MENDOCINO CO., 12/31/25 – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for the Mendocino Coast and a flood watch for the entire county as a series of storms moves into the region, bringing strong southerly winds and heavy rain in an area already saturated from Christmas week storms.
Wind advisory warns of gusts up to 45 mph
The wind advisory is in effect for the entire coast from 1 p.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Saturday. The weather service forecasts south winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. The strongest winds are possible along coastal headlands and ridges.
“Wind gusts will be particularly strong along windward ridges and exposed coastal headlands,” the weather service said. “Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down, and a few power outages may result.”
Residents along the coast are encouraged to secure loose outdoor items and stay alert for additional weather advisories as conditions develop. It’s a good excuse to finally bring in those Christmas decorations.
The weather service asks drivers to be careful as strong wind gusts could make for hazardous driving, especially high-profile vehicles.
Flood watch issued entire county
At the same time, a flood watch has been issued for all of Mendocino County and will be in effect from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening.
Forecasters say two consecutive storm systems are expected to bring widespread moderate to heavy rainfall, with 2 to 4 inches of rain possible between Friday afternoon and late Sunday. Additional heavy rain may continue into early next week.
The greatest flooding risk is expected to develop late Friday into Saturday, when heavy rain could lead to urban flooding, overflowing creeks and streams, and rising rivers. Poor drainage areas may flood, and rockslides or landslides are possible along roadways, particularly in steep or vulnerable terrain.
Residents in flood-prone areas are urged to monitor forecasts closely, sign up for emergency alerts at mendoready.org, know their evacuation zone and be prepared to act should flooding occur. Information about local sandbag stations is available here.
“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,” NWS said. “Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.”
Along the coast, strong winds combined with saturated ground could also lead to downed trees and power outages, forecasters warned.
King tides are also impacting the coast, resulting in the weather service issuing a coastal flood watch Thursday through Sunday.
As always, Mendocino County comprises numerous microclimates, resulting in diverse weather forecasts. More information about localized weather can be found at weather.gov.