Forecasters expect a tenth to a half an inch to fall across the Bay Area starting Saturday night and ending Monday, the National Weather Service said today.

A storm over the Eastern Pacific Ocean is expected to strengthen and bring rain to the North Bay late Saturday, spreading to San Francisco Sunday morning and to Monterey by early Sunday afternoon, according to forecasters.

The storm will bring colder daytime highs to the area Monday and cold temperatures Wednesday morning, NWS forecaster Diana Henderson said.

Daytime temperatures will be in the mid to upper 50s Monday with a gradual warming to the low to mid 60s by Thursday, she said.

Wednesday morning temperatures will be in the mid to upper 40s, she said.

The amount of rain falling could be higher in areas if thunderstorms materialize Monday, forecasters said. The best chance for thunderstorms will be in the North Bay and East Bay, according to forecasters.

Small hail and gusty winds may accompany the thunderstorms, forecasters said.

The expected rain may mix with snow at elevations above 4,500 feet, but forecasters expect no accumulation, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned boaters, surfers and beachgoers that the rain event will bring rough surf and rip currents to Bay Area waters.

Forecasters said they have low to moderate confidence in the rainfall amounts and moderate confidence in the timing and coverage of the event.

Residents and business owners in Palo Alto can prepare for rain this season by picking up free sandbags at several locations in the city, according to city officials.

Sandbags are available at Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive, and Rinconada Tennis Courts, 777 Embarcadero Road. The Santa Clara Valley Water District will be maintaining an inventory at the Palo Alto Airport.

Residents do not need to bring shovels or other tools to pick up sandbags at these locations.

There is no limit on the number of sandbags that can be taken to a single residence, but there is a limit on how many bags per vehicle trip (10 per passenger vehicle and 20 per commercial vehicle).

To download a map of sandbag locations, click here.

The Santa Clara Valley Water District is hosting a free, hands-on workshops on how to use sandbags to protect from flooding. The workshop will be held today, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon., at the Palo Alto Airport. For more information, visit valleywater.org/sandbagworkshop.

For more storm information, visit cityofpaloalto.org/storms.

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