Another powerful Pacific storm train is bearing down on Marin County. Mill Valley residents and businesses are once again on the front lines of flooding, high winds, and holiday disruption.
From the backroads of the redwood-covered canyons to the commuter hubs along Highway 101, people across Mill Valley—and throughout Marin communities like Sausalito, Corte Madera, Larkspur, and San Rafael—are scrambling to prepare. Forecasters say heavy rain will soak the region straight through Christmas Day.
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Mill Valley Braces for Days of Rain, Wind, and High Tides
Winter in Southern Marin means sandbags are just as common as holiday lights. In Mill Valley’s low-lying flood-prone pockets near Richardson Bay and the marshy edges of Manzanita, residents are mixing local know-how with old-fashioned prep to ride out what could be a long, wet week.
Across town, from Tamalpais Valley to Alto and Homestead Valley, the focus is on staying ahead of fast-rising water. The seasonal king tides can quickly overwhelm streets, parking lots, and storm drains.
Businesses Fortify Against Flooding in Low-Lying Areas
At Goodman Building Supply, a Mill Valley staple for homeowners from Tiburon to Fairfax, storm prep has become a seasonal ritual. The store sits in one of Mill Valley’s vulnerable low-lying zones, exposed to both runoff and high tides that push bay water inland.
Manager Victorio Fernandez said the team has shifted into defensive mode. Sandbags now line the entrances to keep water from spilling into the store, and the staff has set up water pumps and other gear in spots they know are likely to flood.
Over years of storms, Goodman’s team has mapped out the building’s weak points—the parking lot, the side entrances, and the subtle dips in the pavement where water likes to pool. That experience has become a playbook for contractors and DIYers from Greenbrae, Novato, and beyond who rely on the store for emergency supplies during every major storm cycle.
Residents Stock Up and Hunker Down in the Hills and Woods
It’s not just the businesses getting ready. Residents all over Mill Valley, especially those tucked into the canyons and wooded slopes above Cascade Drive and Panoramic Highway, are preparing for the storms in their own way.
One Mill Valley resident, Gus, who lives deep in the woods far from downtown and nearby communities like Belvedere and Ross, is leaning into a more old-world approach. Without central heating and with limited access to stores when roads are slick or blocked by downed branches, he’s gathering wood and fire logs to keep his home warm if the weather worsens—or if power lines fail.
For hillside residents from Mill Valley to San Anselmo, the concern isn’t just flooding. Saturated soils, gusty winds, and the risk of mudslides or falling trees—especially on narrow, winding roads—are always in the back of people’s minds.
Manzanita Park & Ride Flooding Snarls Commuters
Down at the Manzanita Park & Ride lot near Highway 101—a key gateway for commuters heading toward San Francisco or north to San Rafael—the familiar floodwaters are back. This low-lying area at the base of the Waldo Grade has long been a trouble spot whenever tides and heavy rain align.
With this latest storm system, the lot’s chronic drainage issues are again impacting public transportation users and carpoolers from Mill Valley, Sausalito, and even further up the 101 corridor from places like Corte Madera and Larkspur.
For commuters trying to leave their cars and hop on buses or shuttles, flooded sections of the lot mean fewer usable spaces and more time circling, wading, or just giving up. On big storm days, some residents simply opt to work from home rather than brave Manzanita’s puddle-laced pavement.
Neighborhood Crews: Clearing Gutters, Drains, and Debris
On the local streets of Mill Valley, storm preparation often looks less dramatic but is just as important. Resident Gary Karlston said his family’s focus has been simple: keep the water moving.
Before the brunt of the storms arrived, they cleared clogged drains and gutters around their property, knowing that even a single blocked grate can turn a quiet street into a temporary stream. That kind of work is playing out in neighborhoods all across Marin—from the older streets of San Rafael and the flats of Corte Madera to the hillside homes of Mill Valley and Kentfield.
Every cleared gutter and leaf-free drain buys a little more time before stormwater starts backing up into driveways, garages, and ground floors. Outdoor activities—from hikes on Mount Tamalpais to family bike rides along the Mill Valley–Sausalito Path—are mostly on hold. But Gary says his family feels as ready as they can be for the incoming waves of wind and rain.
Storms to Persist Through Christmas Across Marin County
Forecasters say the storm pattern hitting Mill Valley and the rest of Marin County—including Novato, San Rafael, and San Anselmo—won’t let up quickly.
They’re expecting significant rainfall to continue for several days. Christmas Day itself could end up wet and blustery, so don’t put away the rain gear just yet.
For families across Southern Marin, holiday plans might shift. Folks may focus more on staying safe, dry, and ready—checking sump pumps, grabbing essentials, and keeping an eye on the creeks, tides, and hillsides that shape daily life in Mill Valley and nearby towns.
Here is the source article for this story: Mill Valley Residents, Businesses Prepare For Heavy Rainfall, Strong Winds
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