Russian River Evacuation Advisory Remains In Effect

GUERNEVILLE, CA — Advisory evacuation notices that went out Thursday for residents near the Russian River in the Guerneville area remained in place Friday, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

"The county has advised that advised these advisory 'voluntary' evacuations are in place until 10 p.m. tonight," sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum told Patch.

Sonoma County Emergency Operations Center has been closely monitoring the situation this week as the latest winter storm — described by the National Weather Service as an atmospheric river — pounded the North Bay and greater Bay Area.

The notices went out Thursday as the Russian River officially surpassed the flood stage of 32 feet, according to the sheriff's office.

"We suggest if you are in a low-lying area to move to higher ground," the sheriff's office said in the evacuation advisory.

Deputies reported Thursday that the areas of Sycamore Court, Mill Court and Neely Road in Guerneville and Fir Road in Monte Rio were experiencing flooding.

"We sent out notices yesterday on Nixle, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, SoCo Alert and Wireless Emergency Alert about the evacuations, " Crum said Friday.

Elsewhere in the North Bay, the Napa River on Thursday also surpassed flood stage.

Rain showers are likely to continue through Sunday in the already-inundated North Bay, according to the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area Office.

Photo via Sonoma Sheriff Facebook page