Marin County sits in path of early spring rain system
A period of rain in Marin County and a snowstorm in the Sierra are forecast for the final days of March.
Showers are predicted to fall on Marin on Wednesday, followed by a “more robust rain” that will arrive Friday, said Lamont Bain, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. He said that 1 to 2.5 inches of rain are predicted for Friday and through the weekend.
Bain said the storm Friday will likely start in the late morning or early afternoon, then linger through Saturday and into early Sunday. The rain is expected to
subside Sunday afternoon.
Winds are expected to pick up to 20 to 25 mph in Marin County, with gusts of 40 mph along the coast Friday afternoon, Bain said.
“The big thing to focus on is the wind gusts for sure — limbs potentially coming down could be a hazard,” he said.
Bain added that the winds this week are not expected to be as strong as the ones that hit Marin County early this year and late last year.
The Marin Municipal Water District, which has seven reservoirs, reported they were at 100% of capacity as of Monday. The storage level is at 109.52% of the average storage for that date.
The district reported 54.73 inches of rain at Lake Lagunitas from July 1 through Monday. The historical average for the same period is 45.42 inches. This time last year, the figure was 70.01 inches.
Marin County residents seeking springtime snow in the Sierra will have an opportunity this week. A snowstorm is expected to arrive there Friday and last through Sunday morning, said Justin Collins, a meteorologist at the weather agency. He said 1 to 2 feet of snowfall is expected for the Sierra Crest from Lake Tahoe south to Mono County. Collins said drivers will need chains and they should stay up to date with Caltrans announcements on road conditions.