The rain is here and it’s not going anywhere for the next 24 hours. We’ve got a flood watch for Lake and Southern Mendocino Counties this afternoon. There’s also an increased risk of rock and landslides today and tomorrow thanks to the wet and windy conditions. Excessive runoff may result in the flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Forecasters are saying we could get drenched with 1 to 3 inches of rain. The National Weather Service has also issued a wind advisory for Southern Lake County from Noon until early tomorrow morning. Winds up to 20 to 30 miles an hour could hit us with gusts up to 45 miles per hour. Be on the lookout for unsecured objects, downed tree limbs and possibly power lines. Be aware that driving in these conditions can be very challenging, especially for high-profile vehicles. A cold weather advisory is in effect for Southern Lake County and parts of Mendocino County, with wind chills dropping into the 20s. That could quickly lead to hypothermia, so make sure to bundle up if you are going out. And, better yet, stay home if you don’t need to be anywhere.
A big drop last year in the price for Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon. The Press Democrat reported that the North Coast wine grape crop was down by 21% after hitting records the year before. Preliminary figures released earlier this week showed lower prices were paid for fewer tons of the grapes picked and delivered to the wineries. Interesting to note, the wineries crushed just over 460-thousand tons of grapes from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties last year, which was just over 15% less than 2023.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District Board of Directors is looking for someone to fill a vacancy on the board. In order to apply, you must live within the Lakeport Fire Protection District’s boundary and be registered to vote in Lake County. Applications are available at the Lake County Courthouse or online at www.lakecountyca.gov on the Board of Supervisors page. You should know the position is voluntary. Interviews will be held for selected candidates on February 25. The deadline to submit your application is February 21 by 5 pm.
There’s a special meeting on Friday for the Fort Bragg Finance and Administration Committee. The meeting which starts at 4 will be both in person and online via zoom. Agenda items include a recommendation to increase the purchasing authority for the City Manager along with an update on purchasing policy.
