Storm drops heavy rain, snow across Northern California

Rain floods the intersection of Hayes and Gough streets in San Francisco on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Rain floods the intersection of Hayes and Gough streets in San Francisco on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Photo: Robert Evans Photo: Robert Evans Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Storm drops heavy rain, snow across Northern California 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A man and a woman were taken to the hospital Saturday after being struck by a fallen tree on a San Francisco sidewalk.

They suffered non life-threatening injuries after being hit by the approximately 30- to 40-foot-tall tree in the Presidio Terrace neighborhood, a city Fire Department spokesman tweeted.

The wind likely knocked down the tree as a winter storm brought strong wind along with heavy rain and snow across Northern California. The rainstorm also flooded streets and the Twin Peaks tunnel in San Francisco, shutting down Muni Metro service between the West Portal and Embarcadero stations.

A rock slide partially shut Highway 1 in scenic Big Sur as workers hurried to clear the road to traffic, the California Department of Transportation tweeted. Meanwhile, a shower capable of producing waterspouts was spotted off Half Moon Bay Saturday afternoon. Rain also forced the closure of northbound Highway 101 in San Francisco, said the California Highway Patrol. The highway was closed at Vermont Street shortly after 4 p.m. and was still closed as of 5:30 p.m., the CHP said.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch in areas burned by a large wildfire in wine country last month because heavy rain could trigger a flow of mud and debris. Six inches of rain fell over a 24-hour period in Venado, a small community west of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, according to the weather service.

Winds gusting above 40 mph were recorded at San Francisco International Airport, contributing to at least 50 canceled flights and more than 300 flight delays, airport manager Jeff Figone said.

Forecasters said the storm was expected to drop up to three feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada.

Scattered rain showers were expected to continue through about midday Sunday.