After a stretch of clear skies, the Bay Area is finally getting wet.  

The shift began Monday when pressure dropped steadily across the region, pulling a low‑pressure system from the southwest.  

This pattern is different from usual winter lows that come up from the Pacific Northwest, so it is set to bring rain instead of more dry air.

Light showers will start in Monterey County and the Central Coast by late Tuesday morning.  

The rain is expected to reach near San Francisco later that night, and the central coast, Santa Cruz Mountains, and Big Sur could see up to 2½ inches of precipitation.  

Wind will pick up, especially in Monterey and San Benito counties where a wind advisory will run from 4 p. m. Tuesday to 4 p. m. Wednesday.

The rest of the area will get between half an inch and three‑quarters of an inch.  

Meteorologists say the rain will be mild overall, with occasional heavier bursts but nothing intense across a wide region.

By Saturday evening, a stronger system is likely to arrive.  

This storm will bring low pressure plus a cold front, making it heavier than Tuesday’s rain.  

Forecasts are still uncertain about the exact timing and amount, but experts expect it to last into next week.

In the Sierra Nevada, these systems will turn into snow.  

Rain showers are expected to shift to snowfall from Tuesday night into Wednesday, with stronger winds at higher elevations.  

A heavier winter storm is projected for Saturday and Sunday.

Rain Comes to Wash Out Dry Spell in Bay Area

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