Weather

Flooding forces business closures, road blocks in North Bay

By
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
In the North Bay, what began as a night of heavy rains evolved into a morning of fear, near misses and also some serious damage.
SAN ANSELMO, Calif. (KGO) -- It's a tale of two cities in the North Bay: Guerneville and San Anselmo. It began as a night of heavy rains evolved into a morning of fear, near misses and also some serious damage.
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The weather came close to sweeping parts of downtown away. At 7 a.m. the San Anselmo Creek reached 14 feet and seemed destined to turn the center of town into a riverbed, once again.

PHOTOS: Major winter storms sweep across Bay Area
A man is seen sledding after snow fell on Mount Diablo on Sunday, March 5, 2017.none
Snow in Mount Diablo, Contra Costa County, California, Sunday, March 6, 2017.none
A man and his daughter enjoy snow at the Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County on Monday, March 6, 2017.none
A home in San Jose, Calif. appears submerged under flood waters on Feb. 21, 2017.none
Cars race to get away from the San Joaquin River in Manteca, Calif. on Feb. 20, 2017.none
Los Gatos Creek swells during a storm in the South Bay on Feb. 20, 2017.none
A strong storm prompted the closure of Pacifica Pier in Pacifica, Calif. on Feb. 20, 2017.none
Crews were sent out to secure the area on Paradise Drive near Tiburon, Calif. after another mudslide covered part of the road on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
Crews were sent out to secure the area on Paradise Drive near Tiburon, Calif. after another mudslide covered part of the road on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
A rescue team saves two people from an island in the missing of a rising Coyote Creek in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
A rescue team saves two people from an island in the missing of a rising Coyote Creek in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017.none
Road closures after a tree topples over in the Santa Cruz Mountain area Monday, February 20, 2017none
Residents at mobile home park in Modesto, Calif. use sandbags to prevent flooding from the Tuolumne River on Monday, February 20, 2017.none
Rain splashes the ABC7 News Mount Tam Camera on Feb. 19, 2017.none
PG&E crews work to shore up a mudslide that's threatening power lines in Orinda, Calif. on Feb. 19, 2017.none
Coyote Creek in San Jose, Calif. is seen on the verge of spilling over its banks on Feb. 19, 2017.none
Rain and mud soak Alamo Square Park in San Francisco Monday, February 20, 2017none
Rain and mud soak Alamo Square Park in San Francisco Monday, February 20, 2017none
Rain and mud soak Alamo Square Park in San Francisco Monday, February 20, 2017none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A broken levee caused severe flooding on Highway 37 in Novato, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2017.none
A Good Samaritan pulled a driver from a partially submerged car near Livermore, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 2017.none
A home in San Rafael, Calif. falls victim to a mudslide on Feb. 7, 2017.none
A couple in Felton, Calif. discovered a live goldfish in the floodwaters of their home on Feb. 7, 2017.none
A boy and his dog play in floodwaters in Marin County, Calif. on Feb. 9, 2017.none
Flooding in San Anselmo, Calif., on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.none
A car flips into Uvas Creek near Dublin, Calif. on Feb. 8, 2017.none
Flooding in San Anselmo, Calif., on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.none
Flooding in San Anselmo, Calif., on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.none
An overturned truck is seen after a landslide on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
A landslide is seen on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
A landslide is seen on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
A landslide is seen on Highway 17 near Scotts Valley, Calif. on Tuesday February 7, 2017.none
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A landslide in San Rafael, Calif. took out a two-story home on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Kayaks and rowboats were the preferred way of getting around in Kentfield, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 due to flooding.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Downtown San Anselmo, Calif. was evacuated on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 as the creek brimmed at flood stage.none
Two AC Transit buses were disabled on the Bay Bridge as showers hit the area on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017.none
Flooding takes over Sonoma County on Jan. 11, 2017.none
Flooding in Sonoma County causes citizens to band together.none
Flooding in Sonoma County causes citizens to band together.none
Flooding in Sonoma County causes citizens to band together.none
Manzanita parking lot in Mill Valley, Calif. is seen under water on Jan. 11, 2017.none
A rainbow appears in the Bay Area sky after a massive storm on Jan. 11, 2017.none
A rainbow appears over the floodwaters in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday, January 11, 2017.none
Animals stranded by rising flood water are seen in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday January 11, 2017.none
Residents fleeing from rising flood water are seen in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday January 11, 2017.none
Animals stranded by rising flood water are seen in Hollister, Calif. on Wednesday January 11, 2017.none
Flooding has triggered mandatory evacuations in Hollister, California, Wednesday, January 11, 2017.none
A man jumps into flood water in Gurneville, Calif. on Jan. 10, 2017.none
A heritage oak tree fell on a Danville home on Jan. 10, 2017. during a Bay Area storm.none
Part of a road in the Santa Cruz mountains slid away due to a massive storm in the Bay Area on Jan. 10, 2017.none
Police car stranded in San Jose, California, Monday, January 9, 2017.none
ABC7 News van heavily damage in mudslide near Scotts Valley, California, Monday, January 9, 2017.none
First responders arrive to flooded streets in Gilroy, Calif. on Jan. 10, 2017.none
An ABC7 News was crushed in a mudslide on Hwy 17 in Santa Cruz County, California, Monday, January 9, 2017.none
A car was towed away from flood waters in Petaluma on Jan. 8, 2017.none
BART riders climbed up an out-of-commission escalator on Jan. 10, 2017.none
Santa Rosa flooded due to a massive storm drenching the Bay Area on Jan. 8, 2017.none
A tree fell on a car on State Route 17 South near Santa Cruz on Jan. 8, 2017.none
A leaf is seen floating in a puddle on Jan. 7, 2017.none
An ABC7 News viewer captured flood waters passing over a road in Middletown, Calif. on Jan. 8, 2017.none
Flooding is shown in Findley, Calif. on Jan. 8, 2017.none
A downed tree is seen in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Calif. on Sunday January 8, 2017.none
The Napa River is seen on Sunday Jan. 8, 2017.none
A flooded vineyard is seen in Yountville on Sunday Jan. 8, 2017.none
This little guy looks ready for the rain! Share your weather photos using #abc7now.none
Here's a look at the stormy conditions at Lake Berryessa on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
The streets are flooded in Novato, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Share rain photos where you live using #abc7now.none
A man walks down the street with an umbrella in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017. Share your rain photos using #abc7now.none
An old cypress tree narrowly missed falling on a car during the storm on Sunday, January 8, 2017 in San Francisco.none
A young girl enjoys the big puddles caused by the storm in Sonoma, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
An SUV is seen after crashing on northbound I-880 in West Oakland on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
Water breaches the bank and rises up to the buildings in Corte Madera, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
Water breaches the bank and rises up to the buildings in Corte Madera, Calif. on Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
Slick conditions are believed to be responsible for a rollover accident on Hwy 280 in Daly City, California, Sunday, January 8, 2017.none
A single rain drop appears on a plant.none
Waves are seen crashing in San Francisco on Jan. 7, 2017.none
Crews work to fill a sinkhole ahead of a massive weekend storm in Pacifica, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017.none
A tree was cut down by an arborist in San Ramon, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017 after being deemed unsafe by fire officials.none
A tree was taken down by 50 mph winds in San Ramon, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017. The limbs struck and killed an East Bay Woman.none
A driver was taken into custody after they missed a turn and took out a fire hydrant in Redwood City, Calif. during a big storm on Jan. 7, 2017.none
Fog appears in South San Francisco, Calif. on Jan. 7, 2017.none
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"It is brutal," said Kacey Gardner, who had ten minutes to move all her stuff at her store, Tumbleweed, to higher ground for the fifth time this rainy season.

"I have been open for five days in January" she said.




In Guerneville, even the community that says it has seen everything water can bring expressed surprise.

Fawn Harbour never expected to be thanking members of the Russian River Fire District, but that was before heavy rains turned into high waters, and then those high waters turned her house into an island.



Fire fighters has to walk her out this afternoon and it's not the first time she's been flooded this winter.

"This is three or four times, and this time, it will rise up into the houses because the creeks are coming now," she explained.

Creeks coming, landslides falling, and even roadbeds being eaten away from below.



It's the best of times because it could have been worse. And the worst of times because, after today, we wonder, what comes next?
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The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Warning for parts of Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Santa Cruz counties for Tuesday because of heavy rain that is already causing flooding in some locations.

FULL LIST: Storm triggers closure of dozens of schools in Marin and Sonoma Counties.

The warning was issued for southeastern Marin County until 11:15 a.m., southeastern Sonoma County until 2:15 p.m. and southwestern Napa County until 1:15 p.m., according to the weather service.

Flash flooding is already occurring in Fairfax Creek in Marin County and is imminent in other locations in the county such as Corte Madera and Mill Valley, weather service officials said.


Gauges in the Laguna de Santa Rosa and Petaluma areas in Sonoma County also show high water levels, as well as many locations in Napa County such as Napa, St. Helena, Calistoga and Yountville, according to the weather service.

Relentless rain has also turned a popular highway in the North Bay into a river. Highway 121 near Highway 12 flooded in Schellville overnight. Three cars got stuck in the flooding and six people were rescued by firefighters. All of the rescued are expected to be okay.

REAL-TIME: Track the rain on Live Doppler 7

Tuesday's storm is a 3 on the ABC7 News Storm Impact Scale.

MORE INFO: ABC7 News Storm Impact Scale explained

The higher rainfall total and potential for flooding meet level 3 storm criteria.

A graphic revealing rainfall potential in the Bay Area for Tuesday, February 7, 2017 is seen in this image.

KGO-TV


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Bay City News has contributed to this report




Storm triggers flooding and rescues in Sonoma County







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