More wet weather headed to Sonoma County Tuesday

Rain and wind gusts are expected to linger in the North Bay Tuesday, but without the same heightened risk of flooding or debris flow that accompanied last week’s atmospheric river, according to the National Weather Service.

“This is more of your run-of-the-mill midwinter type of storm system,” weather service meteorologist Drew Peterson said Monday.

Sonoma County’s urban areas are expected to see anywhere from one-half inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain through Tuesday. The coastal range could see up to an inch more than that, Peterson said, while the highest peaks in the northeast could see over 2 inches of rainfall.

Increased wind speeds, still well below those seen during last week’s atmospheric river, will accompany the rain. Gusts are expected to peak around 40 mph, meteorologists said.

Winds were forecast to taper off by the early hours of Tuesday morning, Peterson said.

While the risk of debris flow in areas where last year’s wildfires burned is low during this storm system, Peterson said, residents may notice some nuisance flooding in low-lying areas due to the high saturation of soils.

Later in the week, the National Weather Service forecasted dry winds picking up starting Wednesday. But Peterson said the recent rainfall will protect the Bay Area from fire risk.

“Everything’s green,” the meteorologist said. “Fuels are not prone to burn. You might want to mention this coming, but there’s near zero concern.”

You can reach Staff Writer Kaylee Tornay at 707-521-5250 or kaylee.tornay@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ka_tornay.