- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Clear Lake approaches flood warning stage; forecast calls for heavy rain Saturday night
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With Clear Lake reaching it's full level on Friday, local officials are warning that the lake could rise further to the flood warning stage.
On Friday, the lake passed 7.56 feet Rumsey, the level at which it's considered full, and by 1:15 a.m. Saturday the lake was at 7.72 feet Rumsey.
On Friday the Lake County Sheriff's Office issued an advisory for county residents who live or have businesses along Clear Lake's shoreline.
The agency said the lake is anticipated to hit the flood warning stage this weekend, and incoming storms could create waves that may inundate shoreline areas.
The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services encouraged all residents to take time now to check their homes or businesses, and prepare to leave if instructed to do so by the sheriff’s office or police agencies.
Residents in those shoreline areas are urged to have a full tank of gas, vital documents, prescriptions and supplies to support their families and pets if they need to leave their home. If evacuations are necessary, officials said residents should plan on being away from home for several days.
If necessary, the sheriff’s office will coordinate shelter sites with the Lake County Department of Social Services and the American Red Cross.
A series of storms is continuing to feed area creeks and streams, which in turn are contributing to the depth of Clear Lake.
For the 24-hour period ending at 1 a.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service's observation stations reported the following rainfall totals, in inches.
– Bear Canyon (Middletown): 2.28.
– Boggs Mountain: 1.30.
– Cache Creek (near Lower Lake): 1.45.
– Hidden Valley Lake: 1.42.
– Indian Valley Reservoir: 0.83.
– Jerusalem Grade (Middletown): 1.91.
– Kelseyville: 1.45.
– Putah Creek (Middletown): 1.71.
– Soda Creek at Lake Pillsbury): 1.78.
– Upper Lake: 1.40.
– Whispering Pines: 2.0.
The National Weather Service said another Pacific storm front is moving over the region on Saturday and Sunday, bringing with it still more rain and wind.
Lake County's specific forecast calls for rain through Tuesday, with showers expected to be particularly heavy on Saturday night, when between 1 and 2 inches is expected to fall.
Through 10 a.m. Sunday, Lake County also is under a wind advisory, which means that winds of 35 miles per hour or more are expected.
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