At a Glance
- 15-mile stretch from Sausalito to San Rafael flooded by 3-4 ft water
- Record King Tides and heavy rain, worst in >20 years
- Roads closed, rescues made, flood warning until 2 p.m. Saturday
Why it matters: Residents north of San Francisco were urged to stay home as waters rose, and a man lost his life in Santa Barbara due to mudslides.
On Saturday, heavy rain coupled with record-high King Tides turned a 15-mile stretch of roadways north of San Francisco into a shallow river, trapping cars and prompting emergency rescues.
Flooding Hits Northern California
Marin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Dobbins reported cars stuck in 3-4 ft of water along the 15-mile stretch from Sausalito to San Rafael.
- Water depth: 3-4 ft
- Road closures: 15-mile stretch
- Rescues: multiple
Marin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Dobbins stated:
> “There is a lot of water in the roadways.”
> “Along with heavy rains, it just created the perfect storm for flooding on the streets.”
Weather Alerts and Impact
A flood warning was in place for the San Francisco area until 2 p.m. Saturday, with an advisory until 2 p.m. Sunday, and repeated rains were expected Sunday and Monday.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Flood extent | 15 miles |
| Water depth | 3-4 ft |
| Warning period | Sat 2 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. |
| Expected rains | Sun/Monday |
Authorities urged residents to stay home; some kayaked along swamped streets, others waded through water above their knees.
Southern California Effects
In Santa Barbara County, roads were closed due to flooding and a key highway blocked near Goleta after mudslides; a man died after being swept into a creek.
Key Takeaways
- 15-mile stretch flooded by 3-4 ft water
- Record King Tides combined with heavy rain caused worst flooding in >20 years
- A man died in Santa Barbara after a mudslide
The storms highlighted the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme tides and rainfall, underscoring the need for continued preparedness.
