Flash Flood Warning Issued For Central Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A flash-flood warning went into effect Wednesday afternoon for parts of Central Sonoma County, including Sebastopol, Forestville, Santa Rosa and Graton, according to the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area.

The warning was expected to remain in effect until 5:45 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the NWS, gauges at Green Valley Creek at Martinelli and Santa Rosa Creek and Willowside Road indicated at 3:43 p.m. that heavy rain was falling across the warned area, with flash flooding occurring.

Some locations the NWS said will experience flooding included portions of Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Forestville and Graton.

"Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, country roads, farmlands, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots," NWS officials said.

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A flash-flood warning was also in effect earlier Wednesday for north Petaluma and Penngrove, with Petaluma police reporting roadway flooding on Petaluma Boulevard North, near Gossage Avenue.

Additionally, an NWS urban and small stream advisory was expected to remain in effect until 6:30 p.m. for Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties.

Flooding of small streams was already indicated by Doppler rader at 4:13 p.m., the NWS said.

According to the advisory, some locations that will experience flooding include: Santa Rosa, Napa, Petaluma, San Rafael, Novato, Rohnert Park, Windsor, American Canyon, Mill Valley, San Anselmo, Larkspur, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Corte Madera, Tiburon, Cloverdale, Fairfax, Sebastopol, Cotati and Sausalito.

"Turn around, don`t drown when encountering flooded roads," NWS said. "Most flood deaths occur in vehicles."

Since 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the mountainous parts of Sonoma County have received the most rain thus far in the Bay Area, National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson said.

Winds have been as strong as 50-60 mph in some higher elevations in the region, Anderson said.

The strong winds and rain should begin to decrease by the early morning hours Thursday, he said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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