UPDATE: Historic flooding has devastated Marin County’s low-lying coastal areas as of Saturday, July 15, 2023. The combination of record-high king tides and a winter storm surge has left key highways, including Highway 101 and Highway 37, completely submerged, causing extensive travel disruptions and safety concerns.
As the tide peaked before noon, major routes like Highway 101 near Lucky Drive were underwater, paralyzing traffic for hours. By 2:30 PM, waters had receded enough to allow a single lane of vehicles to pass. However, flooding persisted in nearby businesses and residential areas in Corte Madera and Larkspur, marking a second consecutive day of flooding in some locations.
“We are seeing a significant amount of flooding throughout the county,” stated Laine Hendricks, spokesperson for Marin County. Streets in the Canal neighborhood of San Rafael and along North San Pedro Road have been particularly hard-hit.
Flood-prone areas such as Gate 5 in northern Sausalito and the Manzanita park and ride lot under Highway 101 have also been closed due to police warnings. Approximately 1,500 homes in Tiburon and Marin City experienced power outages as county officials scrambled to respond.
Mayor Sally Wilkinson of Belvedere reported that Beach Road, the levee connecting the island to downtown Tiburon, was nearly breached by bay waters. “The inbound lanes of Tiburon Boulevard were completely covered in water,” she noted, emphasizing the dire situation faced by local businesses.
In the Santa Venetia neighborhood, levees were damaged, leading to concerns about potential breaches. “The breach is not catastrophic, but there was a high rate of seepage,” Hendricks confirmed.
While a pumping system in Marin City has kept some areas dry, challenges remain. “It’s flooding on the other side of 101; that’s stopping us from making the turn to the highway,” said Sarah Canson, a community services district board member.
The flooding is exacerbated by unusually high tides, with levels exceeding seven feet above sea level, driven by a recent atmospheric river. “The high tide comes in, it overflows certain areas,” explained meteorologist Brayben Murdoch.
Looking ahead, conditions are expected to improve slightly. “Tomorrow looks to be much less, with a high tide of 6.92 feet,” Murdoch stated. However, he warned that pockets of floodwaters could persist for days.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, issuing repeated alerts about road closures through the county’s emergency alert system, Nixle. Mill Valley Police Sgt. David Kollerer indicated that road closures may still be necessary on Sunday as ground saturation remains a significant concern.
As Marin County grapples with these unprecedented flooding conditions, local officials are urging residents to stay informed and cautious. The community’s resilience will be tested as recovery efforts commence and the full extent of the damage becomes clear. Share this information to keep others updated on the situation.
