Aerial view along the Russian River shows flooding in Guerneville. Aerial view along the Russian River shows flooding in Guerneville.
Satellite images show Guerneville and the Russian River before flooding on Oct. 24, 2018 and after the area flooded on Feb. 28, 2019. (DigitalGlobe)

How two days of rain turned Guerneville into an island

By Priya Krishnakumar and Jon Schleuss

Beginning early Monday morning, an atmospheric river-fueled storm moved into Northern California. Over a 48-hour span, the storm dropped as much as 2 feet of rain in some places.

Cumulative rainfall totals from Feb. 20 to Feb. 27 (in inches)

Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service

Catastrophic flooding occurred along the Russian River, which stretches more than 100 miles through Northern California and cuts through Healdsburg and Guerneville.

Sources: NOAA, Nextzen, OpenStreetMap
Aerial view along the Russian River shows flooding in Guerneville. Aerial view along the Russian River shows flooding in Guerneville.
Aerial view along the Russian River shows flooding in Guerneville. Aerial view along the Russian River shows flooding in Guerneville.
Satellite images show Guerneville and the Russian River before flooding on Oct. 24, 2018 and after the area flooded on Feb. 28, 2019. (DigitalGlobe)

Water inundated areas around Guerneville, a community of about 4,500 people. The precipitation turned the town into an island and forced mandatory evacuations. Residents in Jimtown, Lytton and Monte Rio were also asked to leave.

Cumulative rainfall in Forestville, Calif.

Source: Weather Underground

An estimated 2,000 buildings in Sonoma County flooded after days of rain.

The rain stopped stopped early Wednesday, and floodwaters were expected to recede early Thursday. More rain is forecast. About two-fifths of an inch could fall Friday and Saturday, and up to 1.5 inches Tuesday and Wednesday.

Homes and businesses in a flooded neighborhood in Guerneville. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
A view of a flooded vineyard near Guerneville (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
Left, homes and businesses in a flooded neighborhood in Guerneville. Right, a view of a flooded vineyard near Guerneville. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)