Forecasters: Rain could trigger flash floods and mudslides in North Bay burn areas

Rainfall could trigger mudslides in areas that burned during October's wildfires, as two-day storm expected to bring heavy rains, strong winds.|

A flash flood watch for Sonoma County and parts of Mendocino County through Tuesday morning along with a wind advisory has been issued as forecasters warned rainfall could trigger mudslides in areas that burned during October’s wildfires.

The storm moving into the region was expected to bring heavy rain today, including up to 3 inches in Santa Rosa, along with strong winds, said National Weather Service meteorologist Suzanne Sims.

The coastal hills could get up to 4 inches, helping boost rainfall totals after one of the driest Decembers on record.

“It’ll help us catch up a little bit,” Sims said, “but we’ll still be behind.”

The flash flood watch, which means conditions are favorable for flash-flooding in flood-prone areas, is in effect from noon today to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said crews were standing by, if needed.

“The city and county have already taken proactive measures against mudslides and debris flows in the burn scars,” he said.

The heaviest rainfall is expected this evening as the storm that’s tapped into subtropical moisture moves in from the west, Sims said.

The timing of the weather is both “good and bad,” Lowenthal said. Heavy rains are slated to hit when utility and maintenance crews will be fully staffed, but it’s also a time when there’s the most traffic on the street, he said.

The weather service flash flood watch specifically mentioned locations in and adjacent to the Atlas, Tubbs, Nuns and Pocket fires’ burn scars, including the Fountaingrove neighborhood.

The weather service also issued a gale warning for coastal areas south of San Rafael from 6 this morning through tonight, and wind advisories for parts of Sonoma, Mendocino and Napa counties from noon today until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Santa Rosa could see 25 mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph, Sims said.

In the coastal hills, winds could reach 30 mph with gusts of 50 mph, she said.

There is a potential for downed trees and power lines, according to the weather service.

Forecasters urged people with small boats to stay out of the water as winds are expected to whip up dangerous conditions.

The lack of rain has given workers and property owners a chance to keep storm drains clear and lay down sandbags and straw wattle, Lowenthal said.

While the little precipitation that has fallen on the region spurred grass and brush to grow and helped stabilize vulnerable hillsides, “there is still a risk,” of flooding and slides, he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Eloísa Ruano González at 707-521-5458 or eloisa.gonzalez@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @eloisanews.

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