Russian River Flooding Turns California Towns Into Islands—Photos

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Heavy rains in California caused an engorged Russian River to overflow, swamping thousands of homes and businesses in Guerneville and Sebastopol.

Located in Northern California, the two wine-country communities were only accessible by boat as floodwaters peaked at a high of 46 feet last night, Wednesday, Feb. 27. Residents were seen using canoes, surfboards and other means to wade through the dangerous flood levels as officials and neighboring communities helped. Monte Rio, a nearby town, also became isolated when roads leading to it were swamped, reports AP.

While the Russian River often floods in rainy weather, it had not reached this level in 25 years, said Sonoma County spokeswoman Briana Khan. Several additional rivers in Northern California were also engorged after days of stormy weather dumped heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada, throughout the Pacific Northwest and into Montana. Steve Bullock, governor of Montana, even issued an emergency order to aid the supply of heating fuel as temperatures turned frigid.

Although no injuries were reported in the Guerneville area, about 3,500 people in two dozen river communities remained under evacuation orders, reports AP. Floodwaters are expected to fully recede by later today, Thursday, Feb. 28.

• More here: Sonoma County Flooding: 'Guerneville Still Underwater'

See photos of the Russian River flooding in California below:

Thursday February 28, 2019

Flood waters from the Russian River flood Guerneville, California.

Sonoma County officials said they expected the communities of Guerneville and Monte Rio to be accessible by car Friday.

People take their boats into the water on the flooded River Road in Guerneville, California.

River Road, center, is flooded by the Russian River, right, in Guerneville, California.

A car sits submerged in flood waters in Guerneville, California.

A national guard truck drives down a flooded road in Guerneville, California.

A man kayaks down a flooded street in the town of Guerneville, California.

John Buergler of the Sonoma County Sheriff's marine unit patrols Neely Road in Guerneville as the Russian River recedes, but continues to flood.

Flooded homes are seen in Guerneville, California.

The top of a garage is barely visible on a flooded home in in Guerneville, California.

The water recedes on Main Street in Guerneville, California.

The aftermath of the flood will leave a massive cleanup on the river.

Wednesday February 27, 2019

Ryan Lance, front, and Anthony Nash of the Russian River Fire Protection District swift water rescue team rescue residents of Sycamore Court Apartment in lower Guerneville, California.

Officials say flood waters have inundated the California town north of San Francisco and that the community is now only accessible by boats after a rain-swollen river overflowed its banks.

People unload sandbags in floodwater outside a market in Sebastopol, California.

Two women and a dog look out at the flooded Barlow Market District in Sebastopol, California.

A man paddles past a submerged van in the flooded Barlow Market District parking lot in Sebastopol, California.

Jonathan Von Renner checks on his son Jonathan Jr., and friend Emilio Ontivares in lower Guerneville, California.

Two Northern California communities are accessible only by boat after a rain-swollen river overflowed its banks following a relentless downpour. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office says Guerneville, "is officially an island" and another nearby town was also isolated by floodwaters.

Jonathan Von Renner greets Jesse James at the Sycamore Court Apartments in Guerneville, California.

The night before, James moved to higher ground, only to find the water rose to cover the floor of the apartment. James was taken to dry land by the Russian River Fire swift water rescue team.

This photo shows an SUV submerged along a flooded street in Guerneville, California.

People paddle and row through the flooded Barlow Market District in Sebastopol, California.

A man retrieves a chair floating in the parking lot of the Barlow Market District in Sebastopol, California.

Another man was even seen wading through the flooded Barlow Market District area.

Another even resorted to using a paddle board to make his way through the high flooded Barlow Market District in Sebastopol, California.

This photo provided by Jeff Bridges shows flooded streets in Guerneville, California.

A group of men walk by a stranded car in flood water outside the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, California.

The National Weather Service says the Russian River in Sonoma County topped 32 feet Tuesday evening and it could crest at more than 46 feet by Wednesday night.

This photo shows a mudslide known as the Hooskanadan slide that has closed U.S. Highway 101 near Brookings, Oregon.

The ODOT says the slide continues to move at a rate of nearly two feet an hour.

Tuesday February 26, 2019

Residents of Armstrong Woods Road evacuate as the water rises north of Guerneville, California.

The town of Guerneville and some two dozen other communities are at risk of flooding from the Russian River north of San Francisco, which hit flood stage Tuesday evening and was expected to peak Wednesday morning at more than 46 feet - the highest point in nearly a quarter-century.

Residents along Armstrong Woods Road head back to their home after the road became impassable to most vehicles in Guerneville, California.

Thousands of people along a flooded river were under evacuation orders Wednesday as a relentless storm pounded Northern California, drenching the San Francisco Bay Area and pummeling the Sierra Nevada with snow.

Tim Russell of Guerneville attempts to pull a motorist from Armstrong Woods Road after it became inundated in Guerneville, California, but Russell became stuck himself.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.