A powerful “bomb cyclone” storm is pounding the California coast with heavy rain and hurricane-force winds. The intense low-pressure weather system hit California Wednesday night, lashing the coast with torrential downpours and wind gusts of up to 75-miles-per-hour in the North Bay. Forecasters are warning of mudslides, flooding and power outages. Over 170-thousand homes and businesses had already lost power as of last night, mostly in Northern California. Mudslides are expected in areas recently scarred by wildfires, and San Francisco has issued a flood warning, with Mayor London Breed calling flooding in the Bay Area “inevitable.”
An evacuation warning is in place for residents living along the lower Russian River and its tributaries between Healdsburg and Jenner. That section of the river is expected to start flooding late Sunday and into next week. The warning was issued at five o’clock Wednesday night, and public safety officials say residents should be prepared for an evacuation order if conditions worsen. Sonoma County Public Information officer Paul Gullixson says an evacuation shelter has been opened at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds’ crafts building in Santa Rosa. The Russian River in the effected area is expected to climb just below its flood stage of 32 feet late tonight, then fall back below flood monitor level tomorrow. It’s forecast to then crest to nearly 40 feet early Monday, following another rainstorm projected to arrive on Saturday.
