The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch warning from 7:00 pm Friday until 6:00 am Saturday in the San Francisco Bay Area due to a powerful cold front that will bring heavy rain to the region.
Rain rates will approach 1-inch per hour during the frontal passage of the storm. They say the heavy rainfall over a short amount of time will likely inundate storm drains with rapid rises on small creeks and streams.
Meanwhile, rainfall totals of 1-2 inches in the valley are expected along with 2-3 inches in the hills with local amounts of up to 4-inches to occur over a 6-12-hour window of time.
The National Weather Service says the Friday evening commute will be adversely impacted with flooding roadways and ponding of water expected. They encourage you to never drive through flooded roads.
They also said that the main stem rivers such as the Russian, Napa and Carmel rivers are not forecast to exceed flood stage.
UPDATED
The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Watch which has now been UPGRADED to a High Wind Warning. Warning in effect from 3 pm Friday to 10 am Saturday for the entire area.
Expect southeast winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts 50 to 65 mph.
They say that strong winds will likely created Downed trees, power lines, power outages likely.
County Run Sandbag locations
Byron Airport 500 eagle Court, Byron
Bags are located in the pump house at the junction of Byron Hot Springs Road and Holey Road. Contact Airport staff at 925-634-0147 for access. The sand cradle is located on the west side of the pump house.
Ambrose Recreation Center/CCC Family Service Center 3105 Willow Pass Road, Bay Point
Bags are located in a large green plastic trash bin on the west side of the parking lot next to the fence line approximately ¾ of the way back to the playing fields.
City Run Sandbag Locations
City of Antioch – Maintenance Service Center located at 1201 W. 4th Street. Limit of 20 staff & do it yourself station. Cost is .50 empty/$1 filled
City of Brentwood – Corp Yard at 2201 Elkins Way. Limit of 10, do it yourself. No Charge
City of Oakley – located at the Ironhouse Sanitary District.
City of Pittsburg – Corporation Yard at 357 E. 12th Street. No charge.
Sandbag Fill Instructions
- Fill sandbags 1/3 full with sand (3 shovels full)
- FIRST BAG: Fold the empty top of the bag at a 45-degree angle away from the source of water to keep sand from leaching out
- SUBSEQUENT BAGS: Place each bag over the folded top of the preceding bag. All folds must be folded the same direction.
- .END BAG: Fold the top of the last bag in the row underneath itself and place it over the folded top of the preceding bag, then stomp/pat bags into place.
For a full list of sandbag locations in Contra Costa County, click here.
