Sonoma County Flash Flood Warning Issued

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for southeastern Sonoma County and northern Marin County until 5 p.m.

Heavy rain was falling across the area around 1 p.m., creek gauges were rising above flood stage and flash flooding already was occurring, according to the weather service.

The weather service also issued a minor to moderate flood warning at 2 p.m. for the Napa River Basin near St. Helena, National Weather Service forecaster Bob Benjamin said.

The Napa River at St. Helena was at about 14 feet at 2 p.m. and was expected to rise above flood stage at 17.7 feet early this evening, then fall later in the evening, Benjamin said. Major flooding occurs at 19 feet.

Flash flood advisories were issued for areas of Lake County burned by wildfires in the summer, according to Benjamin.

The Venado rain gauge in Sonoma County west of Healdsburg recorded 6.44 inches of rain at 11 a.m., and gauges in the Monte Rio area recorded between 3.68 and 4.25 inches of rain, Benjamin said.

The heaviest rain in northern Sonoma County has subsided and the storm was moving south toward San Francisco, Benjamin said.

San Rafael police reported several streets were flooded and creeks were overflowing around 1:20 p.m. State Highway 37 just east of state Highway 121 in Marin County was flooded, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Sonoma County officials reported 24 road closures throughout the day that included Austin Creek Road in Cazadero, Eastside Road in Windsor, Freestone Flat Road and Green Valley Road in the Sebastopol area, Mark West Station Road north of Santa Rosa, Valley Ford Road in the Valley Ford area and the western portion of Rohnert Park Expressway to Stony Point Road.

A large tree fell and blocked Calistoga Road at Alpine Road in Sonoma County, according to the CHP.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock