Extreme volumes of rain and snow are being sent to southern Oregon and northern California by a powerful atmospheric river that is still pounding the region.
Many regions have seen rainfall totals of 4–10 inches, with some highland gauges recording more than 20 inches. Since Tuesday, Venado has recorded 20.93 inches.
Flooding was especially severe on Thursday in Santa Rosa, which has gotten slightly over a foot of rain. More than 300 people were once left stranded at a hotel and medical clinic by floodwaters, according to fire officials.
Water levels soared, trapping cars in parking lots. However, Sutter Health was evacuated later in the afternoon when the seas subsided.
Just after midnight, CAL Fire’s rapid water unit shared a video to their social media accounts showing them rescuing two individuals and a dog from a flooded road in North Chico.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies reported seven to ten water rescues along Mark West Springs Road, while flooding forced the closure of several roads between Santa Rosa and Windsor.
According to the National Weather Service, severe winds have caused several trees to fall along sections of US 101 in far northern California, and between Wednesday and Thursday, there were almost 20 landslides.
In Clearlake Riviera, a boulder fell into the center of Highway 281. This led to an accident. In Sarasota Springs, rocks obstructed Highway 20’s two lanes.
No casualties were reported in any of the slides, although a landslide in Redway threw debris at a car as it descended.
The bad weather is becoming better
Part of the weather system that gave rise to last week’s catastrophic bomb cyclone, this atmospheric river is beginning to loosen up as a cold front moves inland.
Many of Northern California’s rivers are already at flood status and will surge through Saturday before falling. This weekend will still see rain and snow showers, but at a much slower pace. No more flooding is anticipated.
Winds that cause damage strike the mountains and West Coast
Additionally, winds will pick up at higher elevations and along the shore. Up until early Friday, there were High Wind Warnings in force for gusts up to 65 mph.
A gust of 95 mph was recorded Friday morning by the coastal wind gauge located at Mattole Road in Humbolt County, south of Eureka. At 8,600 feet above sea level, the summit of Palisades Tahoe reported a wind of 128 mph.
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Snowfall in Siskiyous, Sierra Nevada, is heavy
This atmospheric river, like most others, has deposited several inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada and Siskiyous. Through 4 a.m. on Thursday, Castle Peak recorded 20 inches of snow, with Soda Springs receiving 17 inches and Kingvale receiving 11 inches.
Due to heavy snowfall on Wednesday evening, Interstate 5’s northbound lanes were temporarily stopped north of Redding into the Siskiyous; however, the interstate has since reopened.
As snow levels soar beyond 8,000 feet and moderate Pacific air moves in, the snow has tapered off all but the highest peaks Thursday.
As colder air rolls into the area on Saturday, snow levels will drop back down to 3,000 to 4,000 feet, which is below the major pass level and makes driving dangerous.
By the end of Saturday, the tallest summits might drop up to 6 feet. Along I-5 in the Mount Shasta area, it might drop up to two feet. As the system passes across Siskiyou Pass in southern Oregon, a few of inches will fall along I-5 to the north.
