Flood Watch: Another Atmospheric River Forecast To Hit Sonoma Co.

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A flood watch has been issued for the North Bay counties of Napa, Sonoma and Marin as another incoming atmospheric river is expected to likely drench the region with more rainfall, according to the National Weather Service's San Francisco Bay Area office.

The flood watch, from Monday afternoon through late Wednesday night, means based on current forecasts, there is a potential for flooding.

"Prolonged moderate to heavy rain on already saturated soil will result in rapid rises on small rivers and creeks," forecasters said. "Flash flooding is possible from late Monday through Tuesday night. Urban flooding in low-lying areas is likely. Larger rivers such as the Russian River and Napa River could also flood, with flood waters potentially reaching the lower Russian River by Wednesday evening, well after heavy rains have ended."

Moderate to heavy rain is forecast to occur across the North Bay from midday Monday through Tuesday night.

Forecast rainfall totals during this period of time range from 3 to 5 inches near the coast and in the valleys of the North Bay, and from 5 to 9 inches in the hills and mountains.

NWS Meteorologist Roger Gass expects the region to get hit with significant rain, but forecast models still aren't concrete on where the heavier rain will fall, as it could stay in the North Bay or go as far south as the Santa Cruz Mountains.

"Looks like a setup for those wet spots that usually see a lot of rain, that they'll see some pretty impressive rainfall with this system," Gass said.

Although the ground is still heavily saturated from recent rains, Gass said the river levels have come down significantly with a break between storms.

There is no snowfall expected in the Bay Area with this storm, as snow levels will be above 6,000-7,000 feet by Tuesday.

Heavy winds are also expected from Monday afternoon into Tuesday night, with the heaviest winds starting late Tuesday. The heaviest winds are expected on the coast and hills, where gusts may be between 40-to-50 mph.

A Wind Advisory was issued for the East Bay hills, along with the mountains and coastal ranges of Sonoma, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Contra Costa counties until 2 a.m. Tuesday. A Gale Warning is also in effect starting in the north and stretching into the Bay and southern coast later Monday afternoon and evening.

City News Service contributed to this report.