More storms heighten flood concerns on Dry Creek, also Tuolumne River in Modesto
A series of storms continued to raise concerns about creek and possible river flooding in Stanislaus County.
The Tuolumne River was at 42.8 feet Friday morning but is expected to reach the 55-foot flood stage by Tuesday evening, as more rainstorms are in the forecast for this weekend and early next week, according to an update Friday from the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services.
As of 8 a.m. Friday, Dry Creek in Modesto was flowing at 78.8 feet. It is projected to rise another 14 feet by Tuesday evening due to runoff from stormy weather.
Deputy Chief Darin Jesberg of the Modesto Fire Department said there are no immediate plans for evacuations along the Tuolumne River but authorities are planning to designate evacuation zones just in case they are needed. He expected the zones will be published by Sunday.
Local agencies were watching a surge of storm water on Dry Creek that was expected to peak at noon Friday.
Jesberg, a spokesman for an incident management team, said the surge would affect some low-lying areas around Dry Creek, but should not impact homes.
Crews also were dealing with fallen trees and branches causing road closures after heavy winds this week.
The county Office of Emergency Services said that multiple storms will continue through next week. A flood watch will be in effect from Sunday until Wednesday afternoon.
More moderate to heavy rain is forecast for Saturday afternoon, after 4 p.m., to Sunday evening. A stronger storm is expected Monday, with additional rain possible the remainder of next week, according to the National Weather Service.
The major storm Monday and Tuesday could drop 3 inches of rain in the Central Valley and 5 feet of snow in the Sierra.
Dry Creek Regional Park remained closed due to localized flooding and erosion. Tuolumne River Regional Park is closed from Mitchell Road to Carpenter Road.
Jesberg said authorities are not that concerned about flooding on the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers because the flows can be managed by upstream dams, such as Don Pedro, which have plenty of storage capacity.
“Generally speaking, we are advising the community to be aware of the situation and the potential for flooding in low-lying areas along Dry Creek, the Tuolumne and Stanislaus River.,” Jesberg said.
Local residents are advised to stay informed about weather conditions and be prepared. There are multiple locations where people can pick up sandbags, Jesberg said.
Emergency responders are in communication with Turlock and Modesto irrigation districts about water releases on the Tuolumne from Don Pedro Reservoir.
When there is heavy precipitation in the Sierra, there is a 24-hour time lag allowing local authorities to address potential flooding issues in the Valley.
The Central Valley Incident Management Team, formed to respond to the recent storms, held a Facebook Live streaming event at 2 p.m. Friday to provide updates to the public.
Creek flooding
In western Stanislaus County, a creek overflowed Thursday, flooding orchards and some residential properties east of Highway 33 near Patterson.
A spokesman for the Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services confirmed that a swollen Del Puerto Creek flooded a low-lying area.
Sgt. Raj Singh of the county Office of Emergency Services said he had no information that homes were impacted. “Localized creek flooding and road closures related to creek flooding is usually projected in those low-lying areas,” he said.
According to county OES, Mulberry Avenue, between Highway 33 and Vineyard, was closed due to flooding. Another road closure was in effect on Vineyard Avenue, from Loquat to Condit Avenue.
Orestimba Creek near Newman was running at 5 feet Friday morning and was expected to double its flow by Monday evening. Sections of Jorgensen, Eastin, Bell, Haile and Anderson roads have been closed due to recent storm water.
People can get information about storm-related support at the city of Modesto website or the Stanemergency Facebook page.
This story was originally published January 6, 2023 at 1:40 PM.
