The National Weather Service predicts a strong weather system will arrive Friday evening, bringing widespread unsettled conditions from Friday into Saturday. This system is expected to deliver moderate to heavy rain, a slight (10-20%) chance of thunderstorms, and gusty winds from Friday evening through Saturday morning. The most intense rainfall and highest thunderstorm probabilities are anticipated overnight Friday into Saturday morning.
A Wind Advisory will be in effect from 4 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday, with gusts generally between 40 to 45 mph. Additionally, a Flood Watch will be in effect from 2 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday, with smaller creeks in the North Bay now expected to reach flood stage. Following the cold frontal passage mid-day Saturday, showers will become more scattered, with conditions set to briefly improve on Sunday. However, a third round of rain is expected late Sunday into Monday, though impacts from this system are currently projected to be minor.
In preparation for the storm, the Town has taken several proactive measures:
- Public Works crews have cleared debris from Hopper Creek, the Town’s weir systems, and street storm drains.
- A message board has been placed at Oak Circle to advise residents that Hopper Creek may flow into Oak Circle, which is typical during atmospheric river events.
- A sandbag station is available south of Veterans Park.
- Authorized Public Works crews will monitor the storm on Saturday, addressing any issues promptly and patrolling for storm-related hazards.
Residents are encouraged to take precautions during the storm.
- Oak Circle residents may move their vehicles beyond the intersection of Oak Circle and Heather Streets to ensure safe access.
- Whenever possible, stay home and limit travel or outdoor activities to remain safe.
Remember, "Turn around, don’t drown"—flowing water is a powerful force and should never be traversed during storm events.
If a power outage does occur, PG&E customers can find real-time updates via the online outage center, including status updates the assessments, repair and estimated time of restoration.
Storm Safety Tips from PG&E
- Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 9-1-1 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
- Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should ensure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on powerlines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
- Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights and not candles, due to the risk of fire. And keep extra batteries on hand. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, animals, and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
- Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup. Having a portable charging device helps to keep your cell phone running.
- Have fresh drinking water and ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer to prevent food spoilage.
- Secure your outside furniture: Strong winds can blow lawn chairs and other outdoor items into powerlines.
- Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug, or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns.