LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The heavy rain falling across Lake County has resulted in a series of temporary and long-term roadway closures, with the National Weather Service issuing a flood watch on Thursday.
Forecasters said a Pacific storm system – which already has drenched Lake County and much of Northern California – is expected to bring more rain through Thursday night.
As a result, the National Weather Service issued a flood watch through 4 a.m. Friday for parts of interior Northern California including Lake County.
Heavy rain is expected to continue through the night before tapering off Friday, with conditions expected to be clear in Lake County through the middle of next week.
National Weather Service rainfall observations for the 24-hour period through 2 p.m. Thursday showed large totals, with the Cobb and Middletown areas reporting the most rain.
Totals, in inches, are as follows:
– Bear Canyon/Middletown: 4.51.
– Boggs Mountain: 3.28.
– Cobb: 4.67.
– Hidden Valley Lake: 1.89.
– High Glade Lookout (north of Upper Lake): 3.63.
– Indian Valley Reservoir: 1.10.
– Jerusalem Grade/Middletown: 3.4.
– Kelseyville: 1.97.
– Lyons Valley (west of Lakeport): 2.13.
– Lower Lake: 1.59.
– Mt. Konocti: 1.32.
– Upper Lake: 2.0.
– Whispering Pines: 3.52.
The rain that already has fallen across the county has impacted some area roadways.
The Lake County Public Works Department said that, effective immediately Hill road between Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Lakeshore Boulevard, is closed to all traffic due to continuing debris flows.
The agency said road crews had begun working on the closure on Tuesday after the hillside above the roadway had begun to slip again.
“As long as it's raining and the ground is moving, we can't keep up with the flow to keep it cleared off,” said staffer Lori Price, who also handles the agency's Facebook page, which posts updates of road conditions.
Public Works on Thursday didn't have any estimate as to when that portion of Hill Road would be reopened.
Above the road is Lakeside Heights, the subdivision that's been dealing with a severe landslide for three and a half years.
Another county road closure necessitated by weather conditions is Bell Hill Road at the Adobe Creek low water crossing, which was closed on Thursday due to water flowing over the roadway, according to Lake County Public Works.
As for more immediate and shorter-term closures, the California Highway Patrol reported that the roadway was flooded at Scotts Valley Road and Eickhoff Road in the north Lakeport area, with roadway flooding also reported at Highway 29 and Tule Lake Road near Upper Lake.
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Rainy conditions lead to round of road closures; flash flood watch issued
- Elizabeth Larson
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