MENDOCINO CO., 11/19/24 – Mendocino County is on track to experience its first major winter storm of the season when an atmospheric river settles over the area starting late Tuesday night.
The county is expected to receive 5 to 9 inches of rain Tuesday through Thursday, with more rain likely Friday and into the weekend.
As a result, a flood watch is in place for the entire county from 4 a.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday.
Mendocino County residents should prepare for the usual areas to flood, such as low-lying roadways, vineyards and fields, and other areas with poor drainage, such as downtown Ukiah or Willits.
The three most common culprits for heavy flooding and road closures are the Russian River near Hopland, Navarro River near Navarro and the Garcia River near Point Arena.
As of Tuesday morning, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts that the Russian River near Hopland will reach minor flooding stage of 15.8 ft. Friday afternoon.
This means that areas along the Russian River from Hopland, including State Route 175 at U.S. Route 101, to Ukiah may see flooding, resulting in road closures.
The Navarro River is currently forecast to hit 18.3 ft. Friday afternoon, which is below its flood stage of 23 ft. However, it doesn’t take much to flood low-lying areas along State Route 128, so be prepared for road closures.
The Garcia River is a little more of a mystery. Flood stage data is not available. Based on past reporting, the river usually floods around (give or take) 10 feet. As of now, the river is forecast to rise to 8.30 ft. on Friday.
Depending on conditions, State Route 1 could be closed between Point Arena and Stornetta.
Avoid driving through flooded areas and respect road closures. As the adage goes, “turn around, don’t drown.”
Closures for state managed roadways can be monitored at https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.
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