Scattered thunderstorms are forecast along with continued rain. The National Weather Service says to expect a steady stream of rain that could trigger road closures and rising rivers. The Navarro is expected to crest, so watch out for closures at its mouth. The Guerneville River was expected to crest tonight. Also in Sonoma County a mudslide was blocking a thoroughfare near Sturgeon’s Mill. Part of the Rohnert Park Expressway was closed due to flooding near Stony Point and trees down on westbound Highway 116 were blocking access. A woman got trapped in standing water near Riverfront Regional Park, so Forestville Fire swift water rescuers plucked her up. The rain is expected to continue through tonight.
California is marking another milestone as it recovers from the driest three years ever. Some counties along the Central Coast, like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, are no longer in a drought. Same for the San Joaquin Valley. New data shows almost all of the serious conditions in the southern part of the state are in San Bernardino County. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts more rainy days this month, leading to more areas emerging from the drought by May.
Lake County is under a flood watch as rain continues to pelt the northern and central sections of the state. The flood watch is in effect through tonight at 10pm. The National Weather Service reported over 2 inches in parts of Lake County yesterday with heavier rain falling last night. And about an inch and a half more is expected through the weekend and even more over the next week. This weekend could see gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. There’s also a flood watch for the Ukiah Valley and much of Mendocino County. Meteorologists say the latest atmospheric river will continue to bring heavy rain today with gusty winds into early next week. 2-4 inches are expected through Sunday and snow melt could increase the runoff.
With the Governor’s latest proclamation of a state of emergency for more than 20 counties, Mendocino County is added on. The Board of Supervisors had ratified the local emergency declaration just hours before. Governor Newsom’s declaration and comments that the state will continue mobilizing all possible resources to protect Californians. As we reported, the county is asking for residents to report in any severe weather damage so they can assess how much property damage there is to seek help from the state and federal government. The county CEO says they’re asking for daily updates from the Governor’s OES.
Trinity county has been slammed with snow. That meant the closure of Hwy 36 and Hwy 299, but the Governor has not included the county in his latest emergency declarations. As Humboldt and Mendocino Counties were added, major news outlets descended on the area. Some of the reports from locals about their commutes, and one about helicopters dropping feed down to cattle in remote areas from the California National Guard.
With disaster seems to always come a warning… the California Attorney General Rob Bonta is reminding that gouging customers during a state of emergency is illegal in California. After the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency for several more counties, Bonta reminded as demand for essential goods and supplies grows, there may be unreasonable prices emerging. He is urging businesses not to jack up their prices during the emergency, and says his office is closely monitoring for this. The latest 21 counties included in the state of emergency includes Mendocino and Lake counties, along with Santa Clara, San Francisco, Tuolumne, and Yuba.
An experienced horticulturist is wanted for the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. It’s not a volunteer gig, it’s a full-time year-round position with benefits. The gardens are also looking for part-time seasonal Store and Cafe Staff for the summer.
View the full job description and application instructions at: gardenbythesea.org/about/employment/
A public information session is being held by the Lake County Office of Emergency Services on the Local Mitigation Plan. The plan forms the foundation of the community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster-related losses. They are having a brief presentation, then Q&A afterwards. The meeting is in two weeks, on Thursday, March 23rd at Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District at 6pm.
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley reminding about Match Day which happens nationwide. Next Friday, March 17th, medical students find out where they will go for their graduate medical education residency training. Adventist Ukiah Valley has a Family Residency Program, for which they will get to find out the six new resident physicians who are coming to Mendocino County. The hospital is inviting the community to a Community Celebration Friday, March 17th at 1:00 p.m. in the Glenn Miller Conference Room. At that time, the six residents will be revealed.
Two men in Fort Bragg have been arrested after a months long drug dealing investigation. Police gathered enough evidence to obtain search warrants at two apartments and found two men with drugs and other items for drug sales. 21-year-old Kole Parker had more than 50 grams of suspected meth, fentanyl, digital scales, cash and other paraphernalia. At the second apartment in the same building, 75-year-old Steven Jones was found with more meth, marijuana, a scale, packaging materials, cash, cutting agents, and other narcotics sales paraphernalia. Each was booked into jail for possessing with intent to sell or distribute and more. A third guy, 21-year-old James Duffy was also arrested for obstructing a peace officer and violating probation.
As part of a new gambling bill lawmakers are considering there could be more cardrooms. The Assembly Governmental Organization Committee has advanced a proposal for a new cardroom moratorium for twenty years. The first Native American lawmaker introduced the bill backed by tribes that would replace the Gambling Control Act of 1997’s moratorium. The last vote on a moratorium failed. If the new bill passes, the moratorium would expire in 2043. No new cardrooms could open, but it would allow smaller cardrooms to expand if they have less than 20 tables.
Caltrans is distributing a bunch of money for local projects with money from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. Over $225 million would pay for local projects to cut the amount of traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads, with several in Lake and Mendocino Counties. In Mendo, Ukiah is getting traffic signal improvements; Willits will get new warning signs, and center and edge lines, pedestrian safety improvements and upgraded signal buttons and hardware. There will also be upgrades and replacements across the county for guardrails, new curve warning signs and sidewalks. And in Fort Bragg larger stop signs in some spots and upgraded pedestrian crossings. In Lake, they’re getting pedestrian crossing improvements like solar powered flashing beacons and LED enhanced crosswalk signs; solar powered dynamic speed warning signs at 22 locations; new signs and guardrails in the Robinson Rancheria.
As expected, Sonoma County is planning a managed homeless camp on county-owned land in northern Santa Rosa. A permit application has been filed for the encampment that will have room for 90 tents, each will have a bed. The planning department will have to give the greenlight for the project, which would be the first of its kind. It’s to help get the growing homeless encampment off the Joe Rodota Trail once and for all. Right now there are just over 80 tents there.
At least half the state is being hit by another atmospheric river. Emergency workers are fanning out across the state and millions of residents have been told to leave or to be prepared to, at a moment’s notice. Evacuation warnings have been issued across the Central Coast, and in Madera, Merced, and Tulare counties. Others already left their homes last night. The biggest threat is flooding due to snow melting from previous storms, and heavy rain pouring over the snowmelt.
Governor Newsom says California is using every tool to protect communities. That was the word Wednesday as the Governor asked the federal government for, yet another emergency declaration related to the winter storms. Now there are 34 counties included as Newsom added 21 on Wednesday, including Lake and Mendocino. He says it means the 34 counties can get access to federal assistance like generators and equipment for clearing roads.
Swift water rescue teams are at the ready in Northern and Central California. The state has 14 teams deployed for the first time in six years. One is headed to the Russian River in Sonoma County, where it’s supposed to be inching up to flood stage. It’s supposed to get to just under a foot away from flood stage near Guerneville tonight. Crews are monitoring for possible overflow and will be on boats and jet skis and have various search equipment.
More ski resorts are closing in the State of California because of the storm. They include Kirkwood, Heavenly, Northstar, Donner Ski Ranch, and Sierra-at-Tahoe. The resorts reporting conditions are too risky for guests and employees because of rain, wet, heavy snow, and gusty winds. Plus, Interstate 80 and Highway 50 are covered in snow, and you need chains, which are seriously hard to come by these days. Conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend with more snow on the way.
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