This is a developing situation and information may change. We’ll update this article as more information becomes available. The most recent information will be updated at the top of the article, with the earlier reports below.
3/11/23 8:24 a.m. — State Route 175 is open.
3/10/23 3:00 p.m. — State Route 1 is open from Hales Grove to Leggett. One lane traffic control is in place due to damage from recent storms. Prepare for delays and please drive safely.
3/10/23 11:00 a.m. — State Route 175 is closed from the junction of U.S. Highway 101 to McDowell St. due to the flooding of the Russian River. Additionally, State Route 1 is closed from Hales Grove to Mill Bank Resort just east of the SR 1 and Highway 101 junction due to storm related emergency work.
3/9/23 4:15 p.m. — National Weather Service Eureka forecasts that the Russian River in Hopland will exceed flood stage at 15.5 feet by 4 a.m. Friday, Mar. 10. We anticipate that this will lead to a partial closure of State Route 175 near the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 based on recent past flooding.
Sandbags are now available in Hopland, Willits, Ukiah, Redwood Valley, Laytonville, and Fort Bragg — see the complete list of locations below.
MENDOCINO Co., 3/9/23 — The latest storm, a warm atmospheric river which is expected to bring heavy rain and possible flooding, is arriving in Mendocino County today. Precipitation, wind, and flooding risks are expected to increase Thursday night through Friday, with rain and possible snow currently forecast to continue through the weekend and Monday. Precipitation is already causing some slides and collisions, so please take caution on the roads today.
A countywide and state emergency declaration were finalized on Tuesday, covering the most recent storm and this current one for Mendocino County residents.
The coast can expect between 1.8 inches and 2 inches of rain and inland areas 1.8 inches to just under 3 inches of rain depending on the elevation. Elevations above 3,000 feet may see around 2 inches of snow. As a result, the National Weather Service in Eureka (NWS Eureka) has issued a mix of flood watches and flood warnings, and wind advisories, for the county. You can read the forecast here.
Flooding is expected on Friday, especially on the Russian River at Hopland and the Garcia River at State Route 1. The NWS Eureka is currently forecasting the Garcia River near Point Arena to reach flood stage on Friday morning, cresting at 9.9 feet, and flooding could occur on SR 1 later in the day (see current conditions here). The Russian River near Hopland is anticipated to reach flood stage Friday, and crest mid-day at at 17.5 feet(see current conditions here). NWS Eureka advises that drivers do not try to drive through floodwaters. All it takes is one foot of water to push a car off the road.
Flooding is also possible along small streams and low-lying urban areas, and places at higher elevations that have seen snow accumulation during the previous storms. Slides and debris flows are also possible. NWS is warning that residents with significant snow on their roofs should take additional preparations as rainfall could increase the weight and lead to structural damage — more info here.
Sandbags are available at the following locations, listed below. Please only take what you need to ensure there is enough for everyone — some places may have limits per household. You can call ahead to check on availability, and should be prepared to transport wet and dirty materials.
- Hopland: Hopland Band of Pomo Indians, junction of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 175.
- Willits: 125 E Commercial St., next to the Willits Justice Center parking lot.
- Fort Bragg: 250 Cypress St, at the Fort Bragg Police Station.
- Redwood Valley: 8481 East Rd, behind the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Station.
- Ukiah: Friedman’s (1255 Airport Blvd.) and Mendo Mill (1870 N. State St.)
- Laytonville: 44954 Willis Ave at the Laytonville Fire Station.
Conditions may vary widely across North Coast microclimates, and on your travel routes, so we’ve included a list of useful resources below to keep you updated. You cancheck for the specific forecast for your neighborhood and on current road conditions as they develop, and be sure to bookmark our winter weather information guide, which includes tips on flooding and links to local agencies.
Mendocino Voice Winter weather resources:
- Our guide for winter weather emergency and preparedness info — we recommend you bookmark this
- Check your specific forecast at this link along with the National Weather Service advisories and warnings, as well as their Facebook page and their Twitter page
- Check the CalTrans QuickMap for current road closures or call 1-800-GAS-ROAD
- Check for current accidents at the CHP traffic update page
- Caltrans traffic cameras can be seen here, and here are the PG&E cameras
- You can also check out the Weather Underground to look for weather stations in your area
- Check the PG&E current outage map to find or report power outages
- NWS has flood stage predictions here; and you can find USGS current streamflow information here
- NWS is seeking snowfall reports, and you can submit them to this website.
- We recommend meteorologist Daniel Swain’s Weather West Blog as a good place to find more in-depth current weather analysis
