Santa Cruz County officials lifted evacuation warnings for much of the region Thursday afternoon after high tides and huge waves caused flooding and damage to parts of Capitola and Aptos. But they warned that the county is set to see more rain on Friday, followed by another “significant coastal wave event” early Saturday morning.
Weather
Posted inLatest News
Bay Area coastal flood advisory lifted, but more rain coming to Santa Cruz County
A low-pressure system that hung over Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area prompted a coastal flood advisory out of “an abundance of caution,” said NWS meteorologist Brayden Murdock. Though the advisory has since been lifted, some areas of Santa Cruz County have seen as much as 7 inches of rain since the weekend.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Pajaro levee repair delays raise concerns as crews work to beat the rain
The emergency repairs to sections of the Pajaro River levee that breached and crumbled during last winter’s floods have run into unexpected delays. A vow by the federal government to finish the project by late November has now been pushed to January/February, but could take until summer if heavy rains return to the region this winter.
Posted inLatest News
After 68 years, a new Pajaro River levee is now all but guaranteed, set to begin summer 2024
Nothing is ever guaranteed, but officials say a new Pajaro River levee is as close as government gets after local and federal agencies signed an agreement to spend the money for the first section of the project. The largely low-income communities of Pajaro and parts of Watsonville have been waiting for reinforced flood protection for nearly 70 years.
Posted inLatest News
Flooded California towns secured millions in aid. Who gets the money?
Residents of Pajaro and Planada want state aid to help alleviate debt incurred from rebuilding after January floods. Local officials want some money to go elsewhere.
Posted inFood & Drink
California Dungeness crab season delayed for a second time this year
The start of California’s commercial Dungeness crab fishing season has been delayed for a second time because of a high risk that migrating humpback whales may become entangled in the fishing gear, state officials announced Friday. The next assessment to determine the risk of whale entanglement scheduled for around Dec. 7. Recreational crabbers along parts of the Central Coast, including Santa Cruz County, will also continue to face restrictions on using traps.
Posted inLatest News
No atmospheric river after all: Santa Cruz County to face milder rainstorm this week
Santa Cruz County residents can still expect rain this week, but the atmospheric river label won’t be applied to this weather system anymore, as it never quite drew moisture from the tropical source that so often spurs the intense winter storms.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Aromas vegetation fire prompts evacuations, school cancellation
A fire ignited in Aromas around 2 a.m. Tuesday on Quarry Road near the Pajaro River and the border of Santa Cruz County and San Benito counties. Just after 10 a.m., a local battalion chief said the blaze was 25% contained and was optimistic it would be fully safe within 24 hours.
Posted inCoast Life
From Steamer Lane to Pleasure Point, high surf advisory thrills surfers, prompts rescue calls
Massive waves rolled through the Santa Cruz County coastline Thursday, as forecast by the National Weather Service earlier in the week. Though surfers rushed to take advantage of the big swell, safety personnel had a lot of work to do as they assisted about 20 people out of the dangerous waters. Friday is expected to see calmer seas, but the agencies working to ensure recreators’ safety will be monitoring the conditions closely.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘A Dark and Rising Tide’: Novelist’s supernatural twist on Capitola Village’s devastating winter storm
The latest novel from former KION-TV news director Debra Castaneda is directly inspired by Capitola’s experience with the Storm of ’23. “A Dark and Rising Tide” imagines a scary winter storm that actually brings forth some enormous and mysterious sea creature, and a couple trying to survive both the ocean’s fury and the monster it washed to shore.