Thousands lose power; storm expected mid-week

<p>A series of power outages darkened a variety of Sonoma County areas Saturday and Sunday as the latest storm swept through the region. Another storm is expected to hit the region mid-week.</p><p>Sunday at 1 a.m., 1,169 PG&E customers lost power when strong winds knocked power lines together. Power was restored by 5:10 a.m., said Paul Moreno, spokesman for PG&E.</p><p>Saturday’s heavy downpours left many areas briefly flooded and also led to several failures from problems including fallen branches into power lines.</p><p>The National Weather Service said that 1.02 inches of rain fell in Santa Rosa on Saturday. </p><p>A large swath of western Santa Rosa toward Forestville lost power Saturday afternoon due to a fallen power line.</p><p>There were 2,229 customers out from about 3:45 to 6:50 p.m. in an area near Frei Road, and along and south of Guerneville Road, Moreno said.</p><p>Although sun broke through periodically Sunday, most of the day was darkened by clouds and periods of rain over much of the area. Middletown received nearly two inches of rain on Sunday, while Santa Rosa got less than a third of an inch.</p><p>Although the forecast called for sun today, a storm from the Gulf of Alaska is expected to hit Wednesday, the weather service said.</p><p>“That should bring another good shot of rain, probably a little more (than Saturday and Sunday),” said weather service meteorologist Steve Anderson. </p><p>Anderson said Saturday’s rain brought the season total to 5.87 inches — 69 percent of the normal year-to-date rainfall of 8.47 inches. Temperatures this week should be warmer, he said, with daytime highs of 55 to 60 degrees and overnight lows of 35 to 40 degrees.</p><p>Other Saturday power failures were in Monte Rio and Bodega Bay. The Monte Rio failure was to 43 customers from 3:37-11:59 p.m.</p><p>At Bodega Bay, 264 customers Saturday were without power from 3:20 to 11:57 p.m. A power line was found on the ground. Near Highway 12 and Maple Avenue from 10 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Saturday, 68 customers lost power.</p><p>Staff Writer Jeremy Hay contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossman at 521-5412 or randi.rossman@pressdemocrat.com.</p>