Marin Coastal Range, Sonoma Coastal Range, North Bay Interior Mountains, Coastal North Bay including Point Reyes National Seashore and North Bay Interior Valleys are the focus of a weather alert for strong thunderstorms issued at 1:28 p.m. on Wednesday by the National Weather Service. The alert is in effect until 2 p.m.
“At 1:28 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a line of strong thunderstorms extending from 9 miles southwest of Healdsburg to 26 miles southwest of Point Reyes Station, or extending from 14 miles west of Santa Rosa to 33 miles southwest of San Rafael, moving northeast at 50 mph,” according to the . “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
NWS San Francisco CALocations impacted by the alert include Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Novato, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Sebastopol, Cotati, St. Helena, Calistoga, South Santa Rosa Cdp, Roseland, Larkfield-Wikiup, Tomales, Boyes Hot Springs, Dillon Beach, Point Reyes Station, Black Point-Green Point and Lucas Valley-Marinwood.
According to the NWS, “Monitor the weather situation closely and be alert for threatening weather conditions. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.”
Preparing for approaching lightning: Expert safety advice
Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the NWS. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.
To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:
Lightning safety plan:
