Atmospheric River Headed Toward Dublin; Flood Watch Issued

DUBLIN, CA — The phrase "atmospheric river" is back in the weather forecast for Northern California — the same "conveyer belt of moisture" that drenched the area for three straight weeks from late December to mid-January, according to the National Weather Service.

While scattered showers can be expected throughout the week, the weather service reports that the potent atmospheric river will arrive Thursday and continue through Friday. Dublin and the entire Bay Area are under an NWS Flood Watch from 1 p.m. Thursday until 9 a.m. Sunday. The heaviest rain is expected to fall Thursday evening into Friday morning.

The storm is coming from the tropics in the Pacific Ocean, with an increasing possibility of several inches of rain. The areas at highest risk of more than 2 inches of rainfall include the North Bay, elevated parts of the peninsula in San Mateo County, southern Monterey County and the Central Valley.

In Dublin, 1.16 inches of rain are expected to fall over 11.5 hours Thursday night, though the East Bay can expect as much as three inches. Winds are expected to gust at up to 29 mph. On Friday, another 0.79 inches are expected, with winds of up to 21 mph. There is also a 24 percent of thunderstorms.

Since the moisture is coming from the tropics, the rain could prove to be a threat for the deep Sierra snowpack.

The National Weather Service in Reno cautions residents that snow at 5500 feet or lower is at risk of being melted by the rain.

Local resources

Sandbags are available to all Dublin residents at the City of Dublin Corporation Yard at 5709 Scarlett Court. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels, and limit the number of bags to 10 or fewer. Bags are also available at the Alameda County Public Works Agency’s Maintenance and Operations Corporation Yard at 4825 Gleason Drive.

Dublin residents can refer to the following numbers:

• Flooding or downed trees: Dublin Police at (925) 462-1212
• Power outage: Pacific Gas and Electric Company at (800) 743-5002
• Damaged power lines/electrical equipment: 911

Residents can sign up for city emergency alerts here. Residents can also follow the city’s Facebook and Twitterpages, or through Nixle alerts by texting 94568 to 888-777.For a full list of storm preparation tips, see here.

— Bay City News and Patch editor Bea Karnes contributed to this report.