The first of two "pineapple express" storms arrived in Southern California early Wednesday after delivering a stronger-than-expected pounding to the San Francisco Bay Area, breaking rainfall records.

The gusty atmospheric river storm could cause flooding and rockslides but also will help reduce the risk of wildfires with more dry winds in the forecast.

The first of two “pineapple express” storms arrived in Southern California early Wednesday after delivering a stronger-than-expected pounding to the San Francisco Bay Area, breaking rainfall records.

An atmospheric river brought additional rain, strong winds, and flooding to the Bay Area Tuesday, with an increasing chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

The Bay Area woke up on Tuesday to the sound of pattering rain from a winter storm that soaked the region overnight, and forecasters say it’s only expected to intensify as a cold front moves through this afternoon.