Bay Area storm: What’s next in forecast as flash flood warnings are extended
Posted on 11/23/2024
The atmospheric river took aim at the Bay Area today, even as more northern parts of California continued to experience storm impacts. A heavy rain system settled over San Francisco, bringing a torrent of precipitation to the city and a flash flood warning. The worst now is over for the majority of the Bay Area, however the weekend is likely to bring the chance of intermittent rain.
The axis of heavy rain has finally started to shift to the south of San Francisco and we should start to see a trend towards lighter precipitation rates across the city as the evening progresses. But the cold front won’t completely clear our area until after 10pm, so rain showers will remain in the mix for the rest of the evening. Further to the south, Santa Cruz and the South Bay have been getting into the action. Some of the heaviest rain over the last two hours has been over the Santa Cruz Mountains and the interior East Bay.
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Now that the final pulse of energy riding along the cold front has progressed far enough eastward, the entire cold front will continue its slow progress southward. But not before delivering upwards of an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Santa Cruz Mountains and further south toward Monterey.
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The worst is over though for the majority of the Bay Area though, once the cold front moves away, we can call an end to this multiday atmospheric river event. But that doesn’t fully remove the chance of some intermittent rain as we move into the weekend.
You may notice that despite the cold front moving through the area, it’s still pretty warm and humid outside. That’s because the difference in surface air temperatures ahead and behind the front aren’t that drastic. Above the surface in the upper atmosphere, the air has gotten colder. And the combination of cold air aloft along with warm and humid air at the surface will keep the atmosphere generally unstable on Saturday and Sunday, which keeps the potential for pop up showers in the forecast for both days. There may even be a few rumbles of thunder with some of those showers.
A flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville in Sonoma County was extended until early Sunday morning, as minor flooding is in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.
“Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas,” NWS officials said in a statement.
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San Francisco has already logged its wettest day since New Year’s Eve 2022, when 5.46 inches fell. Rain is still continuing to fall across Northern California, but this map shows totals through 5 p.m.:
Three cars were almost submerged under floodwaters in the Produce Market district in San Francisco in the early evening.
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This map shows rainfall totals across the state. In one striking statistic, over 20 inches of rain have fallen in 72 hours in Venado in Sonoma County.
On Friday afternoon, Rob S stood at the threshold of his garage on Marina Boulevard in San Francisco, sandbags laid out. He said he’s lived in the home with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge for about a decade, but only began having flooding issues in the last three years.
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Over the course of 15 minutes, floodwaters threatened to lap at the sandbags at the edge of his garage, before receding back to the street.
He said one year flooding caused a backup in a ground floor bathroom, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. This time he is more prepared, with a second line of defense of long absorbent gel packs that block any water seeping past the sandbags.
“My neighbor has lived here for 50 years,” and said that wouldn’t happen again for years to come, Rob S said. Instead floods have become almost a yearly occurrence.
Elsewhere along Marina Boulevard drains backed up, forcing cars to drive through deep puddles and sluice water onto sidewalks. As darkness fell, a truck with a large suction hose and a tank pulled up at the intersection of Divisadero Street. Workers said the area had flooded multiple times in the last four hours, but they were not using the device around 5 p.m.
Farther down the street other homes had sandbags set up, with some double layered behind extendable wait high metal flood barriers. Some joggers still passed by, seemingly oblivious to the downpour.
— Chase DiFeliciantonio
Localized flooding on a portion of BART’s Red Line shut down train service between Daly City and Millbrae, officials said Friday. Crews were addressing the flooding problem, which was taking place outside Colma, according to BART spokesperson Jim Allison.
— Jordan Parker
A flash flood warning for Alameda County has been extended to 7:45 p.m. Friday and now includes Oakland, Hayward and Alameda. Flash flooding has already been reported in Castro Valley and Union City, with rainfall amounts between 0.5 and 1 inch, and an additional 1 to 2 inches expected.
As of 4:30 p.m. what should be one of the final pushes of heavy rain was pivoting through San Francisco. After this, the trend should be for the heavier rain to shift toward the East and South Bay, with the cold front finally starting to move out of the area after 7 p.m.
Friday’s heavy rainfall caused significant disruptions at San Francisco International Airport, with 491 flight delays and 61 cancellations as of 4:30 p.m. United Airlines alone reported 183 delays, while SkyWest has seen 74 delays and 51 cancellations. The weather is also impacting nearby roadways, with SFO officials advising travelers to allow extra time to reach the airport and check with their airline for the latest flight updates before arriving.
The flash flood warning for San Francisco has expired, but warnings remain in effect for parts of the East Bay, the Peninsula and South Bay. A warning continues until 6 p.m. Friday for Alameda and Contra Costa counties, where flash flooding has already been reported. Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain has fallen, with additional rainfall expected. A separate warning remains until 5 p.m. for San Mateo County and 12:30 a.m. Saturday for Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Abel Perez, 26, fiddled with a watch under a large tent at the corner of 17th St and Treat Avenue in San Francisco trying to stay out of the rain.
Unhoused for the past three years, Perez said the biggest challenge during rainy season is just staying dry and warm.
“I’m freezing,” he said laughing.
Perez told the Chronicle he’d dragged the large white tent from 30th Street up to the Mission Creek neighborhood because the tent he found with his friend Miguel Rivera, 28, just won’t keep the rain out.
“Everything is soaked,” Perez said. “Blankets. Clothes. Everything. I have nothing to wear. What I’m wearing right now is wet.”
Perez said he has been offered housing at a temporary shelter, but because of stringent rules that don’t allow him to bring personal belongings he’s decided to stay put. Still, he has been moved around a lot.
Perez said he moved just two days ago further south in the Mission by SFPD and was offered housing. He suspects very soon he’ll be asked to move again.
“We’re just trying to survive day to day right now,” Rivera said. “I guess it’s going to come soon, the day when I have to move into a shelter or a hotel.”
Meanwhile Ramon Castillo was further up the road sitting inside a small one-person tent smoking while worried about moving.
“I know I’m going to have to move in a bit,” Castillo said. “I was in a hotel but people won’t leave me alone with all the rules.”
Castillo,48, said he’s from El Salvador and has been homeless for two years but has lived in the Bay Area for thirty years. He said rainy days are the worst as an unhoused person.
“It’s always something,” he said.
— Aldo Toledo
A flood advisory is in effect until 12:30 a.m. Saturday for parts of the South Bay, including San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Between 0.2 and 1 inch of rain has already fallen, causing some flooding in urban areas and streams, with an additional 1 to 4 inches of rain expected, which will likely lead to minor flooding. Affected locations include San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, Cupertino and other cities across the region.
All California addresses under some level of flood warning can be looked up using the tool below:
Residents were told to avoid Grizzly Peak in Berkeley due to a landslide in the northbound lane. The landslide occurred about 1 mile south of Centennial Drive, according to UC Berkeley officials.
Excessive flooding at Centennial Drive and Stadium Way in Berkeley has been cleared. “The intersection and surrounding roadways are open,” an alert from UC Berkeley officials said.
Downpours have caused Northern California rivers to rise, and the California Nevada River Forecast Center is forecasting floods. The Eel River at Fernbridge (Humboldt County) is already in moderate flood stage, with water levels rising to over 23 feet.
The following rivers are in minor flood stage, as of Friday afternoon
Navarro at Navarro (Mendocino County
Russian River at Hopland (Mendocino County)
Sacramento River at Tehama Bridge (Tehama County)
Sacramento at Vina Woodson Bridge (Tehama County)
The following rivers are forecast to reach minor flood stage Friday
Russian at Guerneville (Sonoma County)
Napa at Saint Helena (Napa County)
High flows continue on numerous rivers across the state, according to the office’s latest briefing.
— Jack Lee
The Silverado Trail, which meanders through vineyards in Napa County, was closed Friday between Oak Knoll Avenue and Yountville Crossroad because of a mudslide.
In alert sent to students on Friday, UC Berkeley said to avoid the area of Centennial Drive and Stadium Rim Way due to “severe flooding in the roadway.” Officials said campus police and facilities services crews were working to clear the flooding.
“The intersection and connecting roadways will be closed for the immediate future until the flooding can be cleared,” officials said.
— Jordan Parker
Torrential rain pooled into a large lake Friday afternoon outside Dog Eared Books on Valenicia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District, with a power outage impacting half the block. The cashier was still able to ring up purchases — just not in cash.
— Lily Janiak
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for portions of Alameda County and Contra Costa County, effective until 6 p.m. Friday. Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain have already fallen across the East Bay, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain expected. Cities at risk include Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Alameda and surrounding areas. Authorities advise motorists to stay off the roads unless necessary.
A section of westbound Interstate 80, just west of the metering light near the Bay Bridge toll plaza, was flooded Friday afternoon, causing disruptions ahead of the evening commute and the busy Thanksgiving holiday week.
Flooding was reported in the Marina and Mission districts in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, as well as a stretch of South of Market near the corner of Folsom and First Streets, according to the National Weather Service’s local emergency manager. A flash flood warning remains in effect as heavy rainfall continues in the region. Authorities are advising residents to avoid travel unless fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.
Flooding on northbound Highway 101 at Interstate 280 has caused the closure of multiple lanes. The estimated time of reopening is unknown. The California Highway Patrol advised drivers to expect delays and seek alternate routes.
The heaviest band of rain so far in the Bay Area has been centered across the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco and Oakland for nearly 90 minutes, dropping anywhere from 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rain during that time frame.
How severe the flooding situation gets across the Bay Area today depends on the forward progression of the cold front. And that progression is being determined by a small wave of low pressure (referred to as a shortwave) developing out over the tail of the frontal system located over the Pacific Ocean.
As that shortwave rides eastward along the frontal boundary, it has essentially stopped the forward movement of the frontal system, stalling the front out directly over the Bay Area.
Once that shortwave progresses far enough to the east (which should happen sometime after 7 p.m.), we should start to see the cold front finally move out of the Bay Area, taking the heavy rain with it.
But that still leaves several more hours with bursts of moderate to heavy rainfall.
Downpours on Friday have the potential to drop up to 5 inches of rain on San Francisco over the course of the day. Read more about which neighborhoods are at risk of floods during extreme storms.
— Jack Lee
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for northwestern San Mateo County, effective until 5 p.m. Friday. Flash flooding is already reported in the area, with 0.5 to 1 inch of rain and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected. Affected locations include Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica and surrounding areas. Authorities warn of flooding in urban areas, small creeks, highways and low-lying regions. “Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads,” the agency warned.
Flooding on northbound and southbound Highway 121 between Highway 116 and Eighth Street East in Sonoma County has been reported by the California Highway Patrol. All lanes remain blocked. Motorists should expect delays and use alternate routes to avoid the area. Caltrans estimates that the road will reopen at 5 p.m.
During the worst of the San Francisco deluge, pedestrians walked in the Fifth Street bike lanes between Mission and Market streets to avoid streams that gushed among the curbs. Some passers-by ducked under store awnings or took cover in parking garages. The normally busy sidewalks had largely emptied out.
— Rachel Swan
Firefighters helped a driver caught in a flooded culvert along a Santa Rosa city street on Friday, officials said. The woman, who wasn’t identified, told firefighters she didn’t realize the water was so deep and when she tried to turn around she accidentally drove off the road and into a deep culvert. The water level was receding during a break in rainfall, and the woman was able to get out of the vehicle. She was uninjured, Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said.
Lowenthal urged drives to assume floodwaters swamping streets across the region are deeper than they appear.
“Turn around, don’t try it,” Lowenthal said.
— Julie Johnson
Flooding on I-280 in Daly City: Over a foot of water reported
A flood has been reported in Daly City with over a foot of water covering Interstate 280, according to a local law enforcement alert issued at 12:50 p.m. on Friday.
The flooding was causing significant disruption along the highway and causing major traffic delays, according to the National Weather Service.
A landslide near Bodega Bay blocked both northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 1 on Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued the alert, noting that the blockage is causing significant disruptions in the area. Travelers are advised to avoid the affected section of Highway 1 and seek alternative routes.
On Dec. 31, 2022, an atmospheric river stalled over Central California, fueling downpours that dropped 5.46 inches of rain on downtown San Francisco.
It was the city’s second-wettest day on record, going back to 1849. The deluge caused widespread flooding across the Bay Area.
Friday’s storm could bring 3 to 5 inches of rain could fall on San Francisco, which could produce minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas. “Ponding of water in urban or other areas is occurring or is imminent,” according to a flood advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
— Jack Lee
As of Friday afternoon, San Francisco International Airport reported 413 flight delays and 51 cancellations — the most disruptions for any U.S. airport., according to FlightAware United Airlines had 141 flight delays, by far the most of any airline. SkyWest had 64 delays; Delta had 41 and Southwest had 37.
Some of the heaviest rain of the day is about to move into San Francisco and Oakland.
A narrow band of heavy rain is lurking offshore, moving slowly to the east and its poised to sit over the region for the next few hours. An inch or more of rain is possible in the next 2 to 3 hours. That’s on top of the broad 0.75 to 1 inches of rain that have already fallen today.
Flash flood warning issued for S.F.: A flash flood warning has been issued for San Francisco, with the National Weather Service alerting residents via emergency notifications on their mobile phones. The warning, in effect until 3:45 p.m. states: “This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”
The atmospheric river fueling rains stalled over the Bay Area could lead to continued rain producing flash floods.
The Weather Prediction Center called for a moderate risk of excessive rainfall in parts of the North Bay, which means numerous flash floods are likely. San Francisco faces slight risk, meaning scatter flash floods are possible.
— Jack Lee
New data from the National Weather Service indicated the approaching weather front was expected to stall over the Bay Area for the next 6 to 8 hours, with some fluctuation in its movement. During this period, San Francisco was projected to experience sustained heavy rainfall. Current estimates suggested the city could receive between 3 and 5 inches of rain.
Flood advisory issued for San Francisco due to heavy rainfall
A flood advisory was in effect for San Francisco until 8 p.m. Friday, due to heavy rainfall. Minor flooding was already occurring, with up to 0.7 inches of rain falling, and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected.
Flooding was most likely in low-lying and poorly drained areas, including roadways like Interstate 280 near Geneva Avenue.
A moderate to heavy rain band has set up shop over San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area. The rain band will not move much until mid-afternoon, so expect urban flooding issues to pop up as 1 to 2 inches of rain pelt the region.
Read more here about the atmospheric river stalled over San Francisco and much of the Bay Area.
As of 11:12 a.m. Friday, Pacific Gas and Electric reported that 15,522 of its customers were affected by ongoing power outages. The second wave of a potent atmospheric river is sweeping through Northern California, bringing heavy rain and strong winds into the Bay Area.
PG&E said its crews were actively working to assess the damage, make repairs and restore service. Since the storm began, the utility has restored power to more than 191,000 customers, with 89% being brought back online within 12 hours. Customers can monitor the status of outages and restoration efforts through PG&E’s online outage center.
A winter storm warning remained in effect across several California and Nevada regions, with “heavy snow” and hazardous conditions expected through Saturday and into next week.
Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet were forecast above 7,000 feet in areas such as the Lake Tahoe region, Mono County, and parts of the Sierra. Winds could gust up to 55 mph, with ridge winds reaching 125 mph, causing potential power outages and tree damage.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the agency wrote. A winter storm watch is also in effect Sunday through Tuesday. According to the weather service, a watch is typically upgraded to a warning or advisory
While the storm drenching Northern California was essentially the first major rain event of the year, it brought record-breaking rainfall, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during an online briefing Friday.
Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa logged nearly 7 inches of rain Wednesday, which is expected to occur just once every 100-200 years, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration precipitation frequency data, Swain explained.
Around a foot of rain has fallen in two days, which exceeds the defined threshold for a 1,000-year event based on 48-hour rainfall. But such rare events may actually occur more frequently that predicted by the NOAA precipitation atlas, Swain said. “Was the two day precipitation in Santa Rosa that we’ve seen exceptional? Definitely. Do I think it was truly a 1-in-1,000 year two-day rain event in this part of the world? Probably not.”
Climate change has made precipitation more extreme, scientists say. Nonetheless, the rain event has been exceptional for places like Sonoma County and nearby areas.
“This is literally the heaviest rain event on a one-to-two-day period that we’ve observed, period, in this part of the state,” Swain said. “So that is quite notable.”
— Jack Lee
A mudslide blocked a road linking Sonoma and Napa counties Friday morning. A rain-soaked hillside sent mud, rocks and debris washing over both lanes of Porter Creek Road about 11 a.m.
Sonoma County Fire Chief Mark Heine said the risk of mudslides was rising as the unrelenting rain continued saturating the ground.
“We’re now starting to see earth move,” Heine said.
— Julie Johnson
A moderate to heavy rain band has set up shop over San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area.
This rain band will not move much over the next several hours, so expect urban flooding issues to pop up as upwards of 1 to 2 inches of rain are likely to fall from now through the mid-afternoon.
Rainfall rates will be about 0.25 to 0.5 inches per hour over the next several hours, which will undoubtedly cause large puddles and urban flooding across the city, Peninsula and Oakland. A sharp cut off to the southern edge of the heavy rain stretches from about Palo Alto up the northeast towards Livermore and Tracey. South of these points, including San Jose, little if any rain is falling.
Heavy rain battered Santa Rosa Friday, but emergency officials reported few problems beyond swamped roads falling trees. Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said that a seven-hour break in the rain Thursday overnight into Friday morning diminished the threat of flooding from city creeks.
The timing of the storm at the start of winter when the creeks and ground weren’t already saturated has given the voluminous amounts of water places to go, according to the fire marshal.
“With the break we had, hopefully we’ll be in much better shape today,” Lowenthal said.
— Julie Johnson
Friday brought a break in the rain in much of Humboldt County, even as rivers around the region and further south swelled with rainwater.
On the outskirts of Ferndale, rising water from the Eel River flooded fields near Sharon Scofield’s home.
Nearby, Jorge Martinez and Manuel Barral’s tractor splashed through a flooded section of Sage Road.The farmhands normally work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., they said. Today, their boss was only having his workers in the fields until about noon, because of the potential for more flooding in the fields, they said.
“I guess we’ll rest,” Martinez said, with a smile.
Nearby, Scofield scoffed at the storm. Her family has lived in the area since the 1850s, and Scofield, 71, moved into her home on Sage Road two years ago.
“This is nothing,” she said. “It will come up a little bit more, but because the ground takes it so well, it will also probably drain.”
Water had pooled in her fields and closed some local roads but her home was perched 10 to 12 feet above those areas.
“When they said the Eel River would crest at 23 feet, I know I was ok,” she said. If it was 26 feet (or more), I might have gotten nervous.”
Prior to the storm, she’d banked hay for her horses, and she had extra batteries, food, and water in store as well.
Sonoma County Airport records over a foot of rain in 3 days
In the past three days, Sonoma County Airport has recorded 12.67 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service — a remarkable amount given the area’s average annual rainfall of 34 inches from 1991 to 2020.
The recent downpour represents more than 35% of the region’s typical yearly rainfall in just 72 hours.
The Santa Rosa Police Department warned of ongoing flooding in various parts of the city on Friday morning. Although no road closures were reported in the city, some areas are experiencing partial flooding, and ponding on roadways was widespread.
A flood warning remained in effect through 4 p.m., while a flood advisory covers the entire North Bay until 3:15 a.m. Saturday. With over 10 inches of rain recorded in less than 48 hours, the National Weather Service confirmed yesterday as the second-wettest day in Santa Rosa’s history. Authorities urge residents to “avoid unnecessary travel” and never drive through flooded areas or around barricades.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office issued a flood evacuation warning early Friday morning for the North Chico and Richardson Springs areas. The warning affects evacuation zones 312, 313, 314, 315 and 317 due to ongoing flooding.
For the latest updates, see the evacuation map.
The Sierra Avalanche Center issued a backcountry avalanche watch for the greater Lake Tahoe area that will last through early Saturday morning.
The alert covers the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, from Yuba Pass (Highway 49) to Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4).
“This does not include ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist,” the agency said. A powerful storm, bringing heavy snow, rain and strong winds, is expected to trigger widespread avalanche activity.
“Avalanches large enough to bury people or knock down large trees could occur in backcountry areas,” authorities warned. The public was advised to avoid traveling in avalanche-prone terrain and to check the Sierra Avalanche Center for updated information.
Steady rain is about to move into San Francisco and will overspread the rest of the Bay Area slowly this morning. Some of the worst conditions of the day, heavy rain and strong winds, will occur over the next several hours.
The cold front responsible for the wind and rain is in no rush and will take basically all day to move through the area. We are still expecting a broad 1 to 3 inches of rain today, with 2 to 6 inches of rain expected in the North Bay.
Winds will be the strongest over the next few hours as well, with frequent gusts of 30 to 40 mph across the city and Peninsula.
Schools in a dozen districts in Sonoma County were closed Friday because of the severe weather. All campuses were closed in the following districts:
Cinnabar
Fort Ross Elementary
Geyserville Unified
Guerneville
Horicon
Kashia
Monte Rio Union
West Sonoma County High
In addition, these schools were closed:
Credo High School, Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified District
Forestville Academy and Forestville School, Forestville Union District
Montgomery School, Montgomery Elementary District
Northwest Prep at Piner-Olivet, Piner-Olivet District
Olivet Elementary Charter School, Piner-Olivet District
More information and updates about closures can be found online at www.scoe.org/.
The National Weather Service reported rainfall records for several Northern California locations Thursday. Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa tallied 4.93 inches, breaking the previous Nov. 21 record of 0.93 inches set in 2001. Records at the airport go back to 1998.
Ukiah (Mendocino County) logged 3.66 inches of rainfall Thursday, breaking the previous daily record of 3.16 inches set in 1977. Redding registered 3.21 inches, breaking the previous daily record of 2.4 inches, also set in 1977. Records for both areas go back to 1893.
— Jack Lee
As of 9:10 a.m. Friday approximately 11,100 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were experiencing power outages, with 241 separate outages reported.
“As the atmospheric river continues to deliver heavy rains and strong winds along the North Coast and south through the Bay Area, PG&E crews and resources are working throughout our hometowns to assess storm-related damage, make repairs, and restore power safely and as quickly as possible,” the utility company said.
Firefighters quickly contained a wind-driven vegetation fire that broke out on Waverly Road near Farmington in Calaveras County on Thursday, after a downed powerline sparked the blaze. The Duck Fire, which started around 11 a.m., spread rapidly due to strong winds, growing from five acres to 54 acres by noon, according to Calaveras Consolidated Fire.
By 4 p.m., Cal Fire reported the fire was fully contained at just over 73 acres. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crews were also on site to address safety concerns related to the downed powerline.
S.F. Bay Ferry officials said shuttle service for the Alameda Oakland water shuttle was suspended due to inclement weather.
All Pier 41 Short Hop trips were also cancelled on Friday.
Highway 1 was fully closed north of Point Arena near the Garcia River in Mendocino County due to flooding, according to Caltrans.
There was no estimated time for reopening. For the latest road conditions, the agency recommends checking road conditions on the QuickMap app or website.
The National Weather Service issued an extended flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville. The river was forecast to rise above the flood stage of 32 feet by late Friday, reaching 32.5 feet after midnight.
This could cause localized flooding, including road closures at the intersection of Highway 116 and Neeley Road, as well as Mays Canyon Road. Drivers were urged not to attempt crossing flooded roads. The warning will remain in effect until further notice.
8:21 a.m. | Nearly 250 flights disrupted at SFO
As of early Friday morning, San Francisco International Airport reported 198 flight delays, affecting domestic and international flights.
The airport also reported 49 flight cancellations. United Airlines had the most delayed flights at SFO, with 42, followed by Southwest, with 36.
All lanes of Highway 121 in both the northbound and southbound directions were covered in floodwater Friday morning between Highway 116 and 8th St. E. in Sonoma County, according to 511.
Drivers were advised to expected delays and seek different routes if possible to avoid the area. Caltrans did not expect to get the lanes reopened until 5 p.m., according to the 511 alert.
The atmospheric river parked over the Northern California was expected to bring more rain to the Bay Area on Friday, as a powerful cold front reaches the region. As much as 6 inches of rain could fall across the North Bay and 1 to 3 inches of rain was likely in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose through Friday evening.
For many locations south of San Francisco, Friday’s heavy rain will bring the first notable precipitation of the ongoing atmospheric river event.
A detailed look at the Bay Area forecast is here.
Officials in Humboldt County issued evacuation orders early Friday morning due to flooding in areas that abut the Eel River, which was swelling from a deluge of rain on Thursday. Areas slightly further from the Eel River were placed under evacuation warnings.
Humboldt County evacuation zones were made available here.
Billowing winds were causing delays for inbound flights to San Francisco International Airport Friday morning, according to FlightAware. Flights were delayed at their airports of origin by an average of two and a half hours as airlines waited for conditions to improve before attempting to land at SFO.
A total of 149 flights were delayed at SFO Friday morning, most of which were United Airlines and Southwest flights. Forty-nine flights had been canceled as of 7:10 a.m.
Thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were without power Friday morning after a storm fueled by an atmospheric river inundated much of Northern California with rain and whipped up powerful winds.
The Chronicle’s PG&E outage map showed nearly 4,900 PG&E customers without power in Mendocino County, which had perhaps the biggest pocket of blackouts Friday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued weather advisories and warnings across the Bay Area for Friday; here is a roundup:
Winds:
A wind advisory is in effect for broad swaths of the Bay Area until 10 p.m. on Friday with frequent gusts of wind from the south at 35 to 50 mph, and even higher gusts across elevated areas.
North Bay:
A flood watch was issued for Friday morning. NWS said creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded.
A flood warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday for east-central Sonoma County, where excessive rainfall continues to cause urban and small stream flooding. As of Thursday evening, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the region, with 3.5 to 7 inches already recorded. Flooding is occurring along key waterways such as Sonoma Creek, Green Valley Creek and Mark West Creek, with additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches expected. Low-water crossings are submerged, and several roads remain impassable. “Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding,” the National Weather Service warned. “Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.”
There’s also a flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville (Sonoma County) effective from Friday afternoon until further notice. The river is forecast to crest at 33.7 feet early Saturday, above the flood stage of 32 feet. At this level, local areas including the intersection of Hwy 116 and Drake Rd. in Guerneville will be flooded, as well as Willow and Alder Streets in Monte Rio.
San Francisco:
A high surf advisory was issued for early Friday morning. NWS says swell periods and wave heights will gradually decrease through the day, however “gusty winds over the waters will keep the surf zone energetic, so still use caution visiting the beach.”
On the coast:
Gale warnings for various coastal areas of California are in effect through 9 p.m. Friday. South winds ranging from 20 to 35 knots, gusting up to 50 knots, are expected, along with seas of 8 to 18 feet, creating hazardous conditions for mariners. Affected regions include waters from Point Arena to Pigeon Point, and from Cape Mendocino to Point Arena. “Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility,” the National Weather Service warned. It advised mariners to stay in port, seek safe harbor or secure vessels to avoid the dangerous conditions.
Weather apps show rain is expected through Tuesday for the Bay Area… which would mean eight straight days of rain. But are the apps right?
In this case, possibly. San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Rosa and Redding all have a greater than 90% chance of measurable rain each day through Tuesday. An unstable weather pattern will persist through the weekend and into next week, keeping the atmospheric river active.
Go here to read more about the possibility for a long stretch of rain.
Northern California logged copious rainfall Wednesday, with some locations receiving upwards of 10 inches of rain. “So probably either the wettest or second-wettest day in a lifetime yesterday … in parts of Sonoma County and probably too in parts of southern Mendocino County,” said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during an online briefing Thursday.
There are rising concerns for potential impacts in the coming days, Swain said: “If you’re already seeing flooding, keep in mind that the worst is probably yet to come, as heavy rain continues and will even briefly intensify tomorrow morning when the cold front finally moves through with a burst of widespread, heavy precipitation.”
Heavy downpours would be particularly problematic on the heels of days of steady rain.
“What that means is that your rivers are already primed to respond. They’re already running high, hillslopes may become saturated, and then you dump a lot of water on it all at once,” Swain said. “That can be the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, with some of these small- to medium-sized rivers.”
Swain highlighted Sonoma and Mendocino counties as an area of concern due to heavy rain over the next 24 to 36 hours, as well as the foothills above Lake Oroville, including the Park Fire footprint.
The axis of heavy rain has finally started to shift to the south of San Francisco and we should start to see a trend towards lighter precipitation rates across the city as the evening progresses. But the cold front won’t completely clear our area until after 10pm, so rain showers will remain in the mix for the rest of the evening. Further to the south, Santa Cruz and the South Bay have been getting into the action. Some of the heaviest rain over the last two hours has been over the Santa Cruz Mountains and the interior East Bay.
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Now that the final pulse of energy riding along the cold front has progressed far enough eastward, the entire cold front will continue its slow progress southward. But not before delivering upwards of an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Santa Cruz Mountains and further south toward Monterey.
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The worst is over though for the majority of the Bay Area though, once the cold front moves away, we can call an end to this multiday atmospheric river event. But that doesn’t fully remove the chance of some intermittent rain as we move into the weekend.
You may notice that despite the cold front moving through the area, it’s still pretty warm and humid outside. That’s because the difference in surface air temperatures ahead and behind the front aren’t that drastic. Above the surface in the upper atmosphere, the air has gotten colder. And the combination of cold air aloft along with warm and humid air at the surface will keep the atmosphere generally unstable on Saturday and Sunday, which keeps the potential for pop up showers in the forecast for both days. There may even be a few rumbles of thunder with some of those showers.
A flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville in Sonoma County was extended until early Sunday morning, as minor flooding is in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.
“Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas,” NWS officials said in a statement.
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San Francisco has already logged its wettest day since New Year’s Eve 2022, when 5.46 inches fell. Rain is still continuing to fall across Northern California, but this map shows totals through 5 p.m.:
Three cars were almost submerged under floodwaters in the Produce Market district in San Francisco in the early evening.
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This map shows rainfall totals across the state. In one striking statistic, over 20 inches of rain have fallen in 72 hours in Venado in Sonoma County.
On Friday afternoon, Rob S stood at the threshold of his garage on Marina Boulevard in San Francisco, sandbags laid out. He said he’s lived in the home with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge for about a decade, but only began having flooding issues in the last three years.
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Over the course of 15 minutes, floodwaters threatened to lap at the sandbags at the edge of his garage, before receding back to the street.
He said one year flooding caused a backup in a ground floor bathroom, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. This time he is more prepared, with a second line of defense of long absorbent gel packs that block any water seeping past the sandbags.
“My neighbor has lived here for 50 years,” and said that wouldn’t happen again for years to come, Rob S said. Instead floods have become almost a yearly occurrence.
Elsewhere along Marina Boulevard drains backed up, forcing cars to drive through deep puddles and sluice water onto sidewalks. As darkness fell, a truck with a large suction hose and a tank pulled up at the intersection of Divisadero Street. Workers said the area had flooded multiple times in the last four hours, but they were not using the device around 5 p.m.
Farther down the street other homes had sandbags set up, with some double layered behind extendable wait high metal flood barriers. Some joggers still passed by, seemingly oblivious to the downpour.
— Chase DiFeliciantonio
Localized flooding on a portion of BART’s Red Line shut down train service between Daly City and Millbrae, officials said Friday. Crews were addressing the flooding problem, which was taking place outside Colma, according to BART spokesperson Jim Allison.
— Jordan Parker
A flash flood warning for Alameda County has been extended to 7:45 p.m. Friday and now includes Oakland, Hayward and Alameda. Flash flooding has already been reported in Castro Valley and Union City, with rainfall amounts between 0.5 and 1 inch, and an additional 1 to 2 inches expected.
As of 4:30 p.m. what should be one of the final pushes of heavy rain was pivoting through San Francisco. After this, the trend should be for the heavier rain to shift toward the East and South Bay, with the cold front finally starting to move out of the area after 7 p.m.
Friday’s heavy rainfall caused significant disruptions at San Francisco International Airport, with 491 flight delays and 61 cancellations as of 4:30 p.m. United Airlines alone reported 183 delays, while SkyWest has seen 74 delays and 51 cancellations. The weather is also impacting nearby roadways, with SFO officials advising travelers to allow extra time to reach the airport and check with their airline for the latest flight updates before arriving.
The flash flood warning for San Francisco has expired, but warnings remain in effect for parts of the East Bay, the Peninsula and South Bay. A warning continues until 6 p.m. Friday for Alameda and Contra Costa counties, where flash flooding has already been reported. Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain has fallen, with additional rainfall expected. A separate warning remains until 5 p.m. for San Mateo County and 12:30 a.m. Saturday for Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
Abel Perez, 26, fiddled with a watch under a large tent at the corner of 17th St and Treat Avenue in San Francisco trying to stay out of the rain.
Unhoused for the past three years, Perez said the biggest challenge during rainy season is just staying dry and warm.
“I’m freezing,” he said laughing.
Perez told the Chronicle he’d dragged the large white tent from 30th Street up to the Mission Creek neighborhood because the tent he found with his friend Miguel Rivera, 28, just won’t keep the rain out.
“Everything is soaked,” Perez said. “Blankets. Clothes. Everything. I have nothing to wear. What I’m wearing right now is wet.”
Perez said he has been offered housing at a temporary shelter, but because of stringent rules that don’t allow him to bring personal belongings he’s decided to stay put. Still, he has been moved around a lot.
Perez said he moved just two days ago further south in the Mission by SFPD and was offered housing. He suspects very soon he’ll be asked to move again.
“We’re just trying to survive day to day right now,” Rivera said. “I guess it’s going to come soon, the day when I have to move into a shelter or a hotel.”
Meanwhile Ramon Castillo was further up the road sitting inside a small one-person tent smoking while worried about moving.
“I know I’m going to have to move in a bit,” Castillo said. “I was in a hotel but people won’t leave me alone with all the rules.”
Castillo,48, said he’s from El Salvador and has been homeless for two years but has lived in the Bay Area for thirty years. He said rainy days are the worst as an unhoused person.
“It’s always something,” he said.
— Aldo Toledo
A flood advisory is in effect until 12:30 a.m. Saturday for parts of the South Bay, including San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Between 0.2 and 1 inch of rain has already fallen, causing some flooding in urban areas and streams, with an additional 1 to 4 inches of rain expected, which will likely lead to minor flooding. Affected locations include San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, Cupertino and other cities across the region.
All California addresses under some level of flood warning can be looked up using the tool below:
Residents were told to avoid Grizzly Peak in Berkeley due to a landslide in the northbound lane. The landslide occurred about 1 mile south of Centennial Drive, according to UC Berkeley officials.
Excessive flooding at Centennial Drive and Stadium Way in Berkeley has been cleared. “The intersection and surrounding roadways are open,” an alert from UC Berkeley officials said.
Downpours have caused Northern California rivers to rise, and the California Nevada River Forecast Center is forecasting floods. The Eel River at Fernbridge (Humboldt County) is already in moderate flood stage, with water levels rising to over 23 feet.
The following rivers are in minor flood stage, as of Friday afternoon
Navarro at Navarro (Mendocino County
Russian River at Hopland (Mendocino County)
Sacramento River at Tehama Bridge (Tehama County)
Sacramento at Vina Woodson Bridge (Tehama County)
The following rivers are forecast to reach minor flood stage Friday
Russian at Guerneville (Sonoma County)
Napa at Saint Helena (Napa County)
High flows continue on numerous rivers across the state, according to the office’s latest briefing.
— Jack Lee
The Silverado Trail, which meanders through vineyards in Napa County, was closed Friday between Oak Knoll Avenue and Yountville Crossroad because of a mudslide.
In alert sent to students on Friday, UC Berkeley said to avoid the area of Centennial Drive and Stadium Rim Way due to “severe flooding in the roadway.” Officials said campus police and facilities services crews were working to clear the flooding.
“The intersection and connecting roadways will be closed for the immediate future until the flooding can be cleared,” officials said.
— Jordan Parker
Torrential rain pooled into a large lake Friday afternoon outside Dog Eared Books on Valenicia Street in San Francisco’s Mission District, with a power outage impacting half the block. The cashier was still able to ring up purchases — just not in cash.
— Lily Janiak
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for portions of Alameda County and Contra Costa County, effective until 6 p.m. Friday. Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain have already fallen across the East Bay, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain expected. Cities at risk include Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Alameda and surrounding areas. Authorities advise motorists to stay off the roads unless necessary.
A section of westbound Interstate 80, just west of the metering light near the Bay Bridge toll plaza, was flooded Friday afternoon, causing disruptions ahead of the evening commute and the busy Thanksgiving holiday week.
Flooding was reported in the Marina and Mission districts in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, as well as a stretch of South of Market near the corner of Folsom and First Streets, according to the National Weather Service’s local emergency manager. A flash flood warning remains in effect as heavy rainfall continues in the region. Authorities are advising residents to avoid travel unless fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.
Flooding on northbound Highway 101 at Interstate 280 has caused the closure of multiple lanes. The estimated time of reopening is unknown. The California Highway Patrol advised drivers to expect delays and seek alternate routes.
The heaviest band of rain so far in the Bay Area has been centered across the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco and Oakland for nearly 90 minutes, dropping anywhere from 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rain during that time frame.
How severe the flooding situation gets across the Bay Area today depends on the forward progression of the cold front. And that progression is being determined by a small wave of low pressure (referred to as a shortwave) developing out over the tail of the frontal system located over the Pacific Ocean.
As that shortwave rides eastward along the frontal boundary, it has essentially stopped the forward movement of the frontal system, stalling the front out directly over the Bay Area.
Once that shortwave progresses far enough to the east (which should happen sometime after 7 p.m.), we should start to see the cold front finally move out of the Bay Area, taking the heavy rain with it.
But that still leaves several more hours with bursts of moderate to heavy rainfall.
Downpours on Friday have the potential to drop up to 5 inches of rain on San Francisco over the course of the day. Read more about which neighborhoods are at risk of floods during extreme storms.
— Jack Lee
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for northwestern San Mateo County, effective until 5 p.m. Friday. Flash flooding is already reported in the area, with 0.5 to 1 inch of rain and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected. Affected locations include Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica and surrounding areas. Authorities warn of flooding in urban areas, small creeks, highways and low-lying regions. “Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads,” the agency warned.
Flooding on northbound and southbound Highway 121 between Highway 116 and Eighth Street East in Sonoma County has been reported by the California Highway Patrol. All lanes remain blocked. Motorists should expect delays and use alternate routes to avoid the area. Caltrans estimates that the road will reopen at 5 p.m.
During the worst of the San Francisco deluge, pedestrians walked in the Fifth Street bike lanes between Mission and Market streets to avoid streams that gushed among the curbs. Some passers-by ducked under store awnings or took cover in parking garages. The normally busy sidewalks had largely emptied out.
— Rachel Swan
Firefighters helped a driver caught in a flooded culvert along a Santa Rosa city street on Friday, officials said. The woman, who wasn’t identified, told firefighters she didn’t realize the water was so deep and when she tried to turn around she accidentally drove off the road and into a deep culvert. The water level was receding during a break in rainfall, and the woman was able to get out of the vehicle. She was uninjured, Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said.
Lowenthal urged drives to assume floodwaters swamping streets across the region are deeper than they appear.
“Turn around, don’t try it,” Lowenthal said.
— Julie Johnson
Flooding on I-280 in Daly City: Over a foot of water reported
A flood has been reported in Daly City with over a foot of water covering Interstate 280, according to a local law enforcement alert issued at 12:50 p.m. on Friday.
The flooding was causing significant disruption along the highway and causing major traffic delays, according to the National Weather Service.
A landslide near Bodega Bay blocked both northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 1 on Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued the alert, noting that the blockage is causing significant disruptions in the area. Travelers are advised to avoid the affected section of Highway 1 and seek alternative routes.
On Dec. 31, 2022, an atmospheric river stalled over Central California, fueling downpours that dropped 5.46 inches of rain on downtown San Francisco.
It was the city’s second-wettest day on record, going back to 1849. The deluge caused widespread flooding across the Bay Area.
Friday’s storm could bring 3 to 5 inches of rain could fall on San Francisco, which could produce minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas. “Ponding of water in urban or other areas is occurring or is imminent,” according to a flood advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
— Jack Lee
As of Friday afternoon, San Francisco International Airport reported 413 flight delays and 51 cancellations — the most disruptions for any U.S. airport., according to FlightAware United Airlines had 141 flight delays, by far the most of any airline. SkyWest had 64 delays; Delta had 41 and Southwest had 37.
Some of the heaviest rain of the day is about to move into San Francisco and Oakland.
A narrow band of heavy rain is lurking offshore, moving slowly to the east and its poised to sit over the region for the next few hours. An inch or more of rain is possible in the next 2 to 3 hours. That’s on top of the broad 0.75 to 1 inches of rain that have already fallen today.
Flash flood warning issued for S.F.: A flash flood warning has been issued for San Francisco, with the National Weather Service alerting residents via emergency notifications on their mobile phones. The warning, in effect until 3:45 p.m. states: “This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”
The atmospheric river fueling rains stalled over the Bay Area could lead to continued rain producing flash floods.
The Weather Prediction Center called for a moderate risk of excessive rainfall in parts of the North Bay, which means numerous flash floods are likely. San Francisco faces slight risk, meaning scatter flash floods are possible.
— Jack Lee
New data from the National Weather Service indicated the approaching weather front was expected to stall over the Bay Area for the next 6 to 8 hours, with some fluctuation in its movement. During this period, San Francisco was projected to experience sustained heavy rainfall. Current estimates suggested the city could receive between 3 and 5 inches of rain.
Flood advisory issued for San Francisco due to heavy rainfall
A flood advisory was in effect for San Francisco until 8 p.m. Friday, due to heavy rainfall. Minor flooding was already occurring, with up to 0.7 inches of rain falling, and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected.
Flooding was most likely in low-lying and poorly drained areas, including roadways like Interstate 280 near Geneva Avenue.
A moderate to heavy rain band has set up shop over San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area. The rain band will not move much until mid-afternoon, so expect urban flooding issues to pop up as 1 to 2 inches of rain pelt the region.
Read more here about the atmospheric river stalled over San Francisco and much of the Bay Area.
As of 11:12 a.m. Friday, Pacific Gas and Electric reported that 15,522 of its customers were affected by ongoing power outages. The second wave of a potent atmospheric river is sweeping through Northern California, bringing heavy rain and strong winds into the Bay Area.
PG&E said its crews were actively working to assess the damage, make repairs and restore service. Since the storm began, the utility has restored power to more than 191,000 customers, with 89% being brought back online within 12 hours. Customers can monitor the status of outages and restoration efforts through PG&E’s online outage center.
A winter storm warning remained in effect across several California and Nevada regions, with “heavy snow” and hazardous conditions expected through Saturday and into next week.
Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet were forecast above 7,000 feet in areas such as the Lake Tahoe region, Mono County, and parts of the Sierra. Winds could gust up to 55 mph, with ridge winds reaching 125 mph, causing potential power outages and tree damage.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” the agency wrote. A winter storm watch is also in effect Sunday through Tuesday. According to the weather service, a watch is typically upgraded to a warning or advisory
While the storm drenching Northern California was essentially the first major rain event of the year, it brought record-breaking rainfall, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during an online briefing Friday.
Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa logged nearly 7 inches of rain Wednesday, which is expected to occur just once every 100-200 years, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration precipitation frequency data, Swain explained.
Around a foot of rain has fallen in two days, which exceeds the defined threshold for a 1,000-year event based on 48-hour rainfall. But such rare events may actually occur more frequently that predicted by the NOAA precipitation atlas, Swain said. “Was the two day precipitation in Santa Rosa that we’ve seen exceptional? Definitely. Do I think it was truly a 1-in-1,000 year two-day rain event in this part of the world? Probably not.”
Climate change has made precipitation more extreme, scientists say. Nonetheless, the rain event has been exceptional for places like Sonoma County and nearby areas.
“This is literally the heaviest rain event on a one-to-two-day period that we’ve observed, period, in this part of the state,” Swain said. “So that is quite notable.”
— Jack Lee
A mudslide blocked a road linking Sonoma and Napa counties Friday morning. A rain-soaked hillside sent mud, rocks and debris washing over both lanes of Porter Creek Road about 11 a.m.
Sonoma County Fire Chief Mark Heine said the risk of mudslides was rising as the unrelenting rain continued saturating the ground.
“We’re now starting to see earth move,” Heine said.
— Julie Johnson
A moderate to heavy rain band has set up shop over San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area.
This rain band will not move much over the next several hours, so expect urban flooding issues to pop up as upwards of 1 to 2 inches of rain are likely to fall from now through the mid-afternoon.
Rainfall rates will be about 0.25 to 0.5 inches per hour over the next several hours, which will undoubtedly cause large puddles and urban flooding across the city, Peninsula and Oakland. A sharp cut off to the southern edge of the heavy rain stretches from about Palo Alto up the northeast towards Livermore and Tracey. South of these points, including San Jose, little if any rain is falling.
Heavy rain battered Santa Rosa Friday, but emergency officials reported few problems beyond swamped roads falling trees. Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said that a seven-hour break in the rain Thursday overnight into Friday morning diminished the threat of flooding from city creeks.
The timing of the storm at the start of winter when the creeks and ground weren’t already saturated has given the voluminous amounts of water places to go, according to the fire marshal.
“With the break we had, hopefully we’ll be in much better shape today,” Lowenthal said.
— Julie Johnson
Friday brought a break in the rain in much of Humboldt County, even as rivers around the region and further south swelled with rainwater.
On the outskirts of Ferndale, rising water from the Eel River flooded fields near Sharon Scofield’s home.
Nearby, Jorge Martinez and Manuel Barral’s tractor splashed through a flooded section of Sage Road.The farmhands normally work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., they said. Today, their boss was only having his workers in the fields until about noon, because of the potential for more flooding in the fields, they said.
“I guess we’ll rest,” Martinez said, with a smile.
Nearby, Scofield scoffed at the storm. Her family has lived in the area since the 1850s, and Scofield, 71, moved into her home on Sage Road two years ago.
“This is nothing,” she said. “It will come up a little bit more, but because the ground takes it so well, it will also probably drain.”
Water had pooled in her fields and closed some local roads but her home was perched 10 to 12 feet above those areas.
“When they said the Eel River would crest at 23 feet, I know I was ok,” she said. If it was 26 feet (or more), I might have gotten nervous.”
Prior to the storm, she’d banked hay for her horses, and she had extra batteries, food, and water in store as well.
Sonoma County Airport records over a foot of rain in 3 days
In the past three days, Sonoma County Airport has recorded 12.67 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service — a remarkable amount given the area’s average annual rainfall of 34 inches from 1991 to 2020.
The recent downpour represents more than 35% of the region’s typical yearly rainfall in just 72 hours.
The Santa Rosa Police Department warned of ongoing flooding in various parts of the city on Friday morning. Although no road closures were reported in the city, some areas are experiencing partial flooding, and ponding on roadways was widespread.
A flood warning remained in effect through 4 p.m., while a flood advisory covers the entire North Bay until 3:15 a.m. Saturday. With over 10 inches of rain recorded in less than 48 hours, the National Weather Service confirmed yesterday as the second-wettest day in Santa Rosa’s history. Authorities urge residents to “avoid unnecessary travel” and never drive through flooded areas or around barricades.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office issued a flood evacuation warning early Friday morning for the North Chico and Richardson Springs areas. The warning affects evacuation zones 312, 313, 314, 315 and 317 due to ongoing flooding.
For the latest updates, see the evacuation map.
The Sierra Avalanche Center issued a backcountry avalanche watch for the greater Lake Tahoe area that will last through early Saturday morning.
The alert covers the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, from Yuba Pass (Highway 49) to Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4).
“This does not include ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist,” the agency said. A powerful storm, bringing heavy snow, rain and strong winds, is expected to trigger widespread avalanche activity.
“Avalanches large enough to bury people or knock down large trees could occur in backcountry areas,” authorities warned. The public was advised to avoid traveling in avalanche-prone terrain and to check the Sierra Avalanche Center for updated information.
Steady rain is about to move into San Francisco and will overspread the rest of the Bay Area slowly this morning. Some of the worst conditions of the day, heavy rain and strong winds, will occur over the next several hours.
The cold front responsible for the wind and rain is in no rush and will take basically all day to move through the area. We are still expecting a broad 1 to 3 inches of rain today, with 2 to 6 inches of rain expected in the North Bay.
Winds will be the strongest over the next few hours as well, with frequent gusts of 30 to 40 mph across the city and Peninsula.
Schools in a dozen districts in Sonoma County were closed Friday because of the severe weather. All campuses were closed in the following districts:
Cinnabar
Fort Ross Elementary
Geyserville Unified
Guerneville
Horicon
Kashia
Monte Rio Union
West Sonoma County High
In addition, these schools were closed:
Credo High School, Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified District
Forestville Academy and Forestville School, Forestville Union District
Montgomery School, Montgomery Elementary District
Northwest Prep at Piner-Olivet, Piner-Olivet District
Olivet Elementary Charter School, Piner-Olivet District
More information and updates about closures can be found online at www.scoe.org/.
The National Weather Service reported rainfall records for several Northern California locations Thursday. Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa tallied 4.93 inches, breaking the previous Nov. 21 record of 0.93 inches set in 2001. Records at the airport go back to 1998.
Ukiah (Mendocino County) logged 3.66 inches of rainfall Thursday, breaking the previous daily record of 3.16 inches set in 1977. Redding registered 3.21 inches, breaking the previous daily record of 2.4 inches, also set in 1977. Records for both areas go back to 1893.
— Jack Lee
As of 9:10 a.m. Friday approximately 11,100 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were experiencing power outages, with 241 separate outages reported.
“As the atmospheric river continues to deliver heavy rains and strong winds along the North Coast and south through the Bay Area, PG&E crews and resources are working throughout our hometowns to assess storm-related damage, make repairs, and restore power safely and as quickly as possible,” the utility company said.
Firefighters quickly contained a wind-driven vegetation fire that broke out on Waverly Road near Farmington in Calaveras County on Thursday, after a downed powerline sparked the blaze. The Duck Fire, which started around 11 a.m., spread rapidly due to strong winds, growing from five acres to 54 acres by noon, according to Calaveras Consolidated Fire.
By 4 p.m., Cal Fire reported the fire was fully contained at just over 73 acres. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crews were also on site to address safety concerns related to the downed powerline.
S.F. Bay Ferry officials said shuttle service for the Alameda Oakland water shuttle was suspended due to inclement weather.
All Pier 41 Short Hop trips were also cancelled on Friday.
Highway 1 was fully closed north of Point Arena near the Garcia River in Mendocino County due to flooding, according to Caltrans.
There was no estimated time for reopening. For the latest road conditions, the agency recommends checking road conditions on the QuickMap app or website.
The National Weather Service issued an extended flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville. The river was forecast to rise above the flood stage of 32 feet by late Friday, reaching 32.5 feet after midnight.
This could cause localized flooding, including road closures at the intersection of Highway 116 and Neeley Road, as well as Mays Canyon Road. Drivers were urged not to attempt crossing flooded roads. The warning will remain in effect until further notice.
8:21 a.m. | Nearly 250 flights disrupted at SFO
As of early Friday morning, San Francisco International Airport reported 198 flight delays, affecting domestic and international flights.
The airport also reported 49 flight cancellations. United Airlines had the most delayed flights at SFO, with 42, followed by Southwest, with 36.
All lanes of Highway 121 in both the northbound and southbound directions were covered in floodwater Friday morning between Highway 116 and 8th St. E. in Sonoma County, according to 511.
Drivers were advised to expected delays and seek different routes if possible to avoid the area. Caltrans did not expect to get the lanes reopened until 5 p.m., according to the 511 alert.
The atmospheric river parked over the Northern California was expected to bring more rain to the Bay Area on Friday, as a powerful cold front reaches the region. As much as 6 inches of rain could fall across the North Bay and 1 to 3 inches of rain was likely in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose through Friday evening.
For many locations south of San Francisco, Friday’s heavy rain will bring the first notable precipitation of the ongoing atmospheric river event.
A detailed look at the Bay Area forecast is here.
Officials in Humboldt County issued evacuation orders early Friday morning due to flooding in areas that abut the Eel River, which was swelling from a deluge of rain on Thursday. Areas slightly further from the Eel River were placed under evacuation warnings.
Humboldt County evacuation zones were made available here.
Billowing winds were causing delays for inbound flights to San Francisco International Airport Friday morning, according to FlightAware. Flights were delayed at their airports of origin by an average of two and a half hours as airlines waited for conditions to improve before attempting to land at SFO.
A total of 149 flights were delayed at SFO Friday morning, most of which were United Airlines and Southwest flights. Forty-nine flights had been canceled as of 7:10 a.m.
Thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were without power Friday morning after a storm fueled by an atmospheric river inundated much of Northern California with rain and whipped up powerful winds.
The Chronicle’s PG&E outage map showed nearly 4,900 PG&E customers without power in Mendocino County, which had perhaps the biggest pocket of blackouts Friday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued weather advisories and warnings across the Bay Area for Friday; here is a roundup:
Winds:
A wind advisory is in effect for broad swaths of the Bay Area until 10 p.m. on Friday with frequent gusts of wind from the south at 35 to 50 mph, and even higher gusts across elevated areas.
North Bay:
A flood watch was issued for Friday morning. NWS said creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded.
A flood warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday for east-central Sonoma County, where excessive rainfall continues to cause urban and small stream flooding. As of Thursday evening, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the region, with 3.5 to 7 inches already recorded. Flooding is occurring along key waterways such as Sonoma Creek, Green Valley Creek and Mark West Creek, with additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches expected. Low-water crossings are submerged, and several roads remain impassable. “Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding,” the National Weather Service warned. “Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding.”
There’s also a flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville (Sonoma County) effective from Friday afternoon until further notice. The river is forecast to crest at 33.7 feet early Saturday, above the flood stage of 32 feet. At this level, local areas including the intersection of Hwy 116 and Drake Rd. in Guerneville will be flooded, as well as Willow and Alder Streets in Monte Rio.
San Francisco:
A high surf advisory was issued for early Friday morning. NWS says swell periods and wave heights will gradually decrease through the day, however “gusty winds over the waters will keep the surf zone energetic, so still use caution visiting the beach.”
On the coast:
Gale warnings for various coastal areas of California are in effect through 9 p.m. Friday. South winds ranging from 20 to 35 knots, gusting up to 50 knots, are expected, along with seas of 8 to 18 feet, creating hazardous conditions for mariners. Affected regions include waters from Point Arena to Pigeon Point, and from Cape Mendocino to Point Arena. “Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility,” the National Weather Service warned. It advised mariners to stay in port, seek safe harbor or secure vessels to avoid the dangerous conditions.
Weather apps show rain is expected through Tuesday for the Bay Area… which would mean eight straight days of rain. But are the apps right?
In this case, possibly. San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Rosa and Redding all have a greater than 90% chance of measurable rain each day through Tuesday. An unstable weather pattern will persist through the weekend and into next week, keeping the atmospheric river active.
Go here to read more about the possibility for a long stretch of rain.
Northern California logged copious rainfall Wednesday, with some locations receiving upwards of 10 inches of rain. “So probably either the wettest or second-wettest day in a lifetime yesterday … in parts of Sonoma County and probably too in parts of southern Mendocino County,” said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during an online briefing Thursday.
There are rising concerns for potential impacts in the coming days, Swain said: “If you’re already seeing flooding, keep in mind that the worst is probably yet to come, as heavy rain continues and will even briefly intensify tomorrow morning when the cold front finally moves through with a burst of widespread, heavy precipitation.”
Heavy downpours would be particularly problematic on the heels of days of steady rain.
“What that means is that your rivers are already primed to respond. They’re already running high, hillslopes may become saturated, and then you dump a lot of water on it all at once,” Swain said. “That can be the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, with some of these small- to medium-sized rivers.”
Swain highlighted Sonoma and Mendocino counties as an area of concern due to heavy rain over the next 24 to 36 hours, as well as the foothills above Lake Oroville, including the Park Fire footprint.
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