[UPDATE Thursday 8:10 a.m.] Thousands of Customers Without Power, Roads Closed as Winter Storm Blankets North Coast
A large tree fell in yesterday’s winds. [Photo provided by Mike Carlson]
Over 9000 customers are without electricity in Humboldt County. That’s about 10% of the County. Over half of Trinity County’s PG&E customers (about 2500 customers) are in the dark this morning. And, close to 10,000 Mendocino county customers (about 30%) are impacted also.
Several major highways and many county roads are closed. We wanted to keep you updated on what’s happening on the roads. So here’s what we know:
(Bookmark this page, we’ll keep updating this list below in green.)
Major Highways–Here’s What We Know:
(Most information below is from Caltrans’ QuickMap. If you are heading to Oregon, check their similar site. If you are heading to Nevada, check their similar site.)
- Interstate 5: Chains required many areas. UPDATE Thursday 8 a.m.: Vehicles traveling northbound on I-5 are now being allowed through Fawndale. Passenger vehicles are being checked for chains and only 30 big rigs are being allowed through per hour. See Caltrans’ QuickMap for more.
[Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]
- Hwy 1: Open
- Hwy 3: Open but chains required 8 miles south of Douglas City. See QuickMap for more.
- Hwy 20: Open but snowy
![Snowplow on Hwy 20 near Clearlake this morning. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20320%20260'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Snow on Hwy 20 near Clearlake this morning. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]
- Hwy 36: Chains Required on and off from Ruth Road to five miles west of Platina in several areas. See QuickMap for more.
- Hwy 96: Open. Chains required near Happy Camp. See QuickMap for more.
- Hwy 101: Open
101 is clear at the Willits Bypass. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]
- HWY 162 (Covelo Road): Open
- Hwy 169 (Klamath): Closed. According to Caltrans, “Route 169 is closed in Humboldt County 2 miles south of Pecwan due to downed trees and power lines. No estimated time for reopening.”
- Hwy 175 Open
- Hwy 199: UPDATE 11 a.m.: Open
Snow on 199 at the Collier Tunnel about 8:10 a.m.. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]
- Hwy 254 (Avenue of the Giants): Open
- Hwy 255: Open
- Hwy 271: Open
- Hwy 299: Open
Berry Summit is snowy but open. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]
![Snowplow on Hwy 20 near Clearlake this morning. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sr20westofsr53lookingeast.jpg)
![101 is clear at the Willits Bypass. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/us101northwillitsbypasslookingsouth-2.jpg)
![Berry Summit is snowy but open. [Photo from Caltrans Traffic Cam]](https://kymkemp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sr299berrysummitlookingsouth-2.jpg)
Humboldt County Roads:
- Alderpoint: (Carry chains)
- Bair Road: As of 4 p.m. Wednesday: “According to Humboldt County Public Works, the road “is currently closed, due to the snow” between Hoopa and Redwood Valley.
- Bald Hills Road: As of Wednesday at 2:55 p.m.: Open. Carry chains.
- Bell Springs Road: (Carry chains)
- Briceland Thorn: (See Shelter Cove Road below)
- Mattole Road: As of Wednesday at 2:55 p.m. Open
- Panther Gap Road: As of Wednesday at 2:55 p.m. “According to Humboldt County Public Works, “Panther Gap Road is clear all the way to the power lines and the bypass is open. There are power lines down in the area, PG&E is on scene and currently working to repair them.”
- Shelter Cove Road: Clear
- Showers Pass Road: Closed Wednesday on the Kneeland side.
- Titlow Hill: Per Humboldt County, “There are 16 inches of new snow on Titlow Hill, the road is clear up to the towers, and chains are required.”
- Wilder Ridge Road: (Carry chains)
Trinity County Roads:
Mendocino County Roads:
- Brooktrails Drive and Birch Street (see more here)
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If you could get to the roads!
We got 20+ inches of snow and now rain. Gotta get the snow off the roof peeps. Look up the Snow Avalanche roof cleaner, I have rigged one up in the past with some scrap greenhouse material I got from a grower. Also look up methods to use a rope or wire to slice off slabs. If you can’t do it safely, or leave the building keep to the strongest support walls in the house, move a heavy table there to sleep under and turn off power at the service panel to areas at risk of roof fail.
New homesteaders take note! If you live at any elevation, build that roof to shed the big, 5-year snowstorm. Averages don’t take you out, extremes do. A Metal roof sheds snow very well.
I did a metal roof with a 4 in 12 pitch and the snow flies off it. I looked up the specs, which said 3 in 12 should be fine. Just got to be real careful if walking on it while wet; side of the foot against the screw heads. Bombproof the engineering and avoid catastrophes, is how I like doing most things. If I can gain a lot with a little investment, it’s a go.
Only metal roves shed!
Where you located chuck?
If anyone does drive our local roads can you please post here with conditions.
Word i got from alderpoint is “the road is f*cked”.
So many thanks to our so hum road crews, theyre workin long shifts right now, we appreciate you!
The scanner is making it sound like the assessment of Alderpoint Road is pretty true everywhere in the hills.
Thank you kym!! & chuck!
Any chance you could post the link to listen to scanner?
https://www.broadcastify.com/
South Fork Mtn, 2300ft. I wouldn’t plan to come out sledding any time soon.
Black Bart neighborhood just south of Willits is also bad. Close to a foot of snow. Downed trees and power lines every where you turn, blocking the only way out. Many of us are stuck until hopefully a someone takes matters into their own hands. My partner spent a good portion of the night with some neighbors trying to move trees out of the way. He was told by a CHP officer that we shouldn’t expect anybody from cal fire or cal trans out in our area for a couple weeks because we’re likely pretty low on their priority list. Here’s to hoping he was wrong.
Stay safe everybody!
Most of Wilder Ridge is snow free. It is about 40F now. I doubt if chains are still required. I have not seen pavement yet but my snow is gone. Is there power in Redway/GVille?
No power in Redway Garberville area as a whole.
Heard that a few transformers blew along alderpoint road.
🕯🌳Your the best Kym.🖖🖖
Generator, wood stove, tunes, reefer and whiskey. A-OK in Willow Creek.
A feller that knows how to count his blessings. 👍
Good man Miguel.
Pretty much my plan too, and it’s a good one
Sounds like a plan, my man. Cover all bases.
Good man Miguel.
Something to be said for living off grid. Have not missed a beat. Personally always being plugged in or relying on the store for goods seemed risky. Then a PG&E supervisor told me 10+ years ago if you can do it without PG&E do it. Your better off. Never forgot that conversation, never got PG&E, built an amazing solar system and solar well pumps. NEVER REGRETTED IT!
PG&E is a shit show. Nobody can blame for slow reaction in the midst of disaster but their level of maintenance and prentice preparations are a shit show.
This is valuable information to many.
Thank you for this Kym!, and thanks for all you do.
101 just reopened! Wahoo. Thanks, Caltrans!
This is the final straw. We’re outa here. Listing our property once power comes back on.
Lived in Aspen 25 yrs, never seen such nice weather affect power.. This is extremely dangerous to people who need life saving equipment to survive.
Peace Humboldt.
Yeah, this place isn’t for everyone. Where’s this place your listing? How much you gonna ask for it?