Update as of 1215 hrs
San Rafael, CA – A significant storm is bringing rain, wind and associated hazards to Marin County as of Wednesday night, 12/10, and lasting into Thursday night, 12/11. The storm has caused travel difficulties, dangerous conditions on area waters, the potential for flooding, and downed trees and power lines across the Bay Area.
At 9:30 a.m. this morning, Marin was notified of a flash flood warning in effect through 11:45 a.m. Significant flooding has been reported in the following locations:
- Highway 1 South between Point Reyes Station and Olema is closed due to severe flooding. The Olema Campground has been evacuated.
- All connectors from Hwy 101 to 37 are closed due to flooding.
- Nicasio Corporation Yard is flooded in both directions.
Trees and power lines were downed in several areas, especially in West Marin, and Marin County Fire Department and Public Works crews are getting to those scenes quickly. Power outages have resulted in some cases of downed lines. The largest area impacted is in Mill Valley near Edgewood. There have been no reports of injuries. To access information about the status of a power outage visit the Electric Outage map or sign up for text and email alerts on the Pacific Gas and Electric Company website.
High tide is predicted at approximately 2:15 p.m. County officials are currently monitoring the water level of the Corte Madera Creek which runs through Ross Valley from Fairfax to Corte Madera.
After advanced preparedness warning messages were sent out to neighborhoods in Stinson Beach, Kentfield and Mill Valley on Wednesday via land-line phones, the County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated Wednesday night. Staffed by trained experts in various specialties, the EOC will be collecting and sharing trusted data with the public.
Marin residents should be attentive to potential impacts from the heavy rainfall including additional flooding, potential landslides, and impacted utilities such as blocked road drains and downed power lines. West Marin was the most impacted area of the storm, receiving up to two inches of rain per hour. Other Marin areas experienced an estimated one inch of rain per hour during the peak of the storm.
According to the National Weather Service, decreasing showers are expected with heavier moments of rain. The main front has reportedly passed through Marin and is currently heading south. Winds are also expected to decrease and are much weaker behind the main front.
Need sandbags? Residents who live in towns and cities should check with their local government offices to see if sandbags are available at municipal corporation yards. The County generally does not provide free sandbags to the public, although this storm is an exception.
New deliveries have been confirmed to the following locations:
- Tennessee Valley pump station, Mill Valley
- Back parking lot of Marin Center (near corral), San Rafael
- Nicasio Corporation Yard, 5600 Nicasio Valley Road
- San Rafael Fire Department #52, 210 3rd St. San Rafael,
- Marin County Fire Headquarters, 33 Castle Rock Ave., Woodacre
Stay informed! Watch for updates on the Marin Office of Emergency Services webpage and the County’s social media accounts. Register your cell phone to receive text or email emergency alerts at www.alertmarin.org. For more information on disaster preparedness, check www.readymarin.org.