Potent storm due to hit Bay Area on Saturday

The final wave in a series of three storms is set to hit the Bay Area on Saturday night and last through the next day, bringing heavy rain, high winds, and the potential for more downed trees, mudslides, flooding, and power outages, forecasters said. Since Wednesday, San Francisco has received more than two inches of rain, while North Bay totals are more than double that: Urban areas in the region could get anywhere between an inch to two inches of rainfall, while the North Bay and coastal hills will range between two to five inches and the Santa Cruz Mountains and Big Sur coast could get 6 or more inches, he said. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Bay Area and Central Coast starting Saturday night and lasting through Sunday afternoon. The storm comes on the heels of heavy rain and winds that have drenched the region since Wednesday, bringing flooding to areas near Hollister, a downed large tree that temporarily blocked traffic on part of Highway 17 in Los Gatos, and widespread power outages.