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Storm Backs Off for Now — Minor Flooding So Far

Problematic puddles have been limited to the usual suspects — areas around Hwy. 101 on- and off-ramps.

The first of three big storms expected to douse Marin and much of the Bay Area this week tapered off by mid-day Wednesday, leaving some minor flooding but promising much more later in the week, authorities said.

The second storm is expected to arrive in the North Bay late afternoon Thursday and spread south by early Friday, while the third storm is anticipated to begin early Sunday morning and end late Sunday evening. In between each of the storms, residents should expect intermittent showers, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Diana Henderson said.

North Bay residents will bear the brunt of the storms, according to Logan Johnson, spokesman for the National Weather Service's San Francisco Bay Area division in Monterey.

In Marin, west-facing mountains are expected to get hit with up to 15 inches of rain through Sunday, with low-lying Marin areas expected to get up to six inches of rain, Johnson said. Click here for the NWS fice-day forecast for the area.

Flooding has been minor so far, focused largely on the areas around Highway 101 that usually flood after heavy rains. That included the Hwy. 101 off-ramps near Greebrae and the Hwy. 101 on- and off-ramps around the Manzanita Park-and-Ride in Mill Valley (pictures at right).

Emergency officials in flood-prone San Anselmo said no major flooding is anticipated Wednesday. Keith Angerman, a building official with the town's Public Works Department, said the San Anselmo Creek was 10 feet below flood stage as of 10:45 a.m.

"We would have to have rain for several more days to reach flood level," Angerman said.

San Anselmo officials said sandbags and sand are available in a parking lot on Sunny Hills Drive near the tennis courts. Residents should bring their own shovels. Information on creek levels is available at the town's website.

Novato Fire District Captain Jeff Whittet said lack of wind attached to the storm's first thrust might be the reason why there haven't been many downed trees. Other than a solo spinout on southbound Highway 101 during morning commute — a woman was hospitalized with minor injuries — there were no storm-related emergencies, he said. Lt. Jennifer Welch of the Novato Police Department said it was a quiet day as well.

Henderson said there is little threat of local rivers and streams flooding today, but that flooding could be a concern by the end of the weekend.

"It's going to be chilly and uncomfortable," Henderson said. "But
this is not unusual weather for this time of year."

--Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Did you snap any photos of flooding or storm-related activity? Upload them here.

Rico November 29, 2012 at 12:10 am
I have a feeling (and hope) that we won't experience many isolated power outages here in southern or central Marin. It is the strong winds that cause all the havoc here with all the trees and power lines strung up in the thickly forested areas. The most rain falls up in the hills, so slides are a concern. But, most of Marin is very old, and compared to other areas in the region where building housing tracts up in the hills was done "willy nilly", we have very few incidents of slides here.
The reason slides occur is because of no planning and very little consideration by planning officials of problems from heavy rains. Their goal in some cities is to "gitter done", and slap up houses in hillside areas quickly to increase tax revenues, but not consider the acts of nature that will follow sometimes decades later when everything is much more expensive to repair. It is the local planning and building officials who are ultimately responsible for approving building projects now, and the municipalities have to learn from their past mistakes. The original developers are not responsible for building projects that were approved by corrupt public officials (even if these officials were paid to approve these projects by the developers). Never the less, my wood stove will be burning nonstop from Monday until next Sunday (at least), and I don't even care if they call a spare the air alert !
William Bertram November 29, 2012 at 04:22 am
Um, yeah, we have ten feet of snow here in Sausalito and would absolutely love it if the 'Doom-Sayers' would come and help us rebuild our city.
Lou Judson November 29, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Slides usually occur later on after enough rain saturates the ground. Same thing for flooding away from the bay.
These early rains mean roads can be hazardouns until the oil washes off, so everybody slow down a drive safely! Amazed me yesterday to see the freeway zooming long at over 65 in the midst of the occasional showers that suddenly dropped in on us. Slow down and watch out!
Betty Pancakes November 29, 2012 at 12:31 pm
Cowabunga, dude! Totally tubular news 'n I'm-a headin' down your way for a coupla-a runs on the snow-covered peaks 'o Sausalito. Just gotta remember what they told me in skee skool ... pie wedge, pie wedge, pizza slice! (that's how you stop, folks).
Seriously folks (yes, me CAN be serious) ... the rain is a pain and all, power outages ain't no party ... but let's remember that our friends on the East Coast have suffered FAR worse than what we're dealing with this week. If you haven't done so already, or even if you have ... consider bundling up in this rain storm and making a donation to a charity that can help a Sandy victim or two.

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Rico June 13, 2013 at 04:38 pm
Sorry, there are still bugs in the new Patch, I pushed the space bar and away my post went, I giveRead More up !
Andrea June 14, 2013 at 01:24 pm
Rico - I called the MV planning department first if was "they" who told me to call theRead More County. It was kind of a "pass the buck" can't believe that the MV planning/building department doesn't know who owns that driveway
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Thank you Andrea and Rico for you concern and comments. Think it's time to take it to Whole FoodsRead More (major tenant) and get them behind effort to correct this roadway which brings them patrons.
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Where is this new burger joint going to be located?
Cate Lecuyer (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 05:05 pm
It's in the former Cafe Oggi location next to the East Blithedale Whole Foods.
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They have regular pick up games @ the court on Caledonia. Below theSausalito library.
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Thanks for the info, Cosmo!