LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The storm system moving over Lake County from late Tuesday through Wednesday battered the county with heavy winds and rain, with weather conditions closing a number of county roads.
The National Weather Service also is forecasting more rain and possibly snow through the weekend.
The agency has issued a flood watch in effect for areas of Northern California including portions of northern and eastern Lake County until 8 p.m. Thursday and a wind advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday.
The flood watch is the result of heavy rainfall on Tuesday night and Wednesday that’s caused flooding in some parts of Northern California, with still more moderate to heavy rain on the way on Wednesday night through Thursday evening.
Rising snow levels in higher elevations are expected to contribute some additional runoff as snow melts across the foothills and lower mountain elevations, based on the flood watch.
That’s a concern due to the impact on recent burn scars, such as those left behind by the Ranch and River fires in the Mendocino Complex footprint. The National Weather Service said those areas may experience minor mud, rock and debris flows, especially if thunderstorms develop in the burn scar areas on Thursday.
As for the wind advisory, windy conditions are forecast to pick up again on Thursday, with Lake County’s specific forecast predicting wind speeds of more than 30 miles per hour during the day on Thursday and more than 40 miles per hour on Thursday night.
National Weather Service observation stations show the following rainfall totals, in inches, for the 24-hour period through 6 p.m. Wednesday
– Bartlett Springs: 2.65.
– Boggs Mountain: 3.13.
– Colusa/Lake County line: 2.93.
– Hidden Valley Lake: 5.0.
– Indian Valley Reservoir: 3.14.
– Kelseyville: 2.99.
– Lakeport: 2.33.
– Lower Lake: 3.31.
– Lyons Valley: 1.57.
– Soda Creek (near Lake Pillsbury): 2.54.
– Upper Lake: 2.30.
– Whispering Pines: 3.76.
The wet weather is also pushing the level of Clear Lake up. As of 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, the lake level had risen by about a third of a foot over the course of the day, measuring nearly 6.40 feet Rumsey, the special measure used for Clear Lake, according to the California Data Exchange Center. Clear Lake is full at 7.56 feet Rumsey.
Weather conditions on Wednesday also led to several county road closures.
The Lake County Department of Public Works said late Wednesday afternoon that the following roads are temporarily closed due to the weather:
Kelseyville
– Argonaut Road closed from Big Valley Road to Thomas Drive;
– Bell Hill Road closed at the Adobe Creek Low Water Crossing;
– Kelsey Creek Drive closed at mile post marker 5.01.
Lakeport
– Scotts Valley Road closed from Highway 20 to the packing sheds;
– Soda Bay Road closed from Big Valley Road to Highway 175/South Main Street
Middletown
– Dry Creek Cutoff closed at the low water crossing.
Radio reports throughout the day Wednesday also noted fallen trees and rocks causing temporary blockages on local roads and highways.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
More rain, snow in the forecast; weather closes several county roads
- Elizabeth Larson
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