LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The National Weather Service said another strong Pacific cyclone will begin to impact the North Coast region on Friday, bringing more winds, high mountain snow, rain and the threat of further flooding.
The agency said that on Friday Northern California will see an abrupt end to the brief intermission in the heavy rain it experienced this week as the cyclone arrives.
“This storm system will bring gusty to strong southerly winds, high elevation snow and a new widespread flooding threat from heavy rainfall on top of already saturated ground,” the forecast said.
The cyclone will be joined by another atmospheric river that will be drawn into the region on
Friday, the forecast said.
During Thursday’s Clearlake City Council meeting, City Manager Alan Flora reported that, overall, the city has fared well during this week’s heavy winter storms.
He said he was very proud of the city’s police and public works departments for their response.
“They always do their best to prepare for winter early,” he said.
Regarding their work on Wednesday, during the height of the storm, “They were all pretty soggy by the time the day was over,” Flora said.
He said the city was having daily briefings with the Lake County Office of Emergency Services and the National Weather Services.
Flora said that another 6 to 8 inches of rain is expected to fall from Saturday through Tuesday.
“Everything is saturated so we’re going to have more localized flooding,” said Flora.
He noted a “marked change” in communication coming from the county, especially referencing County Administrative Officer Susan Parker who he said has been sharing information, which hasn’t always been the case with the county government during emergencies.
Flora said Congressman Mike Thompson’s office also reached out to offer the city assistance.
Across Lake County on Thursday, efforts continued to restore power to thousands of residents who lost their electricity due to the storms.
Road conditions overall were improving as downed trees and lines were cleared.
The California Highway Patrol reported Thursday night that Witter Springs Road remained closed at the bridge and Scotts Valley Road also was closed to flooding.
One area that’s benefiting from the intense rainfall is Clear Lake, which has been at the lowest level since the drought of the 1970s.
Early Friday, the lake was at -0.79 feet Rumsey, the special measure used just for Clear Lake, an improvement of nearly a foot thanks to this week’s rain.
The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Lake County, predicting that as much as an inch of rain could fall on Friday, with up to 4 inches possible on Saturday, and nearly 2 inches on Sunday.
Rain also is forecast through the first half of next week, with rainfall estimates not yet available.
Temperatures into the middle of next week will hit daytime highs in the low 50s and nighttime lows in the low 40s, based on the forecast.
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Next Pacific cyclone expected to arrive Friday, bringing several inches of rain
- Elizabeth Larson
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