A cold front that was expected to drop rain on the region for only a day instead is expected to leave even a bit more moisture Wednesday before heading out, according to the National Weather Service.
"In terms of rain, we anticipate it will be very similar to what happened Tuesday," weather service meteorologist David King said early Wednesday. "Prepare for occasional showers on and off throughout the day, and there may be spots where it's very heavy for a short time."
King said the showers Wednesday were expected mostly to be light ones but that there may be occasional heavy pockets that could drop hail and a flash or two of lightning.
The showers — a preview of sorts for a bigger system that the weather service said is expected to arrive early next week — fell consistently through much of the early day Tuesday and was far more isolated in the evening, King said. In all, areas of the region received between about a quarter-inch to half-inch of rain.
"It was a nice little rainfall," he said. "We need it, and we've got more coming."
At 7 a.m., the 24-hour rainfall totals showed a half-inch of rain in Oakland, the high spot in Alameda County. San Jose received four-tenths of an inch of rain, Concord about three-tenths of an inch and San Mateo about a quarter-inch.
In the Sierra, snow continued to fall early Wednesday at about 3,500 feet above elevation. The weather service said 1-3 inches of snow are expected but that the total could be as much as 6 inches above 7,500 feet.
Chains were required. Both directions of Interstate 80 were open, according to the California Department of Transportation.
The storm system causing the rain and snow dropped in from the Pacific Northwest and is expected to clear out completely by Thursday evening into Friday, King said.
"Then the next front will start moving in late Saturday or early Sunday," he said. "We're going to get more northerly winds and cooler air coming down."
That system will bring more rain and additionally cool air to the region, King said. Temperatures that peaked in the low 60s during this system likely won't get to 60 during the next one. Low temperatures are expected to drop into the low 40s throughout Santa Clara, Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Some areas of the North Bay, particularly in Sonoma County, are likely to fall into the 30s overnight next week.
The next storm system is expected to drop rain for at least two or three straight days, according to the weather service.
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