By Associated Press and staff
The first major storm of the season rolled into California this
week, dousing wildfires and bringing the promise of snow and wet,
windy weather.
After a rainy weekend, skies cleared up Monday, but heavier
weather was expected by Tuesday.
By Associated Press and staff
The first major storm of the season rolled into California this week, dousing wildfires and bringing the promise of snow and wet, windy weather.
After a rainy weekend, skies cleared up Monday, but heavier weather was expected by Tuesday.
In Gilroy, .70 inches of rain fell Sunday night, bringing the yearly total to .99 inches. Measurements are taken at the Chestnut Fire Station.
Rains were expected to be most intense in the coastal areas, and winds of 40 mph and stronger predicted for some parts of the coast.
“This is the one we’re anticipating to be the first real good storm of the season,” said Diana Henderson, a forecaster with the National Weather Service.
The storm forced the early closure of a popular highway that runs through Yosemite National Park. Highway 120 through the Tioga Pass is closed for about a 50-mile stretch. The road isn’t officially closed for the season, but officials said they weren’t sure they would be able to open it before the winter sets in.
The wet weather helped put out some wildfires, including the Rumsey Fire, which had burned almost 40,000 acres in Napa and Yolo counties, and the Fred’s Fire, which burned nearly 8,000 acres in the Kyburz area of the Eldorado National Forest. The Power Fire, which was burning near Highway 88 between Bear River and Salt Springs reservoirs, was about 80 percent contained by noon.
But the rain brought the threat of flooding. Highway 50 remained closed between Pollock Pines and Myers and California Department of Forestry officials issued a flash flood warning in anticipation of up to three inches of rain by Tuesday.
