LAKE COUNTY >> Rain once again visited Lake County on Friday, bringing nearly half an inch of rain to places throughout region. The steady drizzle was expected to taper off overnight, only to return on Sunday and last for several days.
According to the National Weather Service, a cold front brought precipitation to the Pacific Northwest which prompted a winter storm warning at elevations above 4500 feet in the Sierras.
The small storm is one of a recent series the area has received. With El Nino anticipated next month, county and state officials have been working feverishly to protect soil from Cobb down to Middletown and Hidden Valley. Currently, the events have been spaced out, relieving county staff about their concerns for landslides in the burn area.
“Things have been holding together real well,” Public Works Director Scott De Leon said. “We’ll continue to monitor the area as the storms come through.”
His staff of approximately four people keeps watch over the Cobb and Middletown areas whenever it rains and so far,there haven’t been any reports of debris-related incidents or serious erosion since the rainy season began.
De Leon said the monitoring team focuses primarily on Big Canyon, Seigler Canyon, and Anderson Springs — places where flooding would be most likely due to “pretty good drainage.”
To prevent a large magnitude of debris flow, the department teamed up with the state to clean up the canyons. Anderson Springs still remains a concern as crews are still removing debris.
However, the danger wasn’t entirely clear during these light rain events. Drivers and workers in the burn sites have to be aware of falling trees on windy days, he warned.
Recent weather patterns have brought gusts in the last calendar month, some reaching up to 35 miles per hour.
“Be mindful that these trees have been badly damaged,” he said, telling the Record-Bee that fallen trees have been reported but haven’t caused damage or injury. Mainly, they just fall on the roads.
For now, De Leon reminds people to use multiple weather monitoring and emergency notification services and to stay “diligent and informed.”
Approaching the holidays, the NWS said, the weather should remain wet as it predicted light showers lasting from Sunday to Friday.
These rains will warm spirits temperatures temporarily as the temperatures were expected to be a bit higher and then drop down as a trough from Alaska hits the region around Christmas Eve. According to the NWS, the blast of cold will create likely travel impacts.
The rain was expected to stop today and resume Sunday afternoon. A half an inch is expected to fall on Sunday, with up to an inch on Monday. As the system subsides, a drizzle will follow on Tuesday.
