North Bay bracing for strong winds (w/video)

The respite from wild weather is almost over.

Strong, cold winds Tuesday whipped the North Bay, which has enjoyed a string of clear, crisp days following the pre-Christmas downpours and flooding.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory beginning 7 a.m. Tuesday that warns of sustained winds up to 40 mph in the North Bay and gusts of up to 60 mph at the higher elevations. The warning was due to expire at noon on Wednesday.

The warning has prompted PG&E to ramp up its storm preparations throughout the North Bay and elsewhere.

“With the high winds, we do get fallen trees and broken tree branches, and of course power lines slapping together,” said PG&E spokesman Paul Moreno. “All that can cause power outages, so we will be staffing up to meet the challenge.”

The mostly dry system will also be chilly, though it is not expected to fall below freezing overnight through the weekend. New Year’s Eve is expected to be the coldest night of the week, dipping to 33 degrees.

“The temperatures are going to be colder on Wednesday than Tuesday, but the winds on Tuesday are going to make it feel it colder,” said hydrologist Mark Strudley of the weather service in Monterey, which forecasts for the Sonoma County area.

The storm, coming south from the Pacific Northwest, will move through quickly, he said. Days are expected to be mostly sunny with very little precipitation expected. Winds should peter out to single-digit speed by Wednesday evening.

But Tuesday, strong winds could batter the North Bay, taking down trees whose foundations were weakened by the heavy rains two weeks ago, or downing limbs, which could in turn take down power lines.

“They are pretty high-energy winds,” Strudley said. “There are probably going to be at least a few downed trees and power lines, as well as some power outages.”

Weather watchers recommend caution outdoors, particularly while driving top-heavy vehicles.

PG&E officials are tracking the system with their own weather staff, Moreno said, and alerting work crews they may be in for a couple long days.

“We are also asking our customers to be prepared for power outages,” he said.

That includes having flashlights and fresh batteries nearby and keeping cellphones charged. Candles aren’t recommended for light because of the fire danger.

Another tip is to freeze two-liter plastic bottles full of water that can be moved to the fridge to keep perishables cool in case of lengthy power outages, Moreno said.

As always, PG&E asks if you see a power line down, stay away, warn others and call 911.

New Year’s Eve, on Wednesday, is expected to be sunny with a high near 55 and a low around 33. New Year’s Day will also be sunny, with a high near 54 and low near 35.

Sunny skies should remain Friday and Saturday with highs in the mid 50s and lows in the low 40s to high 30s.

A separate storm system will hit Southern California, which may get snow and near-freezing temps. Forecasters say those standing along the 2015 Rose Parade route may encounter near-freezing conditions on New Year’s Day.

The weather service advised parade fans camping out in Pasadena to wear layers of clothing as temperatures are set to drop to 35 degrees throughout the region, increasing the possibility of snow for other parts of Los Angeles County. The cold front is expected to drop up to a foot of new snow on the eastern San Gabriel Mountains.

Snow elevations will “fall rapidly” Tuesday night, possibly dusting communities at 2,000 feet elevation or below, according to the weather service.

You can reach Lori A. Carter at 521-5470 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @loriacarter.