WATSONVILLE — The first major Pacific storm to clobber the California coast in weeks brought a host of troubles for road crews, emergency workers, the California Highway Patrol and crews from Pacific Gas and Electric.
Following a near bone dry February, March came crashing in with heavy snow and powerful gusts in the Sierra, the National Weather Service said. High seas slammed the coast and drenching rains and wind drilled the Monterey Bay Area causing some minor flooding — mostly on area roadways — and a few power outages.
Since the beginning of the storm on Thursday, Watsonville experienced 22 weather-related outages that impacted more than 7,000 homes and businesses, said Mayra Tostado, PG&E spokesperson.
“PG&E crews have been working around the clock to restore power to customers safely and as quickly as possible,” Tostado said.
As of 3:30 p.m. Friday, there were 47 customers without power in Watsonville, Eureka Canyon Road and Tindall Ranch Road.
“Customers should remember to stay away from downed power lines or damaged electric equipment and assume it’s energized and extremely dangerous,” Tostado said. “Call 9-11 to report the problem and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.”
In the San Lorenzo Valley, crews grappled with downed trees and power lines. A huge tree crashed over Branciforte Drive, closing both lanes entirely for several hours. Trees and limbs also smashed to the pavement on Graham Hill Road near Scotts Valley closing that major artery as well.
By evening most of the rain tapered off, but by early Friday the showers started up again in many regions including Watsonville.
Scott Rowe, meteorologist with the National Weather Service of Monterey, said Watsonville got 2.6 inches of rain as of 3 p.m. Friday.
The big rain numbers came in and around Big Sur with 8.67 inches at Chalk Peak and Three Peaks at 7.96 inches. Aptos stacked up 2.35 inches.
“Keep the umbrellas ready because there is a chance or two of scattered showers and even a chance of thunder showers Saturday,” Rowe said.
The chance of precipitation is 40 percent Saturday. Saturday night there is a 20 percent chance of showers. Expect patchy frost after 4 a.m.
On Sunday there will be patchy frost before 7 a.m. Otherwise, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 57 degrees. Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Rowe added that the workweek will start out dry and sunny but by midweek there is a chance of a new weather system moving into the Monterey Bay Area with a 20 percent chance of rain Wednesday night into Thursday.
