Heavy rain Saturday (Feb. 17) night flooded downtown Fairfax and throughout Marin County.
A flood watch is in effect for Marin County as more rain and gusty winds are expected throughout the three-day weekend. A Flood Watch is in effect from 10AM Sunday 2/18 – 10AM Wednesday 2/21, per the US National Weather Service. Periods of moderate rainfall will bring the potential for minor local flooding, as well as rapid rises along area rivers, streams, and creeks across the region.
Use extra caution when driving on the roads, as visibility and traction are reduced in wet conditions. Drive SLOW. NEVER drive through flooded areas. Turn around don’t drown!
Downed trees: To report flooding or downed trees in Novato, please contact the City of Novato Public Works Department at 415-899-8280. After hours, or if a downed tree is blocking the street, call the Novato Police Department non-emergency line at 415-897-4361. In an emergency, call 911.
Power Outages: If there is a power outage, visit the Outage Map: pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outage-tools/outage-map/ for more information. If a traffic signal
is out, treat like a 4-way STOP.
Downed Power Lines: If you see downed powerlines, stay away. Don’t exit your car or home. Call 9-1-1. Then call PG&E at 1-877-660-6789.
Below are pictures of the scenes in Fairfax.
With the monsoon type rainstorm Fairfax had, so much water coming down so quickly, it overpowers the storm drains all over Town. Willow Ave and Hawthorne Canyon empty at Drake & Pastori & Drake & Kent. Years ago we tried to increase the capacity of the catch basins and culverts all the way to San Anselmo Creek but were not able to complete the project.
The Downtown Parklet on the east side of Bolinas Road also blocks the flow of water on Bolinas Road and the businesses on that side of Bolinas Road flood. In 1982 & 2005 Bolinas Road flooded from Town Hall at the corner of Park & Bolinas down to Broadway.
The runoff coming down Laurel Drive & making the turn at Cascade looked like a river and it flooded the homes on the creek-side of Cascade Drive where Cascade hits the flats too. That catch basin by the telephone pole gets blocked very quickly and someone needs to unclog it during a storm.
Wood Lane and Porteous also get hit as the Creek flowing through the Stables comes out of its banks too when it reached Town Limits.