[UPDATE 11:20 p.m.] Flooding Continues to Complicate Travel Across Humboldt and Beyond (Photos and Videos)

South end of the Avenue of the Giants is closed due to flooding. [Video by Lisa Music]

Though the rain has slacked off–less than a half inch here at RHBB headquarters since noon–flooding shapes the road conditions that travelers face across the region as this winter storm hangs on. After a day of rain, water has spread well beyond creeks and rivers, closing some roads outright and slowing travel on others. Conditions remain changeable, with some routes reopening briefly while others shut down.

As seen in the video above, the South Fork of the Eel River is slopping onto the Avenue of the Giants which remains closed in multiple stretches as it winds northward, isolating Phillipsville and limiting travel through Southern Humboldt.

Highway 101 near the College of the Redwoods is a major chokepoint, with northbound lanes fully closed and only one southbound lane open. Motorists, much to locals chagrin, are taking Tomkins Hill Road north to detour around the closure.

Farther inland, flooding south of Redding has backed up traffic on Interstate 5. According to the Caltrans, crews are continuing to monitor conditions as drivers navigate standing water, debris, and closures that can change quickly.

Below is a snapshot of current road conditions as of 6 p.m., though travelers should monitor for updates as the storm continues.

UPDATE: 101 near College of the Redwoods has reopened.

Major Highways–Here’s What We Know:

(Most information below is from Caltrans’ Quick Map. If you are heading to Oregon, check their similar site. If you are heading to Nevada, check their similar site.)

• • Interstate 5: Open but flooding south of Redding. Traffic backed up.
    

    Traffic backed up on I-5. [Caltrans traffic cam]

  • Hwy 1: Open except Caltrans reports at 11:04 p.m., “State Route 1 is CLOSED north of Point Arena near the Garcia River in Mendocino County (PM 17-18.5) due to flooding. There is currently no estimated time of reopening.”
  • Hwy 3: Open
  • Hwy 20: Open
  • Hwy 36: As of 4:39 p.m., Caltrans reports it is Open.
  • Hwy 96: Open
  • Hwy 101: Open per Caltrans Northbound is fully closed at College of the Redwoods. One lane southbound is open.
    

    Water on 101 near College of the Redwoods. [Crop of a photo from Caltrans]

  • HWY 162 (Covelo Road): Open
  • Hwy 169 (Klamath): Open
  • Hwy 199: Open Intermittently open. Read more here.
    

    Slide on US-199 near Mile Post Marker 18.3. [Photo from Caltrans]

  • Hwy 211: OPEN CLOSED
  • Hwy 254 (Avenue of the Giants): CLOSED at Sylvendales, between Miranda and Phillipsville, and between Redcrest and Pepperwood. Read more about the Holmes Flat closure here. And more about the Phillipsville and Sylvandale closures here.
    

    The Avenue of the Giants has flooded at Sylvandale. [Photo by Jared Hurlbutt]

  • Hwy 255: Open
  • Hwy 271: Open
  • Hwy 299: Open.

Humboldt County Roads as of 5 p.m.: 

• Camp Kimtu Road is closed at mile marker .85 as the South Fork of the Eel is over the road.
• Coffee Creek is closed due to flooding from mile marker 1.00 to 1.25
• Crannell Rd is closed at Dows Prairie Rd due to flooding
• Eel River Rd  and Hookton Rd is closed due to flooding
• Elk River Rd 1/2 mile before Wrigley Rd is closed due to flooding
• Evergreen Rd to Bear Canyon Rd due to a slide
• Fernbridge Dr Northbound Lane closed to the bridge due to flooding
• Freshwater Road flooded (between Greenwood Heights Dr and Garfield School is a HARD CLOSURE. Use the detour through Greenwood Heights Dr to get to the Kneeland area.)
• Glendale Drive – 100 feet northwest of Liscom Hill Rd closed due to flooding
• Hookton offramp of 101 closed. Hookton Rd is closed between Tompkins Hill Rd and Highway 101 due to the flooding.
• Jacoby Creek Road flooding at Eric Lane
• Lighthouse Rd P.M. 3.50 and P.M. 2.0 closed due to flooding
• Mad River Rd is closed at P.M. 2.75 (Tye City) due to flooding
• Meridian Road between from mile marker .5 to .9
• Old Arcata Rd between Graham Rd and Jacoby Creek Rd is closed due to flooding
• Port Kenyon is closed between Market and California
• Redwood Drive closed at the bluffs.
• Wilder Ridge Rd at mile marker 6.9 closed due to flooding

Trinity County Roads: No information at this time.

Mendocino County Roads: No information at this time.