:12:00 to 08-APR-13 02:12:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 52.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

High winds impacted operations at San Francisco International Airport overnight with wind gusts measured at 60 MPH.

High Wind in NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 01:51:00 to 08-APR-13 01:51:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: RAWS

High winds measured on the Woodacre RAWS with a gust of 59 MPH.

High Wind in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 01:43:00 to 08-APR-13 01:43:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

High winds were observed, with a 62 MPH wind gust measured bv a home weather station near Ocean Beach.

High Wind in SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 01:00:00 to 08-APR-13 01:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

High winds observed with a measured wind gust of 62 MPH at Fort Funston.

High Wind in SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 06:45:00 to 08-APR-13 06:45:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

NPS observation of winds at Point Sur Light Station of 65 MPH.

High Wind in SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 07:12:00 to 08-APR-13 07:12:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

High winds blew down 10 inch diameter tree branches which blocked the westbound lane of Bear Creek Road.

Strong Wind in SOUTHERN MONTEREY BAY AND BIG SUR COAST, CALIFORNIA
From 08-APR-13 07:00:00 to 08-APR-13 07:00:00 (PST-8)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Strong winds blew down trees and power lines across Mission Road near Monterey.