North Bay Flash Flood Watch: Mudslides, Debris Flow Possible

NAPA and SONOMA counties, CA — A flash flood watch was scheduled to go into effect Monday for the mountains and interior valleys of the North Bay, in cities including Santa Rosa, South Santa Rosa, Napa, San Rafael, Petaluma, Novato, Rohnert Park, Angwin, Lagunitas-Forest Knolls and Woodacre. Of particular concern are areas burned in the October wildfires, where heavy rainfall rates could lead to debris flows, mudslides and flash flooding in an around recent burn scars, forecasters with the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area said.

The flash flood watch goes into effect at noon Monday and lasts through 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Impacted areas include the recent Atlas, Tubbs, Nuns and Pocket burn scars, as well as the Fountaingrove neighborhood in northeast Santa Rosa, according to NWS.

"Heavy rainfall is expected with amounts ranging from 1.5-2.5 inches for the North Bay Valleys and 2-4 inches for the North Bay Mountains with locally higher amounts possible, particularly for southwest-facing slopes," NWS officials said. "Rainfall rates are expected to exceed 0.5 inch per hour."

"A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Be particularly vigilant if you live in or near the North Bay burn scars."

Image via National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area