Marin to open emergency shelter for storm

Marin County plans to open its emergency shelter for the storm expected next week.

The shelter is at the Marin Health and Wellness campus at 3240 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael. The shelter will be available from 5 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco will operate the shelter.

The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services announced the decision on Friday, saying the National Weather Service forecast meets criteria for opening the shelter. The criteria include days of rain, cold temperatures and other factors.

The forecast includes three storms beginning Saturday. The first will bring an inch of rain on Saturday, followed by light, scattered rain the next day, said Joe Merchant, a meteorologist for the agency.

The third storm will start late Monday night and strengthen on Tuesday. Merchant said rainfall totals in Marin will include up to 2 inches on the coast. Gusts could reach 40 to 45 mph on Tuesday morning, he said.

“We dry out on Christmas,” Merchant said. “The winds will ease and break from the Tuesday storm.”

Another storm is expected early Thursday morning. Merchant said Marin will get an inch or an inch and a half of rain as well as gusts up to 30 mph.