'Bomb cyclone': Tiburon Peninsula doused, power outages
Updated: Nov 22
The National Weather Service's San Francisco office predicted heavy rain and winds Nov. 20-23.
1 p.m. Nov. 21 update:
The storm so far has dumped more than 4.5 inches of rain on the Tiburon Peninsula since Wednesday, including 1.57 inches so far today. The latest forecasts have rain continuing through early Wednesday morning.
— Kevin Hessel
9 a.m. Nov. 21 update:
The National Weather Service has reissued a flood-watch warning for North Bay counties, including coastal Marin, through Saturday morning.
— Kevin Hessel
5 p.m. Nov. 20 update:
The 12-hour rain total from Marin County's Pamela Court rain gauge is 0.79 inches, with gusts of up to 25 mph. We're at the southern edge of the storm; here's a color composite from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES West satellite:
Here's an update from the National Weather Service: "Radar and satellite shows a prominent band of subtropical moisture flowing through the Bay Area, especially north of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Observations show that most of the rainfall within the last 12 hours are within the North Bay with totals ranging from 0.6 to 2 inches, with higher terrain seeing up to 4-5 inches. … Expect another 1-4 inches of rain in the Bay area, with North Bay seeing the higher rainfall values going into Thursday. … This system will keep us in an active pattern through Tuesday, bringing additional rainfall to the Bay Area, with most of the impact continuing over the North Bay. Rainfall this weekend will transition from a continuous pattern to a more occasional shower with winds slowly diminish Friday."
— Kevin Hessel
1:57 p.m. Nov. 20 update:
PG&E says power was restored to affected Tiburon Peninsula customers about 1:45 p.m.
— Francisco Martinez
12:31 p.m. Nov. 20 update:
Some 1,017 Tiburon Peninsula customers lost power amid an atmospheric river that’s supposed to bring over 3 inches of rain to the peninsula over the next week.
The outage was first reported at 11:57 a.m. and is impacting lower Main Street and Old Tiburon, as well as pockets of unincorporated Tiburon near Paradise Drive, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s outage map.
PG&E attributed the power outage to the storms on its outage-status page. No estimated power-restoration time was given, though the utility said their crews will begin repairs “once the extreme weather has passed.”
— Francisco Martinez
10:15 a.m. Nov. 20 update:
From the National Weather Service San Francisco:
-Flood Watch in effect for the North Bay through Saturday morning
-5-12" of rainfall in the North Bay Wed-Sun
-Wind Advisory in effect for the North Bay, San Francisco Bayshore, and Pacific coast through early Thu for gusts up to 45-50 mph
How much rain are we expecting? The forecast for the initial push today hasn't changed much, but there has been an increase in the expected rain later in the week."
— Kevin Hessel
9 a.m Nov. 20 update:
Golden Gate Ferry service out of Tiburon has been suspended after the 8:10 a.m. ferry; all remaining trips will be operated by Golden Gate Transit bus services.
— Kevin Hessel
6 p.m Nov. 19 update:
The Southern Marin Fire Protection District has issued some tips:
“What actions can I take to prepare and/or stay safe? Before the storm
Secure outdoor items: Tie down or bring in patio furniture, trash cans, and other loose items.
Clear drains: Rake leaves and yard debris to keep gutters and storm drains clear. Place leaves and debris in green bin.
Update your emergency kit: Make sure you have flashlights, radios, spare batteries, and other essentials.
Sandbags: Use sandbags to protect flood-prone areas of your home or business.
Houseboat safety: Secure your vessel against high winds.
Sign up for alerts: Register for emergency notifications at AlertMarin.
Plan ahead: Talk to your employer about working from home, especially if you live in an area prone to road flooding.
Stay informed: Visit Emergency.MarinCounty.org for tips and resources.
During the storm
Stay home if possible: Avoid unnecessary travel; wet and flooded roads can be dangerous and can prevent you from getting to your destination. Staying home is the safest option until the storm passes. If its an emergency, allow emergency responders to come to you.
Drive carefully if you must go out: Go slow, keep headlights on, watch for obstacles, and leave extra space between vehicles. Do not drive through flooded areas or around barricades.
Turn around, don’t drown: Never attempt to walk or drive through standing water.
Stay clear of downed power lines: Treat all fallen power lines as live; call 9-1-1 to report them.
Mariners and houseboats: Stay in port. High winds and rough waters can damage or capsize vessels.
Stay informed: Monitor Emergency.MarinCounty.org for the latest updates.”
— Kevin Hessel
3 p.m. Nov. 19 update: Local marinas are warning boat owners to batten down the hatches. From the San Francisco Yacht Club: "The weather forecast for this weekend is for heavy rains from Wednesday through Sunday. Members with boats in the Harbor are advised to:
Check your lines for chafing
Check your shackles for rust and wear
Make sure your fenders are tied and placed properly
Most of all, check your jib sheets and sails to make sure they are secure"
— Kevin Hessel
12:45 p.m. Nov. 19 update:
Belvedere has issued an announcement in its Belvedere Blast newsletter:
"Heavy rainfall is expected this week beginning Wednesday, with potential flooding, power outages, and other storm-related challenges that will impact the North Bay.
If your home is in an area likely to flood, you can pick up ready-made sandbags from one of three stations Belvedere Public Works has stocked for resident use. Sandbag locations are:
The stations are typically locked to deter theft but are opened before forecasted storms."
— Kevin Hessel
Noon Nov. 19 update: "A strong atmospheric river will bring heavy rain and strong winds to the Bay Area starting tonight, with impacts extending through the weekend. The worst impacts will be felt in the North Bay, where more than a month's worth of rain will fall over the next 3-4 days," reports the San Francisco office of the National Weather Service. "In the North Bay specifically, there may also be some flooding of small creeks and streams, as well as a few downed branches and trees in the strong overnight wind. It looks nasty all day with strong wind and heavy rain continuing. This is especially true north of the Golden Gate, but Wednesday will be an impactful day across much of the Bay Area. There is a brief reprieve on Thursday, but only in comparison to Wednesday. It will still be raining for the majority of the day, and again focused in the North Bay. The winds should improve below advisory criteria on Thursday, but only just. The cold front will finally push through Friday with another push of heavier rain and stronger wind ahead of frontal passage and stronger showers and potential thunderstorms during and after frontal passage."
— Kevin Hessel