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Sonoma, Napa counties drenched by stagnant atmospheric river

Sonoma, Napa counties drenched by stagnant atmospheric river

Heavy rains flooded area streams, submerged roads and caused the lower Russian River to reach flood stage before receding on Saturday.

A moisture-laden storm that blew into the North Bay early Wednesday and parked right in the middle of Santa Rosa dumped more than 15 inches of rain in 36 hours on Sonoma County’s coastal hills and more than 10 at the county airport.

The totals sent weather officials into the record books, and although the results are pending, the amounts appear to be among the highest recorded in at least a century.

The good news was that the storm was expected to subside somewhat by Thursday night, relieving some of the pressure on local streams that were swollen due to extremely heavy rains.

The bad news is that more rain is expected to arrive before dawn on Friday, causing heavy showers later in the morning.

Forecasters said that intermittent rain will be expected for a few more days from now on.

That means flooding of more small streams and roadways is likely and the lower Russian River has potentially reached flood stage, emergency officials said.

The flood warning will be in effect until 16:00 on Friday, and the flood warning will be in effect until Saturday morning. However, rain will continue from now on.

Although flood concerns are less severe in Napa County, the flood watch will remain in effect until late Friday night.

“We’re in this at least through Sunday,” Sonoma County Emergency Management Director Jeff DuVall said, urging residents to be prepared and take precautions for worse weather.

“We always prepare for the worst,” he said. “It’s better to be proactive than reactive, and that’s where we’re at right now.”

Amid the severe impact of winter weather, public safety personnel have been on the run since Wednesday, removing downed trees and rescuing stranded motorists who wandered onto flooded roads despite regular warnings from authorities to turn around rather than enter high water.

Low-lying roads around the area were flooded, and unexpected lakes formed in places like downtown Healdsburg, where water was knee-deep on West North Street.

In Santa Rosa, about 150 people were trapped by rising water at Sutter Health Center on Airway Drive after Piner Creek overflowed its banks Thursday afternoon. Santa Rosa Fire Department Chief Paul Lowenthal said flooding flooded part of the parking lot and the entrance road.

The water had begun to recede by Thursday afternoon, and it looked like those at the medical center might be able to get out, but it was unclear at what time, he said.

Lowenthal said some patients who use wheelchairs and were brought to the facility by paratransit van had to be transported back to vans outside by high-range fire trucks.

Dozens of roads were closed in the region. Many schools would remain closed Friday, including Analy and Laguna high schools in Sebastopol and Kashia Elementary School in Stewarts Point.

“Today was a complete mess,” Lowenthal said.

PG&E also reported power outages affecting approximately 540 households scattered around Sonoma County and 220 households in Napa County at last check Thursday afternoon.

Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman said dead trees in particular were filling with water and falling over in Western Sonoma County. The coastal Timber Cove area was also hit hard, he said.

A tree fell on a home on Medica Road in Santa Rosa, collapsing the roof and tripping a power line, but no one was injured.

In Napa County, roads remain open despite ongoing reports of storm-related hazards, according to a county public works roads division employee.

Thursday morning crews cleared rocks that had fallen onto Snell Valley Road overnight or early that morning, as well as some smaller rocks that had slid onto Berryessa Knoxville Road.

North County Fire District Chief Marshall Turbeville said the ground has not yet become saturated enough to cause trees to be removed, but some small landslides have been reported, including near Lake Sonoma.

The National Weather Service said 10.41 inches of rain fell at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport between 2 a.m. Wednesday and 2 p.m. Thursday, the wettest period since the agency began keeping rainfall records for the region in 1998. He said it was.

Wednesday’s single-day total at the airport was 6.92 inches, surpassing the previous high in 2021 of 6.09 inches.

Previous readings were taken downtown, causing difficulties in determining exactly whether this week’s deluge broke long-standing records.

National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Gass said the worst of the rain is behind us, but enough rain has fallen for people to stay home if possible and be extra careful on the roads.

DuVall, Sonoma County’s emergency manager, said just six inches of rushing water would be enough to knock someone off their feet. It can only support most cars by 12 inches.