South County residents should soak up what sun they can today,
because clouds and rain will cover the valley until Christmas
day.
South County residents should soak up what sun they can today, because clouds and rain will cover the valley until Christmas day.
A storm generated by a warm-weather system to the south will roll into Morgan Hill and Gilroy by tomorrow night, and linger at least until late next week, according to National Weather Service forecaster Diana Henderson.
The rain and wind will likely peak by Saturday night, by which time as much as two inches of rain could fall on the hilltops, Henderson said. The storm could clear up by next Saturday, but not before dumping up to five inches of rain on the valley floors. On the brighter side, at least temperatures will remain in the low-50s or higher throughout the cycle.
Public works people don’t think the storm will bring enough rain to cause problematic flooding in downtown Morgan Hill as big storms have in the past – and as recently as Oct. 2009. But the city and water district are preparing for the worst, setting up sand bag stations for property owners to help themselves throughout South County.
Santa Clara Valley Water District staff will monitor new web cameras focused on key areas along Upper Llagas Creek, particularly at the intersection of Main and Hale avenues, to ensure trash-collecting racks are not becoming blocked, water district spokesman Marty Grimes said.
Residents should ensure storm drains on their property are clear, and city staff are in the process of notifying downtown merchants of the nearest sand bag locations and advising them to be prepared, according to Morgan Hill public works director Karl Bjarke.
While the coming storm isn’t expected to bring as much rain as storms that have flooded the creek uphill from downtown in the past, city manager Ed Tewes noted that Monterey Road and other areas downtown tend to flood “when it rains steadily.”
Sand bag stations will be supplied in the following locations in Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy:
-City of Morgan Hill Corporation Yard, Edes Court
-Depot Street Caltrain parking lot, Morgan Hill
-El Toro fire station, Old Monterey Road
-Santa Clara County South public works yard, 13600 Murphy Avenue, San Martin
-Las Animas fire station, 8383 Wren Ave., Gilroy
-Chestnut fire station, 7070 Chestnut Street, Gilroy
