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Monterey Bay Storm Resources And Live Updates

Published January 4, 2023 at 2:45 AM PST
Jonathan Linden
/
KAZU News

Power Outages:
For updates on the power outages, you canvisit the PG&E Outage Center portal.

Roadway Closures:
You can find the latest information on road closureson the Caltrans QuickMap tool.

Evacuation Orders:

Santa Cruz County: You can find the latest evacuation orders and warnings for Santa Cruz County at Zonehaven Aware. More county storm information can be found on the county's disaster resources page.

Monterey County: The latest evacuation orders and warnings can be found on the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services website. More county storm information can be found on the county's emergency services page.

San Benito County: The latest evacuation warnings or orders can be found on the San Benito County incident map and emergency preparedness page.

Evacuation Centers:

Santa Cruz County:

- Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds at 2601 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076.
- Cabrillo College at 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003.

Monterey County:

- Prunedale Grange Hall at 17890 Moro Rd, Salinas, CA 93907.
- Monterey Room at Monterey County Fairgrounds, 2004 Fairground Rd, Monterey, CA 93940.

San Benito County: No evacuation centers at this time.

Temporary Evacuation Points:

Monterey County: Temporary evacuation points will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

- Carmel Valley Library at 65 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924.
- Prunedale Library at 17822 Moro Rd, Prunedale, CA 93907.
- King City Library at 402 Broadway St, King City, CA 93930.

Avoid driving! Santa Cruz County issues evacuation orders with another wave of floods.

Posted January 14, 2023 at 12:25 PM PST

CHP SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS ADVISING PEOPLE STAY OFF THE ROADS as more flooding across the county has caused mudslides, sink holes and downed trees and power lines.

Santa Cruz County issued a series of evacuation orders this morning as flooding along the San Lorenzo river and Soquel creek threatened nearby low-lying neighborhoods. An evacuation order and several warnings remain for neighborhoods along the Pajaro river near Watsonville.

The National Weather Service reported early this morning that rain was falling in the Santa Cruz Mountains at a rate of half an inch per hour.

There are more power outages on the Monterey Peninsula.

Posted January 14, 2023 at 12:14 PM PST

Pacific Gas & Electric is reporting widespread power outages affecting thousands of customers on the Monterey Peninsula. PG&E's outage map shows most of Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach customers without electricity.

Water levels lower than excepted along Salinas River in Spreckels

Posted January 13, 2023 at 7:28 AM PST

NOAA and the National Weather Service (NWS), as of Friday at 5 a.m., are reporting that the Salinas River at Spreckels is measuring at 24.27 feet high. The water height is two feet lower than the initially projected height of 26.2 feet. NOAA and the NWS are categorizing the height as at minor flood stage, which they implement when some property flooding and public threat may occur. Officials expect the river to crest and reach its highest height sometime Friday afternoon.

Rising Salinas river threatens to cut off Monterey Peninsula

Posted January 12, 2023 at 12:26 PM PST

The Monterey County officials are warning the Salinas river may flood, which could cut off road access to the Monterey Peninsula for days, and inundate some communities with water.

Forecast models from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show the river reaching flood stage tomorrow afternoon.

A river forecast from NOAA, showing the expected level of the Salinas river near the community of Spreckels in the coming days.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A river forecast from NOAA, showing the expected level of the Salinas river near the community of Spreckels in the coming days.

Nearly 28,000 residents are currently impacted by evacuation orders and warnings, and the county estimates road access to the peninsula could be restricted for up to three days.

"It will no doubt be a challenge (sic) few days, but I know we can weather the storm," said County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew in a written statement.
The Monterey County winter storm resources page shows evacuation orders along the Salinas river, from the mouth of the river north of Marina southwest until Gonzalez. A mixture of warnings and orders continue through the Salinas Valley, stretching all the way past San Ardo.

The Salinas river flows towards the Monterey Bay from the Southeast. On its way, it meanders past dozens of communities in the Salinas Valley along HWY 101, before crossing HWY 68 near the community of Spreckels. Then, it crosses HWY 1 before reaching the ocean between Marina and Moss Landing.

Those three highways serve as the main access points to the Peninsula from the north and east. To the south, HWY 1 is closed just past the Henry Miller Memorial Library.

Monterey County shared these evacuation orders and warnings.

An evacuation order is mandatory, and means residents should leave as soon as they can. An evacuation warning means residents should prepare to leave.

The county is holding a press conference this afternoon. We will have more updates ahead.

Salinas Valley flash flood warning extended

Posted January 10, 2023 at 3:41 PM PST

The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for much of the Salinas Valley till Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. This includes the communities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, San Lucas, San Ardo, and Bradley.

Flash flood warning in Salinas Valley

Posted January 10, 2023 at 1:50 PM PST

The National Weather Service has implemented a flash flood warning for much of the Salinas Valley. This includes the communities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, San Lucas, San Ardo, and Bradley. The warning will be in place still 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday.

Evacuation warnings issued for Sprekels

Posted January 10, 2023 at 1:13 PM PST

Monterey County has implemented an evacuation warning for the community of Sprekels. You can find the latest evacuation orders and warningsvia the Monterey County emergency information app website.

Evacuation warnings along Salinas River

Posted January 9, 2023 at 8:27 PM PST

Evacuation warnings have been implemented for most low-lying areas surrounding the Salinas River in Monterey County. This includes the riverfronts in the cities of Marina, Spreckles, Spence, Chualar, Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, King City, and San Lucas. You can find the latest evacuation orders and warningsvia the Monterey County emergency information app website.

Flood warning extended

Posted January 9, 2023 at 8:18 PM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) has extended its flood warning portions of the Pajaro, Salinas, and Carmel rivers. The NWS warns that even 6 inches of flood water can knock someone off their feet, and a depth of 2 feet will float your car. They ask that residents never try to walk, swim, or drive through such swift water. The NWS urges residents to turn around and go another way if they come upon flood waters.

The following sections of each river are the portions under a flood warning.

  • Carmel River at Robles Del Rio.
  • Salinas River near Spreckels.
  • Pajaro River in Chittenden.

Wind advisory and gale warnings starting on Monday at 10 p.m.

Posted January 9, 2023 at 7:48 PM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) will implementa wind advisory and gale warningsbeginning at 10 p.m. on Monday. The advisory and warning will be in place until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with the NWS expecting wind speeds between 25 to 40 mph.

Evacuation orders lifted in some Santa Cruz County communities

Posted January 9, 2023 at 6:56 PM PST

Santa Cruz County has lifted several evacuation orders. You can find the latest evacuation orders and warnings for the county via the Zonehaven Aware website. Evacuation orders remain in place along the Pajaro River.

Santa Cruz County flash flood warning extended

Posted January 9, 2023 at 9:43 AM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) has extended its flash flood warning for all of Santa Cruz County until 3:45 p.m. A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. The NWS advises that if you are in a flood-prone area, that you should move immediately to high ground.

Evacuation orders along Big Sur and Arroyo Seco rivers

Posted January 9, 2023 at 9:39 AM PST

The Monterey County Sheriff has issued evacuation orders for communities along the Big Sur and Arroyo Seco rivers. You can see if your area is in an evacuation zone by viewing the Monterey County Emergency Information App Evacuation Map.

Evacuation orders along the Pajaro River

Posted January 9, 2023 at 8:49 AM PST

Monterey County and the City of Watsonville have issued evacuation orders for homes along the Pajaro River. You can find the latest Santa Cruz County evacuation orders and warnings via the Zonehaven Aware website and the latest Monterey County evacuation orders and warnings via their emergency services page.

Flood warning issued along Pajaro River in Watsonville

Posted January 9, 2023 at 8:17 AM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for communities along the Pajaro River in Watsonville until further notice. There are concerns that the levee protecting Watsonville and Pajaro could breach or overtop. As of Sunday at 9:30 p.m., the water level was at 16.5 feet, with levels expected to rise over 32 feet by Monday evening. Water rising about 32 feet at the levee would trigger a flood stage.

Evacuation orders issued along Carmel River

Posted January 9, 2023 at 7:51 AM PST

The Monterey County Sheriff has issued evacuation orders for several communities along the Carmel River. You can find out if your community is affected via the Monterey County Emergency Information App.

Flash flood warning implemented in Santa Cruz County

Posted January 9, 2023 at 7:23 AM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) has implemented a flash flood warning for all of Santa Cruz County until 9:45 a.m.

A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. The NWS advises that if you are in a flood-prone area, that you should move immediately to high ground.

Thousands of customers without power on the Monterey Peninsula and in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Posted January 8, 2023 at 9:06 PM PST

Thousands of PG&E customers are currently without power on the Monterey Peninsula, including all of Pebble Beach and much of Pacific Grove.

On the north side of the Monterey Bay, thousands of customers north of Davenport and in the Santa Cruz mountains are also without power.

For more information on outages throughout the storm, follow the PG&E Outage Map.

Evacuation warnings in Santa Cruz County

Posted January 8, 2023 at 9:01 PM PST

Santa Cruz County has issued evacuation warnings this evening ahead of the storm. An evacuation warning means residents should be prepared to leave if an evacuation order is issued. Anyone who needs additional time should consider leaving before an actual evacuation order is issued.

Zones included in the evacuation warning tend to be in the same areas that flooded in the recent rain events — including the Paradise Park region, low-lying areas of Felton near the San Lorenzo river, areas along Soquel creek (including the recently flood Capitola Village) and near the Pajaro river around Watsonville. For more details, view Santa Cruz County on Zonehaven, where you'll find the most up-to-date information on evacuations as they happen.

The Santa Cruz County disaster page is another good source of information.

Evacuation warnings in Monterey County issued ahead of approaching storm

Posted January 8, 2023 at 3:29 PM PST

Representatives from Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties held a press briefing Sunday afternoon in Pajaro, CA. Leaders from both counties highlighted the severity of the approaching storm, which is expected to bring several inches of additional rain to the already soaked region, according to the National Weather Service.

The heaviest rain is likely to fall between 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday.

"This is a very serious event, and it may be the kind of flooding that we haven't seen here in the last generation," said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend. "Please heed all evacuation warnings and information you get from local officials."

Residents can dial 2-1-1 for emergency information. Santa Cruz County residents should sign up for CodeRED text alerts online or by texting "SCR911" to 99411. Monterey County residents should sign up for Reverse 911 alerts from Alert Monterey County

Evacuation warnings were issued in Monterey County for areas surrounding the Pajaro river, Carmel river, the Carmel river lagoon, and areas around the Big Sur river south of Hwy 1. A full map showing all of the evacuation warnings can be found on the county's website.

According to Zonehaven, Santa Cruz County has not issued evacuation warnings at this time.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said evacuation orders are likely to happen during this storm. Unlike evacuation warnings, evacuation orders are mandatory and should not be ignored. People who need additional time leaving should do so before an order is issued.

Nieto also laid out a timeline for expected flooding events. The Pajaro river is expected to near flood stage — the level of water that will create hazards for surrounding areas — on Monday, and will likely surpass that level. The Big Sur river will also likely surpass flood stage on Monday. The Salinas river is expected to surpass flood stage on Tuesday.

Fire Chief Joel Mendoza of the North County Fire Protection District urged residents in at-risk areas to be prepared to leave. He recommended packing weather radios, cell phone chargers, insurance cards, information for friends and family, medications and contact lists. He also recommended packing three days of food and water and a full change of clothing for everyone in the household.

Pet owners should have food and carriers ready for their pets.

In preparation for the storm, Mendoza said people should secure outdoor furniture, bikes and trash cans that could float away in a severe flood. He also said people should move valuables to the upper floor of their home, and to unplug appliances.

"Remember to prioritize using FEMA's 'Five P's'," he said. "People, prescriptions, paper, personal needs and priceless items."

A flood advisory is in place for the tri-county Monterey Bay region until 6:45 p.m.

Posted January 7, 2023 at 4:50 PM PST

The National Weather Service has issued a flood advisory for Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties until 6:45 p.m. this evening.

A flood advisory means that small stream and urban flooding will likely occur, as up to half an inch of additional rain is expected through the region. The advisory urges drivers to turn around when encountering flooded roads.

New flood watch and wind advisory issued ahead of approaching storms

Posted January 7, 2023 at 4:44 PM PST

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch and a wind advisory as another series of storms hits the central coast.

The flood watch is in place from 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) until 4 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 10). A flood watch means that flooding is possible, but isn't necessarily occurring. The watch applies to Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. Areas that have flooded in previous storms are likely to flood again.

A wind advisory is also in place for the Monterey Bay region until Sunday afternoon (Jan. 8). South winds are expected to gust up to 45 mph, with typical wind speeds between 20 and 30 mph. The wind threatenS to down trees and power lines, especially in steep areas, as soils are already loose and saturated from the recent rain.

Wind Advisory: Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon

Posted January 6, 2023 at 8:31 PM PST

Starting Saturday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) will implement a wind advisory for all Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties. The NWS is expecting winds ranging from 15 to 45 mph, with the advisory in place till 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.

The NWS also warns that due to saturated soils, because of the rain, even winds on the lower end of the spectrum could result in downed trees, which could cause power outages.

25,000 sandbags headed to Santa Cruz County

Posted January 6, 2023 at 8:18 PM PST

As the Monterey Bay Area braces for another wave of storms starting Saturday evening, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, is shipping more than 25,000 sandbags to Santa Cruz County. According to the National Weather Service, Santa Cruz County and all of the Monterey Bay Area is expecting rain almost every day through Jan. 13

Highway 9 reopens south of Felton

Posted January 6, 2023 at 8:04 PM PST

After being closed for several days, the California Highway Patrolhas reopened Highway 9between Paradise Park to Glengarry Road. You can find the latest road conditions via the Caltrans QuickMap tool.

Monterey County: Evacuation warnings lifted

Posted January 6, 2023 at 8:00 PM PST

The Monterey County Sheriff has lifted all evacuation warnings in place. The department emphasizes that the storms are not over yet and that residents should be prepared to leave again if an evacuation order is issued.

Yankee Point in Carmel: Evacuation order lifted

Posted January 6, 2023 at 11:51 AM PST

The Monterey County Sheriff's department has downgraded the evacuation order at Yankee Point in Carmel to an evacuation warning. This affects the Carmel community east of the pacific ocean, south of Yankee Beach Way, west of Yankee Point Drive, and north of Malpaso Creek Beach.

Flood watch starting Jan. 7 through Jan. 10

Posted January 6, 2023 at 11:46 AM PST

Starting Saturday, Jan. 7, in the afternoon,the National Weather Service (NWS) will be issuing a flood watch for all of Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. The flood watch will be in place till Tuesday, Jan. 10, in the afternoon.

The NWS is concerned about flooding caused by potential excessive rainfall, which may result in the flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

Closed section of Highway 1 to be open Friday for limited period

Posted January 5, 2023 at 8:52 PM PST

Caltrans crews have completed their initial assessments of Highway 1 and are prepared to reopen most of the highway starting at 8 a.m. on Friday and close again at 5 p.m. The portion that will remain closed is in San Luis Obispo County, where a rock slide occurred about a mile south of Ragged Point and four miles north of San Simeon. According to a Caltrans release, the rock slide will likely result in the closure of that section of Highway 1 for at least several weeks.

The reopening is not guaranteed, and Caltrans crews will inspect the roadway early in the morning and determine if it is safe to travel within the closure area. If the inspection is favorable, the highway will be open during the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. period. Caltrans says the intention behind the reopening is to accommodate community members who may need to leave the closure area for things like restocking supplies.

Storm causes severe damage to Capitola's wharf and village

Posted January 5, 2023 at 8:29 PM PST
Storm causes severe damage to Capitola's wharf and village
Early Thursday morning, a portion of the Capitola Wharf was washed away after heavy rain, winds, high tides, and run-off from local streams.

Today, the City of Capitola was hit hard with a combination of high surf conditions, rain from the atmospheric river, and substantial runoff from local streams. This resulted in substantial flooding around shops and restaurants in the village and the partial collapse of the Capitola Wharf.

"I've never seen a storm like this. I've lived here for 30 years. I've never seen seaweed go three blocks up," said Capitola business owner Anthony Kresge. "I've never seen trees go down streets. I've never seen the wharf in half. It's painful."

Anthony Kresge said the storm was a complete catastrophe for some of his fellow business owners who have shops along the water. "You can only hope that we rebuild the village into the condition or better than it was so that if this ever happens again, that it can handle it," Kresge said.

As of Thursday at 8 p.m., the Capitola village remains closed to the public, with the number of businesses affected not yet known. The National Weather Service reports that the weather will be calmer through tonight but that more storms are coming Saturday.

New evacuation centers open

Posted January 5, 2023 at 8:09 PM PST

Santa Cruz and Monterey counties have each opened new evacuation centers. Monterey County has opened a new evacuation center at Carmel Middle School on 380 Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923. Santa Cruz County has opened a new evacuation center for Capitola residents at the Capitola Community Center on 4400 Jade St, Capitola, CA 95010.

Additionally, Santa Cruz County has closed three of its evacuation centers. The evacuation centers at Ceasar Chavez Middle School, Live Oak Elementary, and Santa Cruz Bible Church.

Wharves collapse in Capitola and Aptos

Posted January 5, 2023 at 11:14 AM PST

Portions of wharves in Capitola and Aptos have collapsed. KRON 4 reporter Amy Larson has posted a video of a collapsed portion of the Capitola Wharf. Lookout Santa Cruz has also reported that the Aptos Wharf is partially collapsed. The coastline across the region has been seeing waves of up to 30 feet.

Coastal Flood Warning: Santa Cruz and Monterey counties

Posted January 5, 2023 at 11:01 AM PST

Until 4 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a coastal flood warning for all of Santa Cruz County and the northern half of Monterey County. The NWS reports that the potential flooding is being caused by excessive rainfall runoff, high tide, and a large westerly swell. A high surf advisory and warning are also in place, with waves expected to be 17 to 30 feet in some areas.

Watsonville evacuation orders lifted

Posted January 5, 2023 at 10:51 AM PST

The City of Watsonville has lifted all of its evacuation orders and flood warnings. They say residents are cleared to go back home, but that future evacuations are possible. Residents with questions can call the city hotline at 831-768-3038.

Flood Warning: Salinas River Lagoon

Posted January 5, 2023 at 10:46 AM PST

Until 12:45 p.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for the area around the Salinas River Lagoon. The NWS says the potential flooding is being caused by excessive rainfall runoff, high tide, and large west swell.

Flood Warning: Carmel River Lagoon

Posted January 5, 2023 at 10:41 AM PST

Until 12:00 p.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood warning for the area around the Carmel River Lagoon.

Flood Advisory: Monterey and San Benito counties

Posted January 5, 2023 at 10:30 AM PST

Till 1:15 p.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood advisory for the northwestern section of Monterey County, and the north portion of San Benito County.

The NWS says their doppler radar at 10:15 a.m. indicated heavy rain headed to the region, which could cause minor flooding. They expect rainfall amounts of 0.1 to 0.3 inches.

Monterey Bay Area overnight rainfall totals

Posted January 5, 2023 at 10:06 AM PST

The National Weather Service has released the overnight rainfall totalsfor the Monterey Bay Area. The following rainfall number are what cities saw between Jan. 4 at 4 a.m. till Jan. 5 at 4 a.m.

  • Santa Cruz - 2.45 inches
  • Watsonville - 1.03 inches
  • Salinas - 1.04 inches
  • Monterey 1.08 inches
  • Hollister - 1.08 inches
  • Soledad - 1.43 inches
  • King City - 1.22 inches

UPDATE: San Benito County flash flood warning

Posted January 5, 2023 at 9:57 AM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) has extended its flash flood warning in for a community San Benito County till 12 p.m. on Thursday. On Wednesday evening, the NWS announced that the dam operator at North Fork Dam reported that the spillway for the dam was compromised. Officials are concerned that the water will overtop the spillway and cause flooding for residents on Lovers Lane, which is just west of the community of Dunneville, and north of Hollister. They warn that there could also be increased water flow into Pacheco Creek. The flash flood warning is in effect till Thursday at 12:00 p.m.

Flash flood warning in San Benito County

Posted January 4, 2023 at 8:41 PM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) has released more clarifications concerning its flash flood warning in San Benito County. On Wednesday at 8:07 p.m., the NWS says the dam operator at North Fork Dam reported that the spillway for the dam was compromised. Officials are concerned that the water will overtop the spillway and cause flooding for residents on Lovers Lane, which is just west of the community of Dunneville. They warn that there could also be increased water flow into Pacheco Creek. The flash flood warning is in effect till Thursday at 2:00 a.m.

Flash flood warning around Big Sur

Posted January 4, 2023 at 6:38 PM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flash flood warning for the Big Sur area at 6:17 p.m. on Wednesday. Along Highway 1, the warning starts around Garrapata State Park and ends near the community of Gorda. The NWS is concerned that potential heavy rain over the Colorado and Dolan burn areas will cause debris flows. The flash flood warning is in effect till 12:15 a.m. on Thursday.

Complete closure of Highway 1 south of Big Sur

Posted January 4, 2023 at 5:43 PM PST

CalTrans has instituted a full closure of Highway 1 along the Big Coast, effective since 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The closure starts just south of Deetjen's Big Sur Inn and goes until Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County, about 45 miles of Highway 1. There is no estimated time for reopening.

You can find the latest highway information via the CalTrans QuickMap tool.

Entire Monterey Bay Area placed under flood advisory

Posted January 4, 2023 at 5:29 PM PST

According to the National Weather Service(NWS), Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties have all been placed under a flood advisory until 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4. The NWS states that minor flooding is expected in low-lying and poor drainage areas.

Santa Cruz County announces more evacuation orders

Posted January 4, 2023 at 2:15 PM PST

Santa Cruz County has implemented additional evacuation orders for 22 zones. All zones affected are listed below.

PAJ: E015, E024, E026, E027, E028, and E029.

CTL: E010, E014, E015, E018, E019, E026, E027, E028, E029, E050, and E051.

CRZ: E080 and E081.

FEL: 008, 011, and 012.

A map showing all of Santa Cruz County's evacuation orders and warnings can be found on the county's Zonehaven Aware page.

Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency

Posted January 4, 2023 at 12:58 PM PST

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for all of California. In a press release, Newsom said that the state has prepositioned fire and rescue equipment and personnel to support local resources across California.

"This state of emergency will allow the state to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local officials in their ongoing response," Newsom said.

The state is also encouraging residents to dial 211 or 311 if they have any non-urgent questions. In the case of an emergency, residents should call 911.

Watsonville declares local state of emergency

Posted January 4, 2023 at 12:10 PM PST

City of Watsonville city manager René Mendez has declared a local state of emergency. In a tweet through the city, they say the declaration is due to the significant damages left behind from last week’s heavy flooding and because of the upcoming winter storm. Additionally, they say declaring a local emergency will allow the city to request assistance from the county and state.

California State Parks closing and partially closing several Monterey Bay Area locations

Posted January 4, 2023 at 11:48 AM PST

The California State Parks system has announced the partial and complete closure of several state parksaround the Monterey Bay Area. A full list can be found below.

Partially Closed:

Santa Cruz County: Ano Nuevo State Park, Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park, Butano State Park, Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, Portola Redwoods State Park, and San Gregorio State Beach.

Monterey County: Carmel River State Beach, Ishxenta State Park, and Zmudowski State Beach.

Fully Closed:

Santa Cruz County: Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, and Sunset State Beach.

Monterey County: Andrew Molera State Park, John Little State Natural Reserve, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Limekiln State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, and Point Sur State Historic Park.

New Santa Cruz County evacuation warning

Posted January 4, 2023 at 11:34 AM PST

Santa Cruz County has implemented an additional evacuation warning for zone SCO-E002. This zone and other zones under evacuation warnings and orders can be found on the county's Zonehaven Aware page.

Zone SCO-E002 is northwest of Scotts Valley High School and is north of Nelson Road, south of Hawks Hill Road, east of Marinera Road, and west of Mountain Charlier Road at Glenwood Drive.

CAL FIRE encouraging residents to be winter driving ready

Posted January 4, 2023 at 11:15 AM PST

CAL FIRE is encouraging drivers to be winter-driving ready in anticipation of the heavy rains starting Wednesday afternoon. That includes staying alert if you live near streams and creeks, following evacuation orders, and being especially cautious driving at night.

Satellite imagery of storm

Posted January 4, 2023 at 10:35 AM PST

The National Weather Service has shared a satellite imagery graphic of the storm. Heavier rains and winds are expected Wednesday afternoon.

High surf warning and advisory

Posted January 4, 2023 at 6:35 AM PST

The National Weather Service (NWS) Bay Area has issued a high surf warning and high surf advisory for all of the coastline in Santa Cruz County and most of the coastline in northern Monterey County. The NWS warns that waves could reach heights of up to 30 feet and potentially cause substantial erosion. The warnings and advisory will be in place till 3 a.m. on Friday.