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Marin flooding traps drivers as high tide submerges Shoreline Highway
San Francisco Chronicle • • general
Key Points:
- A severe Emperor Tide caused rapid flooding in Mill Valley, submerging Shoreline Highway under two feet of water and trapping multiple drivers, including Rich Sumrall, whose car stalled in the flooded parking lot outside Club Evexia fitness center.
- The flooding turned the area into an island, cutting off access and forcing gymgoers and workers to remain onsite, with expectations that the water would recede by around 4 p.m.
- Flooding is a recurring issue in the North Bay, prompting infrastructure projects like raising sections of Highway 37 and community preparations for worsening conditions expected during the upcoming El Nino season.
- Vehicles caught in the tidal waters risk costly damage due to saltwater corrosion and engine hydro locking, with local mechanics reporting significant repairs from similar incidents in the area.
- Residents and workers have adapted to these extreme weather events, frequently monitoring tide tables and adjusting their routines to cope with the predictable but disruptive flooding.
