This past weekend’s sunny weather will be souring for Humboldt County residents as a series of storm fronts move into the area. Humboldt County is expected to receive a large amount of rain and snow into early next week.
“Scattered showers are moving across the area this morning,” the National Weather Service website noted Wednesday morning. “A rapid transition to widespread precipitation is expected through the morning hours.
“Moderate to locally heavy rainfall is expected. Snow level around 4,000 feet, lowering to 2,500-3,500 feet late this afternoon (and) evening,” the NWS noted on Wednesday. “Precipitation will become showery (Wednesday) evening. The strongest showers are expected later this evening through Thursday morning. Isolated thunderstorms, heavy downpours and small hail will be possible.”
A winter weather advisory is in place with two to six inches of snow expected in the Humboldt and Del Norte county interior region.
The county’s bayside communities might expect a brief respite on Thursday, according to NWS meteorologist Zahaira Velez, but that will be short-lived as more storms move into the area.
“We have another system (expected to) hit the area Friday — Thursday night (and) Friday,” Velez said, “and that will bring another round of beneficial precipitation across the area.”
Snow levels are expected to reach around 2,000 feet on Friday, according to Velez, and rain and snow is expected to persist into early next week.
The NWS notes that travel along state Routes 299 and 199 might be affected.
As of Tuesday, the stretch of state Route 36 east of Swimmer’s Delight near the Devil’s Elbow picnic area is open to one-way traffic. Slide removal is expected to continue until March 24, according to Caltrans’ QuickMap tool.
“Because of the wet weather, there is no slide removal work happening at the site (Wednesday). We’ll continue to monitor the situation,” Caltrans spokesperson Manny Machado told the Times-Standard via email Wednesday morning. “Motorists are reminded that one-way controlled traffic remains in effect, with up to one-hour delays. With rain and snow expected in the mountains, we urge residents to stay home if they don’t have to travel. If you do have to travel, please use the QuickMap for the latest road conditions. Caltrans reminds motorists when traveling, carry water, snacks, a first aid kit and a charged cell phone.
“We’ll keep Route 36 open as long as the roadway is safe. It is important to get local and critical traffic through the slide area. We continue to monitor the hillside, and so far, we’ve been able to keep the road open. We are in a hold pattern during this current storm, waiting to see if there is any movement. This is an extremely steep slide with a lot of material and trees above.”
Machado told the Times-Standard that Caltrans would close state Route 36 at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening and open the road at 7 a.m. on Thursday, barring any incidents, but weather forced Caltrans to close the road indefinitely as of 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.
Robert Schaulis can be reached at 707-441-0585.
