The rain-swollen Russian River reached flood stage in multiple places Wednesday in the wake of an atmospheric river-fueled storm that brought a deluge of rain and lashing winds to the Bay Area. National Weather Service officials issued a flood watch Wednesday afternoon for portions of Sonoma and Marin counties as the region prepared for another round of rain on Thursday.

The NWS says excessive rainfall is expected to cause flooding along the Russian River, affecting roadways and agricultural land.

After a day of steady rain, including heavy downpours, Sonoma and Napa county rivers have swollen, with some reaching or exceeding predicted levels, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center.