Record Rainfall Wreaks Havoc On San Ramon Roads

SAN RAMON, CA — With a another storm on the way later this week, record rainfall totals from a storm that hit the area New Year's Eve caused numerous roads to close due to mudslides and flooding, officials said.

In San Ramon, where more than 7 inches of rain was recorded in the past week, Alcosta Blvd, between Firecrest Lane and Stagecoach Road, was closed due to flooding but later reopened as the floodwaters receded.

In unincorporated Contra Costa County, a sinkhole closed Deer Valley Road in both directions between Briones Valley and Marsh Creek roads. Closed roads in the unincorporated areas of the county also include, Marsh Creek Road between Deer Valley and Morgan Territory roads, Morgan Territory Road is closed, between addresses 5477 to 5649 and Highland Road between Collier Canyon Road and Camino Tassajara. The roads are closed due to rock and mudslides, county officials said.

Recovery efforts to make streets passable could be hampered by the upcoming pineapple express-fueled storm expected to hit the Bay Area Wednesday and Thursday.

Upcoming storm likely to bring additional flooding, mudslides

While only light rain is forecast for Tuesday, the later storm is likely to be as powerful or more so than the New Year’s Eve Storm, the National Weather Service said, adding that it expects similar impacts on the area. Soils already saturated by last weekend's downpours will only intensify the new storm's impacts, forecasters said.

“Flood Watches have been posted across the Bay Area and much of NorCal Wednesday into Thursday with the next atmospheric river,” NWS Bay Area said.

Downpours will be heaviest late Wednesday into early Thursday and will be accompanied by strong winds. Scattered showers are expected to linger Thursday into early Friday.

NWS Bay Area said totals starting Tuesday night are expected to bring 4.5 to 6.5 inches in the Santa Lucia mountains and the Big Sur coast.

Coastal mountains in the North Bay are forecast for 4.5 to 6.5 inches, and the Santa Cruz Mountains and northern Monterey Bay will see 3.5 to 6 inches.

The interior North Bay is expected to get 2.75 to 5 inches. San Francisco, along with the East Bay and South Bay areas, are forecast for 1.5 to 3 inches.

A high wind warning has also been issued from 4 a.m. Wednesday through 10 a.m. Thursday. Strong wings with gusts of 35 to 55 miles per hour are expected, with stronger gusts in the mountains that could lead to downed trees and power lines. Rain is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

Loss of human life 'likely' forecaster says

One meteorologist even went so far as to say the storm could "likely result in the loss of human life.”

According to the article “Forecasters say mild weather Tuesday only the calm before major storm Wednesday” by Austin Turner of the East Bay Times, officials warned Bay Area residents to use Tuesday as a preparation day for a brutal 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,” a National Weather Service report said Monday evening. “The impacts will include widespread flooding, roads washing out, hillsides collapsing, trees down, widespread power outages, immediate disruption to commerce, and the 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.”

NWS meteorologists told the East Bay Times Tuesday morning that while the upcoming storm could perhaps yield a little less rain than the New Year’s Eve weather event, vicious winds could create havoc throughout the region.

“If you were impacted by the New Year’s Eve storm, meaning if your property was flooded, there’s a good likelihood that the same creeks and streams that responded last time respond this time,” said NWS meteorologist Ryan Walbrun.

The NWS advised residents to make sure vehicles were gassed up in case of evacuation mandates, cell phones were charged, emergency alerts were activated and to prepare for potential power outages.

Sandbags still available

San Ramon residents looking for sandbags can pick them up at one of four locations, Athan Downs, Montevideo Drive near San Ramon Valley Blvd., Central Park, Alcosta Blvd. adjacent to the San Ramon Community Center, San Ramon Sports Park on Sherwood Way and Firecrest lane where one pallet of filled sandbags remain.

Those looking to get sandbags should bring a shovel and someone to help, if needed, the city said.

"To report clogged storm drains, downed trees, or flooding challenges, please call (925) 973-2800 during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.) or the San Ramon Valley 911 Communication Center at (925) 973-2779 after hours, and they will contact the appropriate Public Works staff for response," the city said on its website.

Read more at the East Bay Times.

Bay City News contributed to this story.

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