SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Weather authorities of the U.S. state of California have issued a series of advisories and warnings as a powerful bomb cyclone intensifies off the U.S. Pacific coast.
The storm's most immediate threat is from wind, with high-wind warnings in effect along the northern coast and interior areas of Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Gusts up to 65-75 mph are expected through 4 a.m. Wednesday.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, wind advisories have been issued for coastal areas of San Francisco, Marin and Sonoma counties, which are expected to face southerly gusts reaching up to 45 mph, potentially causing power outages.
The advisories are in place until Thursday morning, with the highest winds expected Wednesday.
Wind advisories have also been issued for coastal and interior Mendocino, Lake and Napa counties and the Sacramento Valley.
A flood watch has been issued for areas in the North Bay, including Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties, where rainfall could exacerbate existing risks of creek and river overflow.
Meanwhile, a winter storm warning is in place for the Sierra Nevada and parts of Shasta County, where snowfall could complicate travel over higher passes and mountain roads. ■