Storm Backs Off for Now — Minor Flooding So Far

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.

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