Live Updates: Heavy rain, strong winds in Sacramento as major storm hits Northern California

The rain has arrived, and it’s going to get heavy Sunday.

The Sacramento area, as well as the Sierra Nevada foothills to the east, is being walloped by heavy precipitation and strong winds, the result of a powerful “bomb cyclone” storm raking its way across Northern California.

“There’s a big, deep (pressure) drop that’s kind of remaining off of the Pacific Northwest. It’s bringing in multiple waves,” Emily Heller, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office, said Friday.

And that severe weather is expected to be strongest during the afternoon Sunday.

Here’s the latest from The Bee’s team of journalists:

7:30 a.m.: Some roadways already having issues

What’s come of the rain and wind has already impacted Sacramento area roadways. Electronic signs throughout the area are alerting motorists to “watch for flooding all areas.” along Interstates 5 and 80 and Highways 50 and 99.

Several lanes of Interstate 5 have been closed between Florin Road and Seamas Avenue in the Little Pocket and South Land Park areas due to “extensive flooding,” according to Caltrans. Several of the adjacent on-ramps were also closed as Caltrans crews worked on clearing drains.

A wind advisory is in effect on the Yolo Causeway portion of Interstate 80, due to high winds. Travel is not recommended for campers, trailers or permit loads, Caltrans said.

—DANIEL HUNT

7 a.m.: Storm bearing down on Sacramento

Rain is expected to intensify later this morning, especially around the Interstate 80 corridor. And forecasters say around 3 p.m., stronger bands of clouds are expected to drop a significant amount of rain in the Sacramento area, as well as the foothills.

Winds are also expected to be strong throughout the day. Winds have been strong throughout the even — Sacramento International Airport, for example, has seen winds topping 41 mph. But some areas, especially in the southern Sacramento Valley,are expected to gust to 50 mph in the afternoon.

—DANIEL HUNT

6:43 a.m.: Ironman Sacramento canceled

Ironman California canceled its Sacramento debut Sunday morning, citing weather conditions that would prevent “acceptably safe” swimming and biking conditions.

“The safety of the athletes, volunteers and spectators is our highest priority. It would not be responsible to host the event at this moment in time,” the organizers said in a social media post around 6:30 a.m.

The race had 3,500 registered competitors, including some of the best athletes in the world. Followers on the race’s Facebook page mostly applauded the decision Sunday morning as strong winds accompanied heavy rains in Sacramento.

—JIM PATRICK