The record-setting rains that pummeled Ben Lomond and the San Lorenzo Valley this winter have pushed the county’s soggy infrastructure to it limits. And the wet winter is not even half over.
Ben Lomond has received almost 68 inches since Oct. 1. An astounding 32.74 inches fell in January, alone, the most in that month since 1936 -1937, according to Jan Null at Golden Gate Weather Services.
Scotts Valley (68.55 inches), Felton (69.3 inches) and Boulder Creek (58.22 inches) are all far ahead of last year’s entire season (Oct. 1 – Sept. 30) rainfall totals of roughly 50 inches.
And though sunny skies are forecast for this weekend, with temperatures in the high 60s, stormy weather is expected again by the end of next week.
“Another impressive eastward extension of the Pacific jet stream will probably bring the storm track right to our doorstep,” said Daniel Swain, UCLA climate scientist.
“It looks like there could be the potential for strong wind events in addition to heavy rainfall. That would most likely raise the specter of significant flood concerns once again.”
Meanwhile, the county is attempting to restore some sense of normalcy before rains strike again. Here were the latest road conditions as of Wednesday morning:
- Two lanes of Highway 17 were reopened early Wednesday, one lane northbound and one lane southbound. A mudslide in the northbound lane at Vine Hill Road had closed the main commuter thoroughfare between Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley since 10 a.m. on Feb.7.
- Highway 9 in Boulder Creek was limited to one after a mudslide and fallen tree destroyed a guardrail and buckled the northbound lane just north of the Brookdale Lodge.
- San Lorenzo Valley schools were closed the afternoon of Feb. 7, and remained closed all day Wednesday because of numerous road closures in the mountain school district.
- Santa Cruz Metro suspended Route 33 buses that travel to and from Lompico, because flooding and mudslides again closed Lompico Road.
- Felton Grove residents were evacuated at about 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 7, when the San Lorenzo River breached its banks and overran the covered bridge. Members of the Ben Lomond Fire Protection District’s Swift Water Rescue Team paddled from house to house in an orange inflated raft looking for people who were trapped. Some residents chose to stay in their homes and wait for the river to recede.
- PG & E reported that 470 subscribers lost power in the communities of Scotts Valley, Brookdale, Felton, Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond.
- Valley Churches United in Ben Lomond reported some flooding in its basement storage facility. The office is located next to Love Creek.
