Storm dumps as much as 4 inches of rain on parts of Sonoma County

A sturdy storm that moved through the North Bay Monday and Tuesday brought more than 2 inches of rain to much of Sonoma County with similar amounts due later this week, according to forecasts.

The region should dry some today before the next front moves in, with the heaviest band of rainfall set for Thursday. Saturday and Tuesday also could be wet, according to the National Weather Service.

The current rain season, which began Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30, has so far brought 4.35 inches of moisture to Santa Rosa. Last year at this time 0.01 inches had fallen.

In a month that also featured summertime heat and lovely fall weather, Monday’s storm was the second of note, bringing what felt more like winter weather and heavy, substantial rains.

“The winner in Sonoma County is the great town of Venado, with 4.44 inches” over the two-day window, said Steve Anderson, National Weather Service meteorologist.

Venado is weather station at the site of a former lumber community tucked into a narrow canyon along Mill Creek west of Healdsburg. Its rainfall typically rivals or surpasses all others in the Bay Area, including rainy Cazadero.

Official rainfall totals from the two-day storm included 1.4 inches for Bodega Bay, 2.03 in Santa Rosa, 2.3 inches in Cloverdale, 2.47 in Cazadero and 2.44 in Windsor.

The plentiful rain means early runoff into reservoirs.

“Our reservoirs are currently in good shape and we are optimistic this rain and future storms will keep the drought out of our region,” said Brad Sherwood, spokesman for the Sonoma County Water Agency.

Lake Sonoma and Lake Mendocino both are at more than 85 percent capacity. Last year at this time Lake Sonoma was at 70 percent of capacity and Lake Mendocino was at 57 percent, Sherwood said.

The CHP reported a handful of minor fender benders and no serious crashes or dramatic traffic woes from the rainy day. That was not the case during the Oct. 3 rainstorm, when dozens of drivers skidded into guardrails and each other, creating horrendous morning commute issues. Sloat said drivers now have had a chance to adjust and conditions aren’t quite as slick, as much of the oil in roadways has been washed away.

Rainfall totals may rise markedly as November gets underway next week.

Thursday’s storm is expected before daybreak and could bring heavy rain during the morning commute, Anderson said.

Rain then could fall on and off through Friday morning, bringing totals similar to Monday’s storm. Forecasts include 1-3 inches in the valleys with more expected in the hills.

Another system could come in Saturday through Sunday, although how big a storm it will be was unclear at this point, Anderson said. For now, the forecast includes a dry Halloween on Monday but the long view shows yet another system lurking Tuesday or Thursday.

Temperatures should stay mild, with little variation between lows in the 50s and highs in the 60s.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707- 521-5412.