Dec 9, 2009 1:23 pm US/Pacific
Record Cold Snap Still Grips Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5 / BCN) ―
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Fountain water freezes at Absolute Statuary and Fountains in Sebastopol.
Randy Rufenacht
Wednesday had the potential to be the coldest day yet as a cold spell held its grip on the Bay Area, a National Weather Service forecaster said.
Forecaster Duane Dykema said Wednesday could top Tuesday, when a number of Bay Area cities saw record low temperatures, as the coldest day of the week.
A freeze warning was in effect Wednesday night into Thursday morning for the North Bay interior valleys, where low temperatures were expected in the 20s.
On Tuesday, San Rafael had a low of 28 degrees, tying the city's previous record for the date set in 1972. The North Bay had some of the lowest recorded temperatures in general, Dykema said, with many areas reaching the low-20s.
In the South Bay on Tuesday, Moffett Field tied a record low of 31 degrees, which was set in 1994. The city of Santa Cruz also met its record low of 27 degrees for the date. That temperature was also recorded in 1978.
Salinas recorded a low of 29 degrees, breaking its previous record of 30 degrees set in 1980.
On Wednesday morning, just as it did on Tuesday, cold weather caused delays at Bay Area airports because some aircraft had to be "de-iced," which airport managers said is "very rare."
Icy conditions caused delays and the cancellation of more than 20 flights at Oakland International and Mineta San Jose International airports. No significant delays were reported at San Francisco International Airport.
Airport officials said most of the delayed flights involved Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines planes headed to or from airports west of the Rocky Mountains.
Dykema also cautioned motorists to "keep a watch out for slippery patches on overpasses and some mountain roads."
Black ice and low visibility due to fog were reported Wedenesday morning on portions of Interstate 280 from state Highway 92 in San Mateo to Larkspur Drive in Burlingame, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Temperatures were expected to rise later this week, but the region would likely be hit by rain on Thursday, according to the weather service.
For Wednesday night, the Bay Area was expected to be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Low temperatures in the 30s and variable winds of 5 to 10 mph were anticipated.
On Thursday, the Bay Area was expected to have rain, with high temperatures a bit warmer -- in the upper 40s to lower 50s.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
North Bay Freeze Warning
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