Much of Santa Cruz County fared better than worse-case scenarios, but road blockages, lots of localized flooding have caused a fair amount of pain. With new ocean swells set to join the nonstop precipitation — 1.5 inches of rain and 50 mph winds to the coastal areas and up to 3 inches of rain and 60 mph winds in the mountains in the next 24 hours — all bets are off on how much dislocation is ahead of us.
Santa Cruz Mountains
Posted inK-12 Education
Some Santa Cruz County school closures extend into Tuesday as storm evacuation orders continue
All Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools are set to be closed Tuesday, impacting more than 18,000 students. Several other area schools closed Monday and were weighing plans for Tuesday. On Monday afternoon, Mountain Elementary Superintendent Megan Tresham said she had yet to make a decision about whether to close Tuesday. Bonny Doon Superintendent Mike Heffner and Happy Valley Superintendent Michelle Stewart said their schools planned to be open Tuesday.
Posted inLatest News
Chainsaws, generators and beer: Amid dayslong power outage, Santa Cruz Mountains community perseveres
The unrelenting deluge battering the Santa Cruz Mountains left hundreds in Boulder Creek without power for days. Although admittedly challenging, it’s nothing the mountain community hasn’t seen before.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County storm: Freeway and road closures pile up
Roads and highways across Santa Cruz County and the broader region have been shut down by landslides, sinkholes, flooding and emergency road work.
Posted inLatest News
Your photos: A look at Santa Cruz County storms, recovery through our readers’ eyes
We asked readers to share their photos from the storms that battered Santa Cruz County in early 2023, and the cleanup and recovery efforts that followed, and many responded. Here’s a selection of the most dramatic reader storm photos from across Santa Cruz County.
Posted inLatest News
Where we stand: Fast-coming storm prompts fears of major flooding in Santa Cruz County
Some Californians received a test of the earthquake early-warning system seven hours before the appointed time, waking…
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County storm recovery: Here are ways you can donate and volunteer
Across Santa Cruz County, community groups are coming together to raise money and launch volunteer efforts to help vulnerable residents during emergencies and rebuild and recover from the damaging floods and surf swells. Here are some ways you can help.
Posted inLatest News
Where we stand on Thursday evening: Storm damage and up 5 more inches of rain coming in next 2 storms
As of Thursday, Rio del Mar and the mouth of Pajaro River have flooded, strong high tide swells have wrecked the Seacliff pier and overwhelmed Santa Cruz’s West Cliff Drive, forcing partial closure of road and an evacuation of the wharf. Across the county, at least 23 roads are closed. And while this storm has mostly subsided, two more storms will hit Santa Cruz County between Thursday and Monday.
Posted inLatest News
40 years ago, Santa Cruz County’s most deadly storm
Ahead of the most intense part of Wednesday storm, dangerous winter storms in Santa Cruz often conjure up memories of 1982’s disastrous storm.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County Storm: Where We Stand Wednesday Evening
We’re still midway through the impact of this storm. “The weather service is saying maybe not as much rain as initially expected, but higher winds,” says Melodye Serino, deputy county chief administrative officer. “So we may not have as much flooding, but we’ll have road problems because trees will come down, debris will get into the waterways.” As dawn breaks tomorrow, we’ll see the extent of the damage.