Flash Flood Warning Downgraded as Rain Impacts Bay Area Communities

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A flash flood warning that affected several counties in the Bay Area was downgraded Thursday morning to a flood warning, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The updated warning now includes Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Alameda, and Sonoma counties, and is in effect until 3 p.m.

The flash flood warning, which expired at 9:15 a.m., was prompted by heavy rainfall detected by Doppler radar. Early reports indicated that between 1 to 3 inches of rain had fallen in Ben Lomond, with forecasts suggesting an additional 3 inches could follow.

Evacuations were ordered in parts of Santa Cruz County, impacting areas including Felton and parts of Watsonville. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office reported these necessary actions for public safety.

Meteorologist Kari Hall provided insights on the impact of the ongoing atmospheric river system contributing to this severe weather, highlighting improving conditions expected for the weekend.

According to the NWS, a flood warning signifies that flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying areas is either imminent or occurring. Areas at risk for flash flooding include Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, Cupertino, and several other regions across the county.

As the storm progressed, new flood watches and landslide warnings were issued in parts of the North Bay region. The Napa County Sheriff’s Department specifically highlighted the Oak Circle area as a location of concern, warning residents to relocate vehicles to higher ground due to potential flooding from Hopper Creek.

Local residents in the area were reported to be unprepared for the flooding, with no visible sandbags or flood mitigation efforts noted around homes and restaurants in Yountville.

In Sonoma County, slick conditions were reported, with concerns rising for icy patches by Thursday morning. Storm drains were becoming overwhelmed, prompting evacuation warnings for four specific addresses in a Santa Rosa neighborhood.

These warnings were particularly crucial following a recent landslide incident in the Deer Trail Road neighborhood, where a home was damaged, leading to a dramatic rescue of a mother and daughter. Robert Boyd, the homeowner, recounted the frightening experience during a recent interview: “She was obviously panicking. She didn’t know if she could get out.”

While no injuries were reported during the landslide incident, Boyd’s home received a red tag, indicating it is unfit for habitation until inspected and cleared by authorities. Initially, 12 homes were under warning, but that number has since risen to 15.

Although some areas along the Russian River had been under flood orders stemming from last week’s heavy rainfall, those have now been downgraded to general warnings at the start of Wednesday.