Healdsburg Braces For Next Atmospheric River

HEALDSBURG, CA — The City of Healdsburg continued to monitor the weather situation as it prepared for the next round of atmospheric river events expected to begin early Wednesday morning in the North Bay and the Bay Area.

Sonoma County remained under a flood watch expected to take effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday and continue through 4 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. A high wind warning also takes effect at 4 a.m. Wednesday and continues through 10 a.m. Thursday, the weather service said. Gusts could reach up to 50 mph in the lower elevations.

In a weather statement posted late Tuesday on social media, the City of Healdsburg said a flood watch means “Be Prepared,” and is issued when conditions are favorable for a specific hazardous weather event to occur. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.

"Our team will continue to monitor the situation and will provide daily updates at 2 p.m., unless conditions warrant additional updates," officials with the City of Healdsburg said.

Heavy rain will likely lead to urban and small stream flooding throughout the North Bay, the National Weather Service said.

"Current forecasts for the Russian River bring it to just below flood stage near Guerneville, however, those forecasts will be fine-tuned every 6 hours so those with interests along the Russian River should pay close attention to forecasts," the weather service said.

Atmospheric River May Result In Loss Of Human Life, Forecasters Say

The entire Bay Area will be under a flood watch beginning Wednesday morning due to a heavy storm system expected to be as bad or worse than Saturday's deluge and which will likely result in the loss of human life, according to a dire forecast update from the National Weather Service.

The update included five key points, with the first one noting a "threat to life likely during this storm." Mudslides are anticipated due to saturated soil, and rapidly rising creeks and streams will pose additional dangers.

A meteorologist shared the following observations in the forecast about the coming storm: "To put it simply, this will likely be one of the most impactful systems on a widespread scale that this meteorologist has seen in a long while. The impacts will include widespread flooding, roads washing out, hillside collapsing, trees down (potentially full groves), widespread power outages, immediate disruption to commerce, and worst of all, likely loss of human life. This is truly a brutal system that we are looking at and needs to be taken seriously."

The forecast includes an updated threat matrix it classifies as "extreme risk" for conditions expected Wednesday and Thursday, including increased wind gusts, a flood watch that now includes the entire Bay Area and an added forecast Friday through Sunday after the big storm for roughly 1-2 inches of rain in most areas.

Wednesday through Thursday morning will be the worst of the storm, with heavy rain and strong winds with gusts of 35-55 mph in most areas, with stronger gusts at higher elevations.

The flood watch will be in effect from Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon, with rain amounts expected from 2-4 inches in the valleys, 3-6 inches in the foothills and 8-10 inches in the coastal mountains.

For the latest forecast updates, visit Weather.gov/bayarea and AccuWeather.

Here's What The National Weather Service Says You Need To Know

• Make sure you're signed up for your county's emergency alerts and/or reverse 9-1-1 calls.
• Heed any evacuation orders, especially if you live near an area that is prone to flooding or mudslides.
• Have a "go bag" ready in case you need to evacuate quickly (go to ready.gov/plan or ready.gov/kit if you're not sure what to pack).
• Find your insurance policies and other important documents. Take photos of rooms in your home so that you can easily reference items in case of damage.
• Prepare for power outages or road closures that could last several days. Get extra non-perishable food and have drinking water ready at home in case you`re unable to leave home.
• Gas up your vehicles and charge up all your devices.
• Plan ahead for the elderly or others with special needs, such as necessary medications or other services.
• Don't forget about your pets/livestock to ensure their safety.
• Remember that impacts can be ongoing even after the heaviest rain is over. Mudslides can sometimes occur several days or even weeks after heavy rain events. Flooded waterways may take days to recede.

Storm Advice From The City Of Healdsburg

Downed trees and power outages could occur; please exercise caution, especially while driving, and secure or fasten loose objects prior to the wind event, the city of Healdsburg said.

Always assume a fallen power line is live, and never touch a downed power line, or any object touching a fallen power line.

The City of Healdsburg’s sandbag fill station remains available at the Healdsburg Community Center at 1557 Healdsburg Ave. Sand and empty bags are provided, however, the city recommends you bring a shovel to fill bags, gloves to protect your hands, and a helper to assist in filling. (For more information on how to fill and use sandbags, visit healdsburg.gov/stormwater, and scroll down to "Resources.")

For more information on flooding, visit healdsburg.gov/localhazards.

To report flooding, downed trees that are not blocking a roadway, or power outages, call the City’s 24/7/365 Emergency Utility Hotline at 707-431-7000 or toll-free 855-755-6586. For emergencies that pose a threat to life and/or property, such as a downed power line, or downed trees blocking a roadway, always dial 911.

The National Weather Service said this wet pattern will continue to bring waves of moderate rain into the second week of January which means soils could stay saturated for quite some time, allowing slides, downed trees and other impacts to persist.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.