Jessica Cejnar Andrews / Thursday, January 5, 12:16pm / Weather
Storm waves, storm surges and flooding of US 101, B Street and Anchor Way in Crescent City Harbor
A sheriff’s deputy has closed an anchor way through Crescent City Harbor after high tides and large waves carried driftwood and other debris onto the road. | | Courtesy of Garrett Scott
A combination of astronomical storm surges and storm waves pushed water and debris Thursday into B Street in Crescent City, US 101 near South Beach, and the Anchor Way in Crescent City Harbour.
Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin has ordered officers to close B Street around 11 a.m. until further notice. According to Griffin, his cops also drove through the waves to get cars and people at the edge of the street to safety.
“The waves were starting to hit not only on the pier, but on B Street itself,” Griffin told Wild Rivers Outpost. “Now it’s clear. If anyone is there, they got through the lockdown and they can be arrested.”
U.S. Route 101 between Hamilton Road and Citizens Dock Road south of Crescent City is closed due to storm surge and debris, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott told the outpost. Anchor way is also closed. He said there was water running down the road at the southern end of the port.
“There are big rocks and debris. It’s pretty intense, so we try to keep people out of it,” Scott said. “Search and rescue teams are blocking roads. We are supporting the Harbor District.”
Griffin said his officers were also assessing Beachfront Park, which has had several fallen trees since Wednesday but is now “no apparent danger.”
“The waves hadn’t hit Howe Drive or anywhere near it yet. The high tide has passed, so it looks like it’s going down a bit,” he said.
The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a coastal flood warning through Thursday morning, predicting half a foot of saltwater inundation and flooding on low-lying roads, including US 101 near South Beach.
The Coastal Flood Warning was expected to lift at 11am on Thursday, but a high wave warning is in effect until 6am on Friday, with 30ft waves expected along the coasts of Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino. increase.
There was also a strong wind advisory lifted at 10am on Thursday.
Sheriff Garrett Scott said search and rescue personnel were stationed at the port to keep people on the anchor way. | | Courtesy of Garrett Scott
“Nothing major to report,” except for minor flooding in Crescent City, said Griffin as officers responded to a five-wheeled trailer that overturned due to high winds at Lighthouse Shores RV park. There were two passengers inside, but Griffin said they escaped safely.
Scott said the flooding in the county wasn’t too bad, but warned drivers to be careful while driving, especially on U.S. 199+ roads.
Regarding the highway through Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and the tree work Caltrans is doing, Scott said:
Scott also warned people of rocks and potential slide activity on US 199 heading north of Gasquet to Patrick Creek Lodge.
“I would encourage people to be very careful if they go in that direction,” he said.
