North Bay residents on alert as new storm moves in

GREENBRAE, Calif. (KGO) -- The Bay Area is being slammed by another heavy, steady storm. It's expected to drop between an inch and two inches of rain through Monday morning. It made for a messy commute with heavy ponding on roads and several spinouts.

One of the biggest trouble spots was on I-680 at Vargas Road in Fremont where two jackknifed big-rigs blocked multiple lanes. One truck was blocking the high occupancy vehicle lane and another was off the roadway.

Though the system is not going to be as powerful as the storm that hit the region last week, North Bay residents who are still waterlogged are keeping a close eye on the new system that's moving in.

Some drivers were caught by surprise Monday morning as their cars hit standing water without even slowing down. Rain overnight created the trouble spot on Highway 101 at Lucky Drive in Marin County.

But after last week's storm and rains of years past, longtime residents are taking it all in stride.

"It's not as bad as it used to be, it used to be much worse," said Sandy, a Petaluma resident.

Sausalito resident John Storey added, "It's fine. Get rid of the drought. Bring on the rain, that's fine."

Residents on a cul-de-sac in Novato are watching this new round of rain very carefully. They experienced flooding during last week's huge rainstorm.

"I don't think it's gonna be as bad, ya know, it's the water we need it, so you gotta live with, it's something you gotta put up with," said Novato resident Hans Visser.

Visser took the lessons learned from last week and is applying them to this new storm. He has taped up some of his vents to keep water out of the house.

At the hardware store in Novato, maintenance crews are buying storm-related supplies.

"We're fixing roof leaks and clogged up storm drains and gutters," said Novato schools maintenance worker Dave Goodwin.

But Goodwin says he loves the rain and likes to run in it.

PHOTOS: Severe storm hits the Bay Area

There were no complaints back at the cul-de-sac, either.

"Oh I love it I love it," Storey said. "Plus we get to stay home and put a fire on."

And as for the slick roadways, the CHP tells ABC7 News that so far in Marin County, there have been no major problems.

A second weather front will bring more rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Sierra Nevada is expected to receive a few inches of snow through Monday morning above 5,000 feet. Last week's storm dumped a much as 8 inches of rain in the Bay Area and up to 6 feet of snow in the high elevations of the Sierra Nevada.

More storms are needed to pull the state of its severe drought and the latest storm helped to push the Sierra Nevada snow pack to nearly 6 feet. It was less than 2-feet deep this time last year.

PHOTOS: Rain floods roadways, leaves drivers stranded

Prepare for the next storm by downloading the ABC7 Weather app.

To track the rain with our interactive street-level map, click here.