California storm shuts down Yosemite
Mudslides possible; dam repairs could be tested
SAN FRANCISCO — A fierce Northern California storm Friday shut down Yosemite National Park, threatened mudslides in wildfire-ravaged wine country and could present the first test of a partially repaired offshoot of the nation’s tallest dam that nearly collapsed last year.
Recent heavy rainfall has led to problems for a state recovering from devastating wildfires, forcing people to flee their homes repeatedly for fear of debris flows tearing down hillsides stripped bare by flames. But the downpours also have provided relief as parts of California plunged back into drought less than a year after a historic dry stretch
The so-called “Pineapple Express” carrying moisture from Hawaii had dumped around 2 inches of rain in many areas and as much as 5 inches in Sonoma County by Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service.
Some places in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco could see up to 8 inches of rain over a three-day period, leading forecasters to warn of possible flooding, mudslides and rockslides.
San Francisco International Airport reported about 150 flights — 10 percent of the flight schedule — were canceled because of the weather and others were delayed an hour or more.
A canceled flight stranded Santa Rosa native Lydia Smith who was trying to reach Oregon for a baby shower.
“I’m like on the verge of tears,” she told KGO-TV.
Yosemite National Park closed campgrounds and lodging in its busy Yosemite Valley because of flooding concerns, with the Merced River there expected to peak 5 feet above flood stage on Saturday.
About 50 miles north in wine country scorched during October wildfires, the National Weather Service predicted 4 to 6 inches of rainfall through Sunday.
The city of Santa Rosa, one of the hardest-hit burn areas, brought in extra firefighters and emergency personnel, fire department spokesman Paul Lowenthal said.
The weather service issued several flood warnings throughout Northern California ahead of the expected “atmospheric river,” a long plume of subtropical moisture stretching to areas near Lake Tahoe.
To the north, state officials warned this week that they may have to use the partially rebuilt spillway at Oroville Dam for the first time since repairs began on the badly damaged structure last summer.