San Francisco ? Heavy rain triggered mudslides across northern California on Wednesday, forcing evacuations, closing roads and possibly burying an elderly man in his backyard.

Mudslides caused by more heavy rain in the already soaked region were reported all along the San Francisco Bay area, with Sonoma, Marin and Santa Cruz counties hit hardest. The latest storm dumped up to 6 inches of rain over 24 hours.

State water officials continued to monitor the swollen San Joaquin River for possible levee breaks. With storms passing farther south, the river should drop over the next few days, officials said.