A Pacific storm pummeled drought-parched northern and central California on Thursday with heavy rain and high winds, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes, disrupting flights, washing out roads and prompting school closures in the Bay Area.
Some 240 departing and incoming commercial flights were canceled at San Francisco International Airport by late morning, and others were delayed for more than two hours, airport managers said.
A downtown San Francisco subway station serving the financial district was shut down through the morning commuter rush because of a power outage and flooding, and the city's electrified bus system was halted in many areas, transit officials said.
The Embarcadero, the city's popular waterfront walkway, was closed due to flooding and some ferries were also canceled, stranding commuters.
Parts of Oregon and Washington state were also lashed by rain and high winds.
"In certain parts of the West Coast this could be the most significant storm in 10 years," National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Boldt said.