August Tropical Thunderstorm Rocks Bay Area; Lightning Strikes Spark Widespread Wildfires

A rare August severe storm system in 2020 rolled through the San Francisco Bay Area early Sunday, packing a combination of dry lightning and high winds that triggered wildfires throughout the region. The National Weather Service on Sunday extended a red flag fire warning for the entire Bay Area until 11am Monday morning. Any lightning strikes will likely lead to new fire starts given the current heat wave.

A secondary pulse of moisture and instability arrives later Sunday into early Monday. The bizarre storm system was being spun into the Bay Area from Tropical Storm Fausto off Mexico’s West Coast. High winds downed Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) lines, triggering power outages from neighborhoods in San Rafael all the way into western Marin County and thousands of others throughout the Bay Area.

Sunday morning, 57,410 customers were without power, a majority due to the lightning strikes. Those numbers were concentrated in the North Bay. By early Sunday evening, there were still some outages, but the numbers had been greatly reduced though there were still over 3,000 customers without power in Livermore and a similar number affected by a pair of outages in San Jose.

In Santa Clara County, downed power lines sparked a fire in an unincorporated area on Brush Road near state Highway 17 that started just before 3:00am and forced the evacuation of 20 residents.

It was contained by 6am after burning a little more than an acre. Bay Area firefighters were busy as the storm moved through. The CAL FIRE Santa Cruz-San Mateo tweeted that its crews responded to a total of 22 separate fires since 1am Sunday morning. Most presumed to have started from lightning strikes. Forward progress has been stopped on most of these fires.

Firefighters are working to get more resources, stretched thin due to heavy fire activity. PG&E webcams captured images of a rather large wildfire in the Santa Cruz Mountains at around 5:30am. Additional strike teams were rushed to the area by 6:00am with high winds spreading the fire and threatening structures. Air support was requested to begin at daylight.

Marin County Fire reported at 4:15am that its crews were responding to numerous lightning strikes in the area of King Mountain and San Geronimo and throughout the county. No current evacuation orders or warnings in place. Later, there was a fire at the base of Mount Barnabe that had grown to 10 acres and was about 60 percent contained. CAL FIRE sent crews to a lightning cause fire in the area of 20730 Brush Road in Redwood Estates Area that initially threatened homes and forced some evacuations before forward progress was halted around 4:00am.

Another wildfire erupted near Highway 1 north of Davenport and had grown to 15 acres and was 25% contained by 11:25am.

Crews were also dispatched to battle a growing vegetation fire in the area of 5201 Arroyo Road in Livermore. By 6:35am, firefighters had aggressively attacked the 2-alarm Arroyo fire, a blaze fueled an Eucalyptus grove, and had held it at 50 acres and with 50% containment. Meanwhile, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department alerted that law enforcement and fire personnel are receiving multiple calls for service involving downed trees and powerlines.

A few spot fires within the county have also been reported. In Contra Costa County, there were several fires in the area of Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek roads near Mountain Diablo State Park. By 10:00am the Deer Valley Complex fires had grown to a total of 100 acres with zero containment. No evacuation has been ordered at this time, however it is possible one may become necessary.

Multiple agencies – including CAL FIRE, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, and San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District – responded Sunday morning to the area. East Contra Costa Fire Protection District reported there were three fires burning in the area – south of Briones Valley Road, at Marsh Creek Road and Deer Valley Road, and inside of Round Valley Regional Park. Approximately 25 fire units are on scene with more en route.

Lightning has been striking the hills all around in the area while firefighters are trying to contain the blazes.

In the South Bay near Salinas, firefighters were battling a growing 20-acre blaze in Pine Canyon. The smoke-filled Bay Area skies also led to an air quality advisory being issued through Monday. Numerous lightning strikes overnight have sparked wildfires across the region. Air quality may deteriorate in areas near or downwind of the fires. If the smell of smoke is present, it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure.

The intensity of the storm system triggered an early morning severe thunderstorm warning for the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The warning for Contra Costa, Alameda, Napa, San Francisco, and Santa Clara counties was extended until 8:00am and even after it expired the lightning and thunder continued. The weather service also issued a special marine warning for the waters of San Francisco, San Pablo, Suisun Bays, and the west Delta.

Bay Area residents also took to social media with remarkable images of the lightning storm. Many commented how strange it was to experience a “midwest” style lightning storm in the Bay Area. The National Weather Service (NWS) said wind gusts generated by the fast-moving system were being clocked as high as 66mph on Atlas Peak, 65mph at Hawkeye, 48mph at Saint Helena, 45mph on Mountain Tam, and 42mph on Mountain Diablo.

The cluster of severe thunderstorms are generating extremely strong erratic wind gusts which can cause downed trees, power lines, and other structural damage as well as difficulty driving.

NWS also posted on Twitter a photo of a massive, rare “roll cloud” along the Santa Cruz Coast shortly before 3:00am. The storm came as the region has been locked into a sweltering heat wave. Record temperatures again fell across the region on Saturday and the early morning rains would only provide a brief respite. Forecasters predicted another four days of temperatures in the triple digits in the inland areas.

Someone passed away as a result of the storm Isaias when a tree fell on a moving cars and truck in St. Mary’s County on August 5th 2020. Hurricane Isaias vacated Maryland early Tuesday afternoon, leaving storm damage and power failures in its wake. One twister touched down in Mardela Springs in Wicomico County, uprooting a home simply after 6 a.m. A second twister touched down just north of Girdletree, Maryland, at 7:20 a.m.

The storm Isaias brought strong winds and heavy rains throughout the state, activating tornado cautions and watches that have actually since been canceled, however not before numerous tornadoes were reported around the state. Although the hurricane Isaias has moved north of Maryland, there are still some issues. Water overflow and flooding could stay a problem and it will be breezy behind the system.

In Cecil County, crews had to rescue individuals from their vehicles in North East.

Flooding was also reported in Perryville, Elkton, and Rising Sun. Old Ellicott City appears to be in the clear from any flooding. Howard County’s Main St culvert was at a depth of two feet as of 11 a.m. Businesses are sandbagged up and numerous remain closed. Patapsco River is certainly high. Authorities around Maryland warned homeowners about flash flooding and asked drivers to remain off the roads.

Dangerous rip currents could be a concern through Wednesday. Trees were reported down around Maryland and waters increased in waterways, like the Jones Falls in Baltimore, as heavy rains fell, however most areas were mostly spared from major flooding. Ellicott City, where the historical Main Street significantly flooded two times over the last few years, was also spared from any significant damage.

This hurricane season has actually currently been an especially active one with nine named storms already. It is the earliest in recorded history that we have seen that many. Individuals in parts of Delaware and New Jersey are being told to seek shelter due to tornado cautions as Tropical Storm Isaias headed towards the area. Isaias is moving in from the south.

The most extensive impact is expected to be flash flooding with 3 to 6-plus inches of rain likely throughout the area, with greater quantities in heavier rain bands.

Some places could get 8 inches or more of drenching rain. Isaias is anticipated to bringing flooding rains, strong winds, and power blackouts to the region. In addition to heavy rain and strong wind, the coast will likewise experience hazardous rip currents and seaside flooding. The intensity of the coastal flooding is still unsure, but at least small seaside flooding at high tide is possible Tuesday and Tuesday night.

There was likewise what appeared to be an observed tornado in Smyrna, Delaware, after 9 a.m. Tuesday. Isaias is anticipated to move quickly past the location as conditions might begin enhancing by late Tuesday afternoon. Conditions will improve from south to north starting around 3 to 4 p.m. This will cause prevalent flooding concerns Tuesday. The most vulnerable areas for flooding remain in and around Philadelphia, the suburbs, Berks County, and the Lehigh Valley.

In these areas it takes much less rain to trigger flash flooding due to soil type and also recent heavy rainfall. Places like Reading and Pennsylvania, were already struck with inches of rain over the weekend. Rain might fall at 1 to 3 inches per hour throughout the heaviest rain bands anticipated late early morning into the early afternoon. Prevalent street, urban, and stream flooding is anticipated from the heavy rain.

A spotted tornado was reported is Sandtown, Kent County, and another validated twister was reported in surrounding Maryland.

Flash flooding is a higher concern in Pennsylvania, while damaging wind gusts are most likely in Delaware and New Jersey. Inches of rain could fall over an extended amount of time. Flash flood warnings are in effect for Philly and some suburban areas. Tornado views stay in impact for Philadelphia, the immediate residential areas, all of Delaware, and South Jersey till 4 p.m.

Sunshine and enjoyable weather condition return Wednesday and Thursday with highs in the 80s, though there is a rain danger on Thursday. Twister cautions are in impact for southwestern New Castle County and northwestern Kent County in Delaware till 9:30 a.m. and for central Cumberland County including Bridgeton up until 9:45 a.m. People will get zip-code particular cautions on their cellphones.

Stay home, stay off roadways, and stay alert. Tropical storm cautions are in effect for much of the area. The entire Philadelphia area is under a First Alert Tuesday for drenching rain, flooding concerns, and strong winds from Isaias. Coastal and inland counties in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania are under tropical storm warnings as Isaias makes its way northward.

Twister watches and cautions were released Tuesday morning as the heart of the storm approached the area.

A State of Emergency is declared for New Jersey Monday night ahead of Isaias. Isaias was devalued from cyclone strength after it made landfall Monday night in the Carolinas. The storm still loaded 70 miles per hour winds and heavy rain as it moved north near the Maryland-Virginia border around 8 a.m. Tuesday. In addition to heavy rain and strong wind, the coast will likewise experience dangerous rip currents and coastal flooding.

The intensity of the seaside flooding is still unpredictable, however at least small seaside flooding at high tide is possible Tuesday and Tuesday evening. When the storm track is more particular, we will have a much better idea if coastal flooding ends up being a bigger issue. A precariously high risk for rip currents is in impact Tuesday. Do not be on the roadways unless absolutely essential.

If you must drive, take it slow, utilize caution, and leave additional time to get to your destination. Hurricane cautions were currently in impact Monday for location counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, with the exception of Berks County and the Lehigh Valley. You may not even see the tornado coming as they are quickly forming. The tornado hazards imply that there is rotation in a thunderstorm in the area.

The cautions frequently pop up quickly and do not last long.

In impact up until 4 PM, radar indicated twisters this AM in Delaware & Philly. Please remain weather aware and have a way to get cautions. Flash flooding is another huge issue, stay off roads if you can. Drastically much better after 4pm. The outer bands of the storm started lashing the Philadelphia region over night. And as the storm Isaias sped up its greatest impacts started striking the Philadelphia by mid morning.

Twister cautions in the parts of Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania and parts of Sussex County, Delaware, have expired. Reports from Wilmington, Delaware, as rain ahead of Tropical Storm Isaias caused heavy rainstorms and road flooding Tuesday early morning. Power interruptions are a concern from the heavy rain and wind, so be sure to power up your gadgets.

Even if rain slows or ends, winds could kick up and cause concerns. Wind gusts up to 40 mph are possible in the Lehigh Valley, 60 mph in Philadelphia, and 70 mph at the Shore. Prevalent power blackouts are possible from these gusts. If a tornado warning is provided in your area, seek shelter in the lowest level of your home and get away from windows, preferably in an interior room.

You are under imminent threat.

Locations vulnerable to flood, like the Brandywine Creek, face a huge danger of flooding Tuesday. As of Monday night, Isaias made landfall in North Carolina with heavy rainfall and strong winds. Two confirmed tornadoes have happened in Delmarva in the past 30 mins. Please take Tornado Warnings seriously today. If you do not need to, avoid going out on the roadways as heavy rain could rapidly trigger flooding.

Route 309 southbound SEPTA Regional Rail trains were postponed by approximately 45 minutes.