Flooding concerns rise across Bay Area as more rain and thunderstorms loom

Crews cleared mud from key California highways on Sunday after downpours and high tides caused flooding, road closures and rescues of people trapped in cars, as forecasters warned that more thunderstorms were on the way.

Five northern counties remained under a flood watch. The National Weather Service office in Eureka said up to three inches (7.6 cm) of rain was possible through Monday night in areas that have been drenched off and on since around Christmas, and that at least a foot (.3 meters) of snow was likely in the mountains.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, waters were slowly receding after roadways from Sausalito to San Rafael were flooded during heavy rain that coincided with record-breaking “King Tides.” The report described King Tides as occurring when the moon is in its closest position to the Earth, strengthening gravitational pull.

Some people kayaked along swamped streets, while others waded through water above their knees. Marin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Dobbins said Saturday that authorities were called to assist when cars got stuck in water as high as 3 and 4 feet (1.1 and 1.2 meters).

Jeremy Hager of San Rafael told KTVU-TV: “I’ve been around here for the King Tides and I’ve never seen it this high. Never,”

Flooding was reported across Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, San Mateo and San Francisco counties. While the tides were waning, the Bay Area office of the weather service warned on social media: “For anyone driving, slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.”

Farther south in Santa Barbara County, a key highway was reopened Sunday after it was blocked for most of the weekend near Goleta due to a series of mudslides. The sheriff’s office said Saturday that a man died after he was swept into a creek during the storm, and the weather service said Sunday that parts of the county received more than four inches (10 cm) of rain over two days.

After a mostly dry autumn, California has been hit by a series of powerful winter storms that brought the wettest holiday season to the state in years, the report said.