County's Flood Response Abates, But Rain Expected Through Friday

By Bay City News Service:

Reports of flooding in Marin County began to taper off Wednesday afternoon as the heaviest rains passed, but intermittent rain and unsettled weather is expected to continue through Friday, county officials said.

Parts of Marin County, including Novato, received more than four inches of rain in 24 hours, and winds were clocked as high as 55 mph, according to the Marin County Fire Department.

The wind and rain caused flooding, mud slides and power outages, and PG&E responded to 15 power outages throughout the county, some caused by downed trees, before mid-afternoon, according to fire officials.

Tidal flooding and surface rainwater caused major traffic tie-ups in populated areas of Richardson Bay and San Francisco Bay.

The Marin County Department of Public Works said tides were well over the predicted 6.5-foot level Wednesday morning, reaching 7.8 feet.

Tides are expected to remain above the predicted levels throughout the week, and should diminish to a predicted high tide of six feet by late Monday morning.

Intermittent rain and unsettled weather is expected through Friday with up to 1.5 more inches possible by late Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service.

A dry weekend is forecast but unsettled weather is expected next week.

There were no road closures in unincorporated Marin County, according to the Department of Public Works.

Flooding did take place on Miller Avenue and Camino Alto in Mill Valley, Bridge Street between Marin City and Sausalito and at the Shelter Bay ramp on U.S. Highway 101.

The southbound South Novato Boulevard exit in Novato also flooded.