More Storms Stalk Lamorinda, Contra Costa

LAMORINDA, CA — After a brief pause, a relentless parade of atmospheric river-fueled storms is expected to bring another impactful storm starting this weekend to Lamorinda, Contra Costa County and the Bay Area.

A National Weather Service advisory said the new series of storms is likely to bring more staggering precipitation numbers to a region that is already soaked. The weather service issued a flood watch that takes effect at 4 p.m. Saturday and continues through 4 p.m. Tuesday for the greater Bay Area, including the East Bay hills and East Bay interior valleys.

The next wave of storms is estimated to continue through Jan. 19, according to the NWS. Lamorinda is expected to see rain for 10 straight days starting Saturday.

Following a few rain showers Friday night, a stronger storm system will bring heavier rain to the Bay Area and Central Coast early Saturday morning through Sunday. Rainfall totals over the weekend will generally be widespread 1-2 inch rainfall totals in the lower elevations with 2-4 inches in the North Bay and coastal mountains while the wettest peaks of the North Bay, could see up to 6 inches of rain, the weather service said.

A more potent atmospheric river will bring heavy rain early Monday through Tuesday. Rainfall totals early next week will generally be widespread 2-4 inch rainfall totals in the lower elevations with 3-6 inches in the North Bay and coastal mountains while the wettest peaks of the North Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, and Santa Lucia Mountains, could see up to 10 inches of rain.

"Given the saturated soils and recent rains we can expect rapid responses on all streams and
creeks with quick rises on the mainstem rivers, resulting in widespread flooding," the weather service said. "Mainstem flooding is most likely Monday and Tuesday. This system will result in an increased risk of mudslides and debris flows across the region."

The new series of storms follows an atmospheric river-fueled “bomb cyclone” earlier this week that killed at least two people including a toddler and caused widespread flooding and property damage throughout the Bay Area. Winds associated with the storm topped out at 85 mph in Marin County.

The weather pattern is likely to persist beyond the seven-day projection for an additional seven-day period in which "several more impactful atmospheric river events are expected," the NWS bulletin said.

Wind Advisory

The wind advisory is from 10 a.m. Saturday until 1 p.m. Sunday and encompasses the East Bay hills. South winds 15 to 25 mph are forecast with gusts up to 50 mph expected. Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result, the weather service said.

Due to very saturated soils, even winds on the lower end of the speed range can cause downed trees. When trees fall, this can be a threat to lives, cause power outages, and add debris to waterways which can exacerbate flooding.

Local Storm Response

The City of Lafayette on Wednesday proclaimed a Local State of Emergency due to more severe storms expected this week, following flooding and mudslides just days ago during the storm on Dec. 31. The local emergency proclamation is part of the City’s emergency response to the storms and allows the City greater flexibility to contract for and procure related supplies. Read the local emergency proclamation.

City Staff, Lafayette Police, and Public Works crews — along with other partner agencies — have stayed busy responding to storm damage and debris, as well as preparing for more severe weather.

The City of Orinda encourages its residents to regularly check storm drains on or adjacent to their properties; clear fallen leaves prior to storms; use sandbags and plastic sheeting to protect flood-prone areas; and drive slowly and carefully, particularly where water has accumulated on roadways.

Sandbags are available for Orinda residents to fill at Fire Station No. 43, located at 20 via Las Cruces (cross street Charles Hill Road) at the intersection of Honey Hill Road; and at Fire Station No. 44, located at 295 Orchard Road at the intersection of Moraga Way.

The Town of Moraga proclaimed a local emergency following flooding and mudslides in the previous storm Dec. 31. Interim Town Manager Brian Dolan signed the proclamation Jan. 4 and it expires Jan. 11 unless extended by the Town Council at its meeting that evening. The emergency proclamation allows the Town greater flexibility to contract for and procure supplies for more expedient disaster response, and will facilitate opportunities to secure emergency funding should any potential damage from the storm merit that level of response.

The Town has a self-fill sandbag station for Moraga residents’ use. The Town continues to refill the station using vendors while sand and sandbags are available. Residents are asked to limit themselves to 20 bags per household. Once bags have been exhausted, there is no guarantee of a future supply. The sandbag station is located at Rancho Laguna Park: 2101 Camino Pablo, Moraga.

Read the full storm safety advisoryfrom the Town of Orinda.

Storm-Related Outages

As of 10 a.m. Friday, there were 751 customers without power in Contra Costa County.

Pacific Gas & Electric reported that over the 24-hour period ending at 3 p.m. Thursday, the utility safely restored power to more than 406,000 customers across Northern California. There were still approximately 2,300 outages affecting 95,500 customers, with many in the North Coast, Bay Area and Central Coast areas.

"PG&E recognizes the urgency of restoring power and will work diligently until all customers are restored," the utility said in an emailed update.

Hazards such as fallen trees, floods and debris flows have made gaining access difficult in some areas and could delay power restoration efforts, PG&E said. Additional storms are forecast over the coming week, which will likely also impact restoration times and lead to additional widespread outages.

"I’d like to recognize the thousands of dedicated professionals out there working tirelessly to get the lights back on for our hometowns," said Janisse Quiñones, PG&E's senior vice president of Electric Operations.

"Our crews are out in full force restoring customers safely and as quickly as possible," Quiñones said. "We are conducting assessments of damage and prioritizing repairs with a focus on critical facilities and resolving outages that are impacting the largest number of customers. We have a short window of time to make as much progress as we can before the next weather system in this series of storms enters our service area over the weekend."

READ MORE: Storms Pause As California Braces For More Rain, Wind, Flooding

For updated forecasts visit AccuWeather