A U.S. Flag is placed on a wildfire-ravaged property as rain comes down in the the Coffey Park area Friday, April 6, 2018, in Santa Rosa, Calif. A fierce Northern California storm Friday shut down Yosemite National Park, threatened mudslides in wildfire-ravaged wine country and could present the first test of a partially repaired offshoot of the nation's tallest dam that nearly collapsed last year. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Republished April 06, 2018 - 6:55 PM
Original Publication Date April 06, 2018 - 8:01 AM
SAN FRANCISCO - The Latest on a Northern California storm (all times local):
6:50 p.m.
Heavy rain is falling in Northern California as a "Pineapple Express" storm system lashes the region.
The National Weather Service says many areas have received about 2 inches (5 centimetres) of rain in the past 24 hours but Venado in Sonoma County has gotten nearly 5 inches (12 centimetres).
Flooding has closed some roads and about 150 flights have been cancelled at San Francisco International Airport. Other flights have been delayed an hour or more.
The rain also cancelled Friday night's San Francisco Giants game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Meanwhile, officials are keeping an eye on Lake Oroville, where the storm may turn into the first test of a spillway that was destroyed last year and prompted a flooding scare. Authorities say they may use the spillway if the water level reaches 830 feet (253 metres). It's currently at about 793 feet (241 metres).
___
4:20 p.m.
Heavy rains expected in the San Francisco Bay Area prompted the cancellation of the San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers game scheduled for Friday night.
It's just the sixth rainout at 19-year-old AT&T Park and first since April 12, 2006. It also was only the 33rd rainout since the franchise moved West to San Francisco in 1958.
The Giants postponed the game more than seven hours before the scheduled first pitch. The game has been rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on April 28.
Saturday's game was also pushed back by two hours.
___
3:40p.m.
Water flows into Lake Oroville are picking up as rain hammers Northern California and state officials warn they may have to use a partially rebuilt spillway at the troubled dam.
Feather River flows into the lake began exceeding water being released around noon on Friday. The lake level rose slightly but was still around 793 feet (242 metres)
California Department of Water Resources officials say they'll use the main spillway if the water level reaches 830 feet (253 metres) but they hope to avoid it.
The spillway was destroyed last year during a crisis that forced the evacuation of downstream towns amid fears of catastrophic flooding. About a third of it has been fully rebuilt with reinforced structural concrete but the rest has temporary repairs.
State officials say it's safe to use if needed.
___
10:50 a.m.
Yosemite National Park is closing to visitors ahead of a spring storm that is expected to bring flooding to the popular valley floor.
Visitors will no longer be able to enter Yosemite Valley starting at noon Friday, and tourists who are already there will be asked to leave at 5 p.m. No services will be available.
Park officials say some areas will reach flood stage starting Friday afternoon, with water expected to peak around noon Saturday.
Yosemite initially announced it was cancelling campground reservations but then upgraded the warnings.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch.
Officials in Northern California also are monitoring the nation's tallest dam, where the partially rebuilt spillway may be used for the first time since its near-collapse in February 2017.
___
9 a.m.
The big storm entering Northern California is not expected to threaten areas recently scarred by wildfires in the southern half of the state.
Santa Barbara County officials say the rainfall predicted for Friday and Saturday doesn't meet thresholds for evacuations and there is, at most, very low risk for mud and debris flows.
The south Santa Barbara County community of Montecito was devastated by massive debris-laden torrents on Jan. 9 when a storm unleashed a deluge on a huge burn scar in the mountains above town.
County officials say they are monitoring the storm in case it intensifies.
Most of Southern California will get little to no rain but gusty winds are expected in the mountains and deserts while beaches will see high surf.
___
7:35 a.m.
Authorities are warning morning commuters to drive slowly and watch out for standing water as heavy rain pelts Northern California.
A spring storm is expected to dump several inches of rain on burn-scarred areas of wine country through Saturday.
Santa Rosa fire department spokesman Paul Lowenthal says the city has additional firefighters and emergency staff on hand Friday.
The storm could also bring the biggest test so far of a partly finished new spillway at the nation's tallest dam.
___
12:05 a.m.
Northern California is bracing for a major spring storm that is expected to dump several inches of rain on burn-scarred areas of wine country. It could also bring the biggest test so far of a partly finished new spillway at the nation's tallest dam.
The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings throughout Northern California ahead of Friday's atmospheric river.
Officials in Santa Rosa are more concerned about how quickly the rain comes than how much. Fire department spokesman Paul Lowenthal says workers have been monitoring hundreds of storm drain inlets, especially the ones protecting the neighbourhoods destroyed by the fires.
To the north, state water officials have been releasing water from Lake Oroville ahead of the storm.
News from © The Associated Press, 2018