Community Corner
Series of Storms Poised to Hit North Bay
Local weather experts say residents should be ready for potential street flooding, downed trees and power lines and power outages.
A series of powerful rainstorms is expected to hit the Bay Area beginning Wednesday morning, dumping up to 8 inches of rain on parts of the region, a National Weather Service forecaster said Monday.
The storms will start around the time of the morning commute on Wednesday and continue through the weekend, bringing winds of 40 to 50 mph and 1 to 3 inches of rain to most parts of the Bay Area, forecaster Steve Anderson said.
The rainfall will be most intense in the North Bay, where 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected in low lands and as many at 8 inches in the hills, Anderson said.
Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"This is certainly the biggest storm of the season so far," Anderson said. "Typically, we get our big rain events in December and January."
Smaller creeks in the North Bay are likely to fill to bank level, although the larger Russian and Napa rivers "don't seem to be getting too out of hand," he said.
Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Streets throughout the Bay Area will be soaked, and fallen leaves from trees are expected to clog storm drains, so some roads and intersections will see some flooding and the usual traffic delays, Anderson said.
Bay Area residents should also get ready for possible downed trees and power outages.
"If you have an alarm clock that's electric, make sure you have a backup," Anderson said.
Fifteen- to 18-foot waves are expected along the coast during the stormy weather, he said.
- Bay City News
Get the latest important news for your local neighborhood - follow Patch!
Want to share your opinions with Petaluma? Start your own blog here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
