A third day of an atmospheric river storm has flooded Northern California and the Bay Area, prompting a series of warnings and advisories about local flooding.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning in Sonoma County for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville from 2 p.m. Friday until further notice. The warning also applies to the communities of Forestville, Monte Rio and other areas near the river west of Guerneville. The river was expected to rise above flood stage late Friday evening and continue to rise to 35 feet just after midnight.
North of the Bay Area, a flood warning was issued for several rivers in counties closer to the Oregon border, including the Russian River and Navarro River in Mendocino County, and the Mad River, Eel River and Van Duzen River in Humboldt County. Major flooding is expected along the Eel River affecting the communities of Fernbridge, Scotia, Bridgeville, Fort Seward and Miranda.
KPIX First warning again: Current conditions, warnings, maps for your region
The Weather Service said the extended rainfall in the North Bay will increase the risk of flooding, landslides and downed trees and power lines. In addition to the flood warning, a flood advisory was issued for all Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties until 3:15 a.m. Saturday due to expected minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas.
The ongoing storm prompted dozens of school closures in Sonoma County, which have increased since Wednesday. The county’s education department has posted an updated list of closures on its website.
While most of the Bay Area’s rain has fallen in the North Bay, rain chances will increase throughout the day in the Bay Area as a cold front makes its way south and toward the north central coast.
In addition to the rain on Friday, southerly winds will increase ahead of the cold front across the Bay Area. The Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for the coastal and upper areas of the North Bay, the city of San Francisco, the East Bay and Santa Clara Hills, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the coast of the Peninsula until 10 p.m. Friday, the Gabilan Range, the Santa Lucia Range, southern Monterey Bay and the Big Sur coast.
Sustained wind speeds range from gusts of 25 to 30 km per hour, with gusts of up to 80 km per hour expected at higher altitudes. Above 8,000 feet, gusts of more than 40 mph are possible.
This is a breaking news update. More information will be added when available.
