Northern California Flood Warning: Road Plan Before You Drive
Northern California flooding doesn’t need a hurricane to wreck your commute. It only needs one thing: water moving faster than you expected, across a road you assumed was “fine.” If you’re driving in or around the Bay Area and North Bay, treat flood alerts as a real-world traffic problem, not background noise.
The National Weather Service flood warning for Sonoma County spells it out: flooding can be imminent or already happening, and drainage can stay overwhelmed for hours as runoff works through the system. That’s why “the rain let up” doesn’t mean “the roads are fine.”
Photo by Wes Warren on Unsplash
What to do during Northern California flooding
Quick translation: a flood watch means conditions are possible; a flood warning means it’s happening or about to. If you see “warning,” treat it like a closure sign, not a suggestion.
Start with the simplest rule: don’t commit to a route you haven’t checked in the last 10 minutes. If you can choose between freeway and surface streets, take the higher, better-lit route. Caltrans QuickMap shows closures, incidents, and trouble spots, and it beats guessing.
Now think like water. Low points flood first. Underpasses, dips near creeks, and streets that run along channels can look drivable right up until they aren’t. A few inches of moving water can shove a vehicle off line, and once the tires lose bite, you’re a passenger.
Give yourself margin. Leave early. Expect detours. Assume your usual shortcut will be blocked. Keep your following distance long, because standing water hides potholes, debris, and missing lane lines.
If you hit water across the road, do not test it. Turn around. Flooded roads also hide washed-out pavement, and you can’t see that from the driver’s seat. If you’re already in water and it’s rising, get out of the car and move to higher ground fast.
Pack like an adult. You want a phone charger, a warm layer, and a small flashlight in the cabin. Keep a towel and dry shoes in the trunk. If you drive for work, toss in a reflective vest. None of this costs much. All of it feels priceless when you’re stuck.
One more reality check: even when the broader outlook looks “low-risk,” trouble can still pop up locally. Today’s Weather Prediction Center excessive rainfall outlook focuses on the odds of rain exceeding flash-flood guidance at a point, and local terrain and drainage can make the difference between “annoying” and “stranded.”
My Verdict
If flood warnings are posted in your county, driving “normally” is the mistake. Check QuickMap, pick the safest major roads, and turn around at the first sign of water crossing pavement. You don’t win a flood.