G’morning, townsfolk. How are you all doing out there in the storm? I’ve been hunkered down for days in my coziest of cozy mountain homes, where I seem to be reaching a state of near-hibernation that feels true to the season. But that won’t stop me from delivering your trusty Healdsburg Event Log, of course. Picture me out here in the stormy countryside with a nightcap and a feather quill pen, drawing up the town calendar as trees crack and fall in the forest all around. Because the people need to know what’s happening, rain or shine! Stuff like…

But just so you know what you’re getting into if you step outside over the next few days, here’s a little mid-storm weather update. The rain first started coming down Wednesday, on New Year’s Eve, but the storm really intensified last night — with intermittent downpours and winds up to 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). We should expect more of the same today, plus some potential thunder and lightning. Healdsburg has gotten an inch or two of rain so far, local weather gauges show, and the NWS says we could get another few inches of hard rain through Monday. Lighter rain could then linger through Tuesday or Wednesday.

Sonoma County government officials warned last night: “As storms continue across Sonoma County, heavy rain and strong winds may cause flooding on roads, rivers and streams, along with fallen trees and power lines.” They’re recommending you “limit unnecessary travel, prepare for possible power outages (water, non-perishable food, medical needs), never drive through flooded roads (TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN 🚫🚗💦) and stay far away from downed power lines.” And by this morning, the NWS was reporting: “Mark West Creek, Colgan Creek, Wiggins Creek, and Santa Rosa Creek are in action stage due to runoff from recent rainfall. Additionally, law enforcement has reported flooding in and around Valley Ford.” The Petaluma River is surging higher than it has in decades, too, according to the Press Democrat. But FYI, weather officials don’t expect the Russian River to come anywhere near flood stage in Healdsburg during this particular storm. Foss Creek could be another matter; I haven’t seen or heard anything about it flooding yet, but it’s always something to keep an eye on. (Remember to send me storm pics and updates, if you have ‘em!) Meanwhile, you can check on the latest local road closures here. And if you need sandbags, county officials say you can pick some up at Healdsburg’s Abel de Luna Community Center near the north end of Healdsburg Avenue.

Anyway, back to our current storm situation. The Sonoma coast is where the real action (and danger) is at, this time around. A series of official weather alerts in effect this weekend warn of “breaking waves to 20 ft, strong currents, and a higher risk of sneaker waves” — along with, no biggie, the most extreme “king tides” our coastline has experienced since the late ‘80s. As a result, the Press Democrat reports that “areas of land that are normally dry could be under as much as 2½ feet of water.” And the SF Chronicle explains: “The unusually high tides are being driven by a rare alignment of astronomical forces — including a full moon and the moon’s recent closest approach to Earth — arriving at the same time as a powerful Pacific storm.” There were already some crazy images coming out of Marin County yesterday, showing streets and shops inundated with churning brown waters. So yeah, steer clear of the coast, if you can…

And before we fly off into calendar land, I feel obliged to remind you that there are still many residents (and faraway fans) of Healdsburg who don’t even know this newsletter exists yet. Crazy, right? But this can be fixed! Just send all your people the following subscribe link, so they can get on board. (Or just forward them this email, and they can click the link themselves.) Because the more informed and involved we become as a community, the better. 🙌