Rain, cold temperatures headed to Sonoma County next week

A cold storm is due late Tuesday into Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.|

November’s extra-dry run could end next week as two cold fronts head this way, according to the National Weather Service.

Current forecasts say the first is due late Tuesday into Wednesday - the second could arrive for Thanksgiving with an anticipated arrival between Thursday and Saturday.

“Chances are increasing and now I would say it’s a good chance we’ll see rain late Tuesday into early Wednesday. Beyond that, it’s harder to say. But models are currently bringing another storm through during the Thanksgiving-Saturday time frame,” said Spencer Tangen, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

There’s quite a bit of uncertainty with how much the first storm may bring.

“But it’s looking like the decent, highest amount of rain we’ve seen so far this year,” Tangen said. “We’re watching. We’re hoping it does come in.”

Both storms are expected to have Gulf of Alaska origins, which typically include colder temperatures and gusty winds.

Winds buffeted Sonoma County Wednesday, but the dry, blustery air were expected to blow away by Thursday, leaving calm days in advance of possible rain next week, the Weather Service said.

As the wind goes, so will a red flag warning that started at 4 a.m. and was expected to remain in place until 7 a.m. Thursday.

“These winds really are going to die down a lot tomorrow. That should be the end of it for this one,” Tangen said Wednesday.

The red flag warning was issued because of the wind and dry conditions. The wind arrived before dawn, bringing a gust of 71 ?mph to Mount St. Helena at 6 a.m.

But overall those conditions eased somewhat Wednesday afternoon.

The rest of the week should have some standard Sonoma County fall weather, with blue skies, little wind, cold nights and mild afternoons.

Wednesday afternoon was due to be the warmest day, reaching 72 degrees in downtown Santa Rosa - some 5-10 degrees above average.

Highs through Monday should be in the mid-to high 60s, and winds are predicted to be calm at least through Friday.

Morning temperatures will be in the high 30s throughout the region.

Sonoma County issued a cold weather advisory Wednesday morning in response to the morning forecasts, aimed at parts of the county that might be without power.

Infants, the elderly, those without shelter or heat, and people using alcohol or other drugs are at higher risk from health problems caused by cold, the advisory said.

Health officials recommended people stay indoors as much as possible when the temperature drops, and wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing.

But where is the rain?

November’s paltry rainfall amounts still haven’t reached even 0.1 inch in Santa Rosa, compared to an average of 4.2 inches for this time of the year. Last year, the city had 1.23 inches of rain from Oct. 1 through Nov. 20.

A quick-moving front passed over the region Tuesday night bringing brief showers to some areas.

But the amounts were too small to make a difference, and added a few hundredths or maybe 0.1 inch to the region’s meager totals, Tangen said.

“With that amount of rain, some grasses get a little bit wet but with the gusty winds and dry conditions it doesn’t take long at all to dry out,” he said. “There still are concerns about fire weather.”

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.

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