Tuesday weather updates: Sonoma County Fire District crews rescue another driver
An atmospheric river hitting Sonoma County is bringing rain and wind to the region.
Here is the latest:
7:30 p.m.: Sonoma County Fire District rescues another driver
Sonoma County Fire District crews performed another rescue involving a trapped driver Tuesday evening.
About 5 p.m., they rescued a driver stuck on a flooded Slusser Road, the agency announced in a Tweet.
“Road barricades and signs are up for a reason. Don’t go around them, it’s dangerous,” the agency tweeted.
At least two other rescues took place Tuesday following an atmospheric river that dumped several inches of rain on various parts of Sonoma County.
6:45 p.m.: Sonoma County to be ‘fairly dry’ into Thursday
Stormy conditions are on their way out of Sonoma County and area residents should be in the clear for the next two days.
Sean Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Wednesday morning may be a little wet but otherwise the region should be “fairly dry” into Thursday.
Tuesday’s storm was expected to last into the afternoon hours, but gusty winds pushed the rain out of the area sooner than expected.
Vanado was Sonoma County’s wettest area on record following Tuesday storm, Miller said. The area recorded 4.82 inches of rain.
5:45 p.m.: Eastbound lanes of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge reopened
Traffic along the Richmond-San Rafael bridge is now flowing again in both directions Tuesday evening, after the California Highway Patrol ordered the eastbound lanes of the Interstate 580 bridge reopened shortly before 5:30 p.m.
The eastbound lanes were were closed for more than 90 minutes Tuesday after strong winds overturned several vehicles in the eastbound lanes of the bridge including two big rigs, officials said.
A high wind warning prohibiting high-profile vehicles, such as big rigs, from traveling along the bridge remains in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday.
4:15 p.m.: Overturned vehicles block eastbound lanes on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge; bridge closure in effect
Overturned vehicles, including at least two big rigs, are blocking eastbound lanes on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the California Highway Patrol reported this afternoon.
As a result, authorities say, there will be an extended closure of the bridge because the trucks cannot be righted until the winds die down.
A wind advisory, which is currently in effect, states that no high profile vehicles are allowed on the bridge.
The closure is causing congestion on local streets in San Rafael.
Highway 37 and the Bay Bridge are suggested alternate routes.
2 p.m.: 2 school districts dismiss early in fear of storm potential
At least two Sonoma County school districts dismissed classes early Tuesday due to concerns that weather conditions would worsen by the end of the day.
Dunham school district in Petaluma sent students home this morning and Horicon in Annapolis let out after lunch, said Eric Wittmershaus, director of communications for the Sonoma County Office of Education.
Wittmershaus said it’s possible other school districts released kids early but they are not obligated to notify the county office of education.
1 p.m.: Thousands in Sonoma County without power
About 5,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers in Sonoma County are without power Tuesday afternoon due to the ongoing storms, according to the outage center map.
A few power failures dotted the area Tuesday morning, but more appeared as the day progressed.
About 3,100 PG&E customers, extending from just west of Valley Ford to west of Rohnert Park, lost power just before 11 a.m. More than 160 customers around Bodega Bay experienced a power failure about an hour later.
More than 1,000 customers in the Sea Ranch area also do not have power.
The majority of the outages are in the western Sonoma County, though power has yet to be restored to about 700 Santa Rosa residents — 277 PG&E customers — or to the nearly 130 customers just northeast of Cloverdale.
12:30 p.m.: Flood warning issued for interior Sonoma County
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for interior portions of Sonoma County until 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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