Severe Weather Causes Flooding and Road Closures in Northern California

Tue Jan 06 2026 07:15:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Heavy rain and unprecedented King Tides in Northern California lead to extensive flooding, prompting emergency responses and road closures over the weekend.

Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and the highest King Tides in decades, engulfed Northern California over the weekend, causing significant flooding. Reports indicate roads were submerged, with rescues undertaken as vehicles became trapped in water. Authorities have warned residents to stay home as recovery efforts continue, with more rainfall on the way. A tragic incident was reported in Santa Barbara County, where a man lost his life in the storm's aftermath.

Severe Weather Causes Flooding and Road Closures in Northern California

CORTE MADERA, Calif. — A combination of heavy rain and record-breaking King Tides, reportedly the most severe in two decades, has led to widespread flooding across Northern California. This situation prompted numerous emergency responses and road closures on Saturday.

Authorities reported significant flooding along a 15-mile stretch from the Sausalito area to San Rafael as the intense downpour coincided with the King Tides, causing water levels to rise dramatically.

According to Marin County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Dobbins, they received multiple calls for assistance as cars became stuck in water that was as high as 3 to 4 feet. “There is a lot of water in the roadways,” Dobbins stated, emphasizing that the conditions created a perfect storm for flooding.

Residents living in the impacted areas, located north of San Francisco, have been urged to remain indoors while officials work to manage the situation. There were numerous instances of individuals kayaking through flooded streets and others wading through water that reached above their knees.

A flood warning was issued for the San Francisco area until 2 p.m. Saturday, with additional advisories extending into Sunday according to the National Weather Service. More rainfall is anticipated to hit the state on Sunday and Monday, raising further concerns for residents.

In Santa Barbara County, road closures were enforced due to similar flooding, and a key highway was obstructed near Goleta following a series of mudslides. Tragically, a man lost his life after being swept into a creek during the storm, as reported by the county sheriff’s office.

King Tides, characterized by the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth, occur when the moon is at its closest point, intensifying gravitational pull and resulting in higher ocean levels.