Storm forecast shows Pineapple Express may head straight for Bay Area
SF Chronicle / 12-17-25
A notable shift in the weekend outlook shows increasing confidence that periods of moderate to heavy rain could arrive late this weekend (12-20) and into early next week, as forecast models converge on a stronger atmospheric river targeting Northern California.
The coming weekend storm system was expected to be the last and strongest of three this week, tapping into a stronger atmospheric river moisture source. But forecast models have begun coalescing around an even wetter scenario pointed directly at the Bay Area.
By Saturday afternoon, a cold front moving south along the California coast will spread light rain showers over the Bay Area and back into the Sacramento Valley. This initial burst of rain will be modest, with a general 0.5 to 1 inches of rain spread out over a six- to 10-hour period.
(This) is the part of the forecast that changed and will likely change again -- the cold front responsible for the initial pulse of rain is expected to stall out while simultaneously tapping into a deep, elongated atmospheric river extending roughly 2,500 miles back toward Hawaii, a classic Pineapple Express (that may remain pointed at the Bay Area for as long as 36 to 48 hours, from Sunday afternoon through Tuesday).
Link (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/weather-forecast/article/rain-atmospheric-river-bay-area-21246080.php
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