The County of Monterey Department of Emergency Management has been anticipating the arrival of heavy rain Wednesday morning, after the area was hit hard by similar storms last year.
This time the county is being more proactive by restocking sand stockpiles for public use, checking and clearing county-maintained culverts, patching potholes and preparing to close low-water crossings if needed all before the water arrives, according to the county.
County coastal ranges are most likely to see impacts from high wind and rain, according to the National Weather Service. But the county said the Big Sur, Carmel, Pajaro and Salinas Rivers are not forecasted to reach flood stage.
Last March, the Pajaro River surged to a height of 29 feet during heavy rainfall, causing a levy to burst. The rapid flooding engulfed hundreds of nearby homes, many occupied by farm workers, and triggered an area evacuation.
On Tuesday, the National Weather service updated its flood-stage rating on the Pajaro River, lowering the threshold from 32 to 24 feet. As of Tuesday, the water level was 4.42 feet.
“This change reflects levels already used in its emergency activity or notification planning,” the county said in a statement.
County staff is carefully monitoring a landslide at Arroyo Seco which experienced some movement and a minor rock fall earlier in the week. Evacuation warnings from last winter still remain in place.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about weather advisories from the National Weather Service San Francisco Office. People can also sign up to receive emergency notifications at www.alertmontereycounty.org.
