My wife and I are planning a trip to Sonoma County/Russian River Valley this summer. We are concerned with the news and pictures of the terrible storms and flooding there this winter. We are considering postponing and going somewhere else. Do you know how I could find out how bad the damage is?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
The good news for you - but not residents - is that storms and, on occasion, flooding are not at all uncommon during winter months in many parts of California. Summer, when you are planning to visit, is by contrast quite dry. On average, this locale sees 8 inches of precipitation in both January and February, by far the wettest period, whereas during June through September rainfall is typically close to nothing (a fraction of an inch each month). I doubt there will be any residual problems from current storms that would interfere with your trip to the area in the hot season. To learn more, you might start with the official Sonoma website (sonomacounty.com), which offers a great deal of very useful information for the visitor. You might also look at the helpful site of the principal town of Healdsburg (Healdsburg.com), which does have a contact page for their Visitors Bureau. If you need further reassurance, you can always reach out to a winery or two listed in the guide of the Russian River Valley Winegrowers (rrvw.org).
