The Russian River crested early Wednesday above flood stage causing minor flooding, while high water kept Highway 37 near Novato closed in both directions, adding to major traffic issues for the morning commute.
The river got to 33.9 feet in Guerneville and then began to drop. A powerful storm due Thursday now is causing predictions for the river to rise just over flood stage on Friday morning. Flooding typically starts in Guerneville when the river gets higher than 32 feet.
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Russian River Firefighter Jason Dooyes said no serious problems were reported during the night, “just localized areas of flooding.”
“It’s not like it was three weeks ago.”
In northern Marin County, traffic reports indicated a back up in Petaluma, in part from the Highway 37 closure, although the morning commute typically includes a Petaluma slow down. The heavily used highway is a major route connecting four counties.
Drivers were being diverted around the swamped lanes to Atherton Avenue, which Novato police have said creates traffic problems in the city.
The Highway 37 headache was expected to last for some days.
“With it raining right now and with another storm coming tomorrow, we’re anticipating more problems,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay.
The weather continued to impact school for students in the river area. Wednesday, Guerneville schools and Monte Rio Union School District were closed.
Downpours Monday and Tuesday added another 3 inches of rain to much of the region, as rain continued overnight bringing more flooding, fallen trees and mudslides.
Rainfall totals from volunteer weather watchers as of 7 a.m. Wednesday showed that close to an inch fell in one Santa Rosa neighborhood in the prior 24 hours.
Cazadero took in almost 2 more inches and Sebastopol and Guerneville residents reported 1.5 inches. Other recordings included Windsor with .85, Glen Ellen .73 and .51 inches in Petaluma.
Current road closures in the county totaled 31 Wednesday morning. The closures mainly were in the West County and ranged from remote Old Cazadero Road to routes including Eastside Road where two spots were closed due to flooding.
Wednesday’s showers are a prelude to Thursday’s expected storm and the possibility of more than 2 inches of rain in several areas, according to forecasts.
Power outages Wednesday in Sonoma County appeared to involve a few hundred people, according to a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. outage report.
The latest rain storm brought the Russian River to flood stages, but not the expected 34 feet, said Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman.
Firefighters in the Russian River area Tuesday night responded to several toppled trees, including along Cazadero Highway and on Highway 116 in Monte Rio at Redwood Drive. Another call was for a woman stranded in her car when she tried to drive through an area of Mays Canyon Road that was closed due to flooding.
Her call for help triggered a response for a swift water rescue. Baxman said the call turned out to be easier than that. He drove his pickup into the water alongside her car.
“I rolled down my window and she rolled down hers and crawled through the windows into the truck,” he said. Her car is now submerged.
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