francisco international airport, at least 240 flights cancelled. this writer was able to make his daily commute to the city. >> it was pretty bumpy. we got -- i swear, we had it, we were airborne going up and down and everybody was in great hysterics and laughing, but it was no normal ferry ride today. >> reporter: to the northeast, it began snowing in the sierra nevada near lake tahoe where two to three feet of snow is anticipated. a wind gust clocking in at 175 miles per hour and the same hitting washington state a day earlier. the rising tide eroding beaches and destroying at least two houses. back here in california, the miserable conditions come with one positive side effect, the state in the middle of a record three year drought can use all the moisture it can get. >> what do you make of all this rain? >> we need it, but i wish it would come more evenly spread out instead of all in one night.