Storms packing 6 inches of rain in 10 days roaring into Bay Area

A barrage of storms interspersed with brief respites will start hitting the Bay Area on Thursday morning and continue for at least a week and a half, kicking off March with significant rainfall to boost reservoirs and hopes that El Niño will show its true colors at last.

All told, throughout the 10-day period starting Thursday, coastal areas will see about six or so inches of rain, and cities at higher elevations are forecast to be drenched in at least 10 inches, forecasters said.

Cities at lower elevations will likely see roadway and river flooding, and residences in mountainous areas may experience power outages, meteorologists said.

Officials urged residents in areas prone to electrical failures to gather flashlights and other emergency equipment.

After last month left the region with pitiful rainfall — San Francisco seeing just 22 percent of what it normally gets — experts are hopeful the next few weeks will bring the Bay Area up to par.