High winds topple San Francisco gas station roof during bomb cyclone, atmospheric river
The potent atmospheric river continues to wallop California on Thursday, creating hazardous road conditions and widespread power outages and flooding. Drivers are asked to stay off the roads if possible due to many downed trees and power lines.
Gas station roof toppled during bomb cyclone in San Francisco
The canopy of a South San Francisco gas station was toppled as a bomb cyclone battered the area on Wednesday, January 4.
SAN FRANCISCO – High winds and heavy rain from a bomb cyclone and atmospheric river continue to cause damage in California, including at a San Francisco gas station, where winds blew over an entire structure.
Winds gusts over 35 mph have been blasting the San Francisco Bay Area as the bomb cyclone continues to impact the region Thursday. Farther inland in elevated areas, a gust as strong as 132 mph was reported at Alpine Meadows in the Sierra Nevada.
Video of a Valero gas station at Callan Boulevard and King Drive in South San Francisco showed the gas station's canopy toppled on its side.
The canopy looks like it was just pushed over by the powerful storm, snapping gas station pumps as it came crashing down. Luckily, no injuries were reported.
![A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms.]()
Image 1 of 4A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
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Image 2 of 4A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. (JOSH EDELSON / AFP)
![A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms.]()
Image 3 of 4A damaged Valero gas station creaks in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. - A bomb cyclone smashed into California on January 4, 2023, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain that was expected to cause flooding in areas already saturated by consecutive storms. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP)
![An image showing crews working to remove a tree that fell across the roadway in Sonoma County, California.]()
Image 4 of 4An image showing crews working to remove a tree that fell across the roadway in Sonoma County, California. (Sonoma County Fire District/Twitter)
This potent atmospheric river, known as a Pineapple Express, continues to wallop California on Thursday, creating hazardous road conditions and widespread power outages and flooding.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR CALIFORNIA'S BOMB CYCLONE, ‘PINEAPPLE EXPRESS’ STORM
Already, 1.44 inches of rain had fallen in San Francisco between Wednesday and Thursday morning. The FOX Forecast Center is tracking up to an additional 2 inches of rain for San Francisco through Thursday night.
(FOX Weather)
More than 100,000 customers were without power as of Thursday morning, according to Pacific Gas and Electricity's outage map. The power provider said the storm will create "widespread challenges" to restoring power, similar to the New Year's Eve storm just last week.
ATMOSPHERIC RIVER TURNS DEADLY AS IT SLAMS CALIFORNIA WITH FLOODING, MUDSLIDES
The ongoing storm has been blamed for at least two deaths in the Bay Area. Overnight Wednesday, a redwood tree fell on a Sonoma County home, killing a child, KTVU FOX 2 reported.
In Fairfield, a 19-year-old woman was killed when her car hydroplaned on a partially flooded road and slammed into a utility pole, according to Fairfield Police.
San Francisco first responders and officials are asking people to stay off the roads if possible as crews continue clearing down trees and debris.