Rain is Back!

Skies have turned gray over the Bay Area, and rainfall is expected for the next few days as a storm system from the Gulf of Alaska passes through the region, a National Weather Service forecaster said.

NWS forecaster Diana Henderson said the North Bay will see the most rainfall today, and another system is expected to arrive Tuesday evening.

Driving on slick Sonoma County roads has been treacherous since the rain started Monday morning.

From 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m Monday, California Highway Patrol officers have responded to 26 vehicle collisions in Sonoma County, said Jonathan Sloat, CHP Santa Rosa spokesman.

"At approximately 11:45 a.m., a two-vehicle collision involving moderate injuries shut down Snyder Road at Petaluma Hill Road for two hours," Sloat said.

By Wednesday evening, some parts of the Bay Area will see about half an inch of rain, with slightly more in the hills and in coastal areas, Henderson said.

She pointed out that motorists should slow down, since this is the region's first rain in a while and the roadways will be slick.

"They haven't really had any rain or anything to bring up the muck
on the roads," Henderson said.

California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin Bartlett echoed Henderson's advice.

"Drive under the speed limit," he said. "Just because the speed limit is 65 or 25, it doesn't mean it's safe to drive that speed."

--Bay City News Service contributed to this report.