Sonoma County, already soaked, braces for next storms

The first of three consecutive storms passed through Sonoma County on Thursday, bringing more winter precipitation to already rain-weary residents.

The storm that first landed Wednesday brought 3.27 inches of rainfall by 6 p.m. Thursday to Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

Famously wet Venado in the hills west of Healdsburg had slightly more than 7 inches.

The deluge brought the Santa Rosa total of rainfall for the season - which still has eight months remaining - to 33.6 inches, which is 178 percent of normal for this time of year, according to the weather service.

“It definitely was a nice soaking,” said Steve Anderson of the National Weather Service in Monterey.

With a short break from steady precipitation, work crews Thursday made progress clearing downed trees and flooded roads after the overnight drenching.

The deluge swamped roads from the Sonoma Valley to the Russian River. The flood-prone Highway 121/12 intersection south of Sonoma remained closed Thursday as Caltrans cleared away mud and debris. A smattering of other roads along Highway 116 and in West County also were underwater or blocked by fallen trees.

Wohler Road near Forestville was closed by flooding.

The Russian River was expected to crest after midnight Friday but remain well within its banks.

Rain will be intermittent today, with showers returning again on Saturday, Anderson said.

A storm arriving Saturday night and lasting into Sunday could bring up to 2 inches of rain to Santa Rosa, with wind gusts reaching 40 mph.

“It will be similar in nature to the one you experienced Wednesday,” said Bob Benjamin, a forecaster at the National Weather Service.

By the end of the weekend, forecasters said the region already may have gotten as much precipitation as it usually receives in an entire rain year, which starts Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30. The historical yearly rainfall average is 36.28 inches for Santa Rosa.

“It’s pretty impressive,” Anderson said. “It’s a good place to be. Because the faucet could turn off in March.”

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 707-568-5312.