(STORM INFORMATION AS OF 3:30 AM, TUES., JAN 17)
KSQD’s Tony Russomanno tells us:
A coastal flood advisory is in effect until 9 AM Tuesday due to high tides, onshore winds, and heavy runoff.
Aside from that, we’re pretty much done with this record-breaking series of storms. Tuesday’s going to be sunny, with light rain on Wednesday. After that, we’re clear and dry at least through next weekend.
We are now entering a clean-up and recovery phase from Santa Cruz County’s most destructive natural event in 41 years, even including the 1989 earthquake.
That said, new slides and road closures may continue to occur for many weeks as jello-like saturated soil cannot support top-heavy trees.
Highway 9 has reopened between Santa Cruz and Glen Arbor Road, north of Felton, but it remains closed from Glen Arbor north to Brookside in Ben Lomond.
Even if a road is open, watch out for potholes! Something that looks like just a little puddle can be a deep hole.
Rachel Goodman tells us it’s dicey getting down Empire Grade with all the potholes and rocks, but at least we have the main way out cleared.
The CHP says there were new slides Monday afternoon on Highway 35 at Bear Creek Road and on Soquel-San Jose Road near Amaya Ridge Road… as well as trees down on Buena Vista Drive at Harkins Slough Road and on Hazel Dell Road.
17 is open, as is Highway 1 into San Mateo County, along with Highway 92, despite a big sinkhole reducing traffic to one lane.
Granite Creek Road is going to remain closed until April.
Monterey County roads are looking good with no major closures except for Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast. The road is closed between Rocky Creek Bridge all the way down to San Simeon.
Power is still out for more than 18-hundred PG&E customers in Santa Cruz County…. but it’s now down to 55 customers in Monterey County.
Evacuation centers remain open at the Santa Cruz County fairgrounds in Watsonville and at Cabrillo College in Aptos. Both areas allow pets and have RV parking.
Santa Cruz METRO’s ParaCruz service is offering free transportation for evacuation zone residents. Passengers can bring a carry-on of necessary items. Service dogs are welcome. For pick-up, call ParaCruz at 831-425-4664 or dial 711 for Hearing & Speech Impaired Services.
