Two regions of the Bay Area will be under weather watches as the fall season's first major storm season approaches the Bay Area on Tuesday.
The Kincade Fire burn area in northern Sonoma County will be under a Flash Flood Watch Tuesday with rainfall of approximately 0.5-0.75 inches expected, weather officials said. In addition to flooding, rockslides and debris flows may occur.
Sonoma County has identified scores of high-risk properties next to waterways, but this one is at the top of the list in terms of keeping ash and toxic containments from the burn scar out of the Russian River.
The Russian Riverkeepers, a non-profit based in Healdsburg, is working on projects to protect the river, where over 1 million people swim and 700,000 people get their drinking water.
"Our biggest concerns are homes and cars," said Don McEnhill of the Russian Riverkeepers. "The average car has a as much toxins as a house. It's just plastic and all these petrochemicals -- and when you light them on fire, bad things happen."
Separately, a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect for Monterey County's Santa Lucia Mountains above 2,500 feet starting late Tuesday through Thanksgiving morning.
Weather officials advised campers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts to anticipate winter-like impacts above the Big Sur area. Approximately 1-3 inches of snow is expected above 2,500 feet, 3-6 inches between 3,000-4,000 feet and 5- and possibly 8-plus inches above 4,000 feet.
Weather officials said the peaks of the Diablo Range and Santa Cruz Mountains might also see snow, but no weather advisories are in effect for either area as of 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
