Atmospheric river headed toward Sonoma

Dramatic weather surrounds us. Free sand bags are available.|

A strong cold front and atmospheric river will sweep through Sonoma and the North Bay region on Wednesday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. Steady rainfall is expected over the North Bay by late morning before spreading southward and inland through the afternoon and evening. Ahead of and along the frontal boundary, strong and gusty southerly winds are expected to develop.

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are possible for inland valley locations and up to 60 mph near the Sonoma coast and in the higher elevations.

The NWS warns of urban, small stream and creek flooding as intense rainfall develops. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms will also be possible this afternoon and evening.

What is an atmospheric river exactly? According to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere - like rivers in the sky- that transport large amounts of water vapors. They come in many shapes and sizes and together with strong winds, they can create extreme rainfall and floods when they stall over watersheds vulnerable to flooding.

'We're in the midst of the second large weather system of the year with the biggest storm expected late Wednesday afternoon, and we want to remind our customers to be prepared and have a plan,' said PG&E meteorologist Mike Voss.

PG&E's Storm Safety Tips:

• Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.

• Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.

• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.

• Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.

• Secure outdoor furniture: Deck furniture, lightweight yard structures and decorative lawn items should be secured as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.

• Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.

• Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

• Safely clean up: After the storm has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 811 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.

Other tips can be found at pge.com/beprepared

Sand bags are available at Sonoma City Hall on the Plaza from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and sand is available in the Depot Park parking lot on First Street West.

The county also sent out the following flooding safety tips:

● Monitor local media, sign up for alerts at socoalert.org and nixle.com

● Turn Around, Don't Drown!

● Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.

● Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away.

● If there is a chance of flash flooding, move immediately to higher ground.

● If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. Remain in the car if the water is moving.

● Avoid camping or parking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

● Drivers are encouraged to observe road closures and use detour routes.

Stay tuned to the Index-Tribune social media pages for updates.

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