Quick Take:
The intense storm could bring as much as four inches of rain to lower county elevations and 4-6 inches of rain in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with some areas receiving localized rainfall of more than eight inches. Wind gusts could reach as high as 45 mph, raising the risk of downed trees and power outages.
Santa Cruz County is preparing for another round of intense rain and strong winds to make landfall throughout the Presidents’ Day long weekend, with a significant storm set to hit the region starting Sunday afternoon.
The National Weather Service warned of a heavy downpour and dangerous surf conditions that could flood smaller creeks and waterways. The ground is already saturated from recent storms, raising the risk of landslides as another band of rain rolls into the region Sunday through Monday.
The intense storm could bring as much as four inches of rain to lower county elevations and 4-6 inches of rain in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with some areas receiving localized rainfall of more than eight inches. Wind gusts could reach as high as 45 mph, raising the risk of downed trees and power outages.
The hazardous conditions may persist into Tuesday, the weather service said, with the potential for isolated thunderstorms Sunday afternoon through Monday.
Severe weather shelters will be open at Depot Park on Center Street in Santa Cruz and Watsonville Veterans Hall on East Beach Street from noon on Sunday through at least noon on Tuesday. The Santa Cruz Veterans Hall on Front Street will open as an overnight shelter from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Sunday and Monday and from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
The NWS warned residents to avoid the coast, which it said could see breaking waves up to 22 feet, or as high as 28 feet in some areas, along with increased rip currents and a moderate risk of sneaker waves.
The region is still recovering from intense storms earlier this month that left thousands without power for about a week and killed one person in Boulder Creek after a tree fell on a house.
