Weather experts Wednesday warned Bay Area drivers to take the roads easy when heavy winds and rain muck up the region this weekend.
A nasty storm is expected to hit early Thursday and last through Sunday, promising periods of heavy rainfall and gusts of up to 45 mph, particularly in coastal hills.
Coastal and valley areas can expect rain of up to 2 inches by the end of Thursday and nearly 4 inches by Friday. The Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia mountains could receive in excess of 10 inches by the end of the weekend, weather experts said.
The storm is also expected to bring a large westerly swell into coastal waters Friday through Sunday, likely bringing high surf conditions along all west-facing beaches.