The Carmel Lagoon is being watched as hazards are in the weather mix over the next day or two and rain is in the forecast through Sunday.
The County of Monterey reported Thursday evening that the lagoon that had been backed up by high surf had stabilized at about 12 feet and flooding had been contained onto 16th Avenue. The County also reported that pumps would be operating through the night to keep the lagoon water out of the surrounding neighborhoods.
County public information officer Maia Carroll said that county crews mobilized on Wednesday afternoon to manage the Carmel Lagoon sandbar by constructing a small pilot channel with hand tools. Another one was dug Thursday evening.
“Crews worked until sunset (approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday) to construct a small pilot channel and achieve a flow from the Carmel Lagoon into the ocean,” said Carroll in an email.
A coastal flood warning was in effect until mid-afternoon Thursday with a high surf warning that was to expire by the early morning hours of Friday, as well as a wind advisory set to expire Friday evening. Parts of Scenic Road in Carmel Point in the area northwest of the lagoon are closed due to flooding, and the Carmel River State Beach parking lot is flooded due to abnormally high waves. Parts of 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach were also closed Thursday afternoon by the high surf.
Monterey County Public Works crews are scheduled to monitor the storm drains at the end of Camino Real, River Park Place and Monte Verde Street during the upcoming rain events and pump storm water over the sandbag wall, according to Carroll.
The weather and river flow will be monitored by Monterey County and State Parks staff in the coming days.
The weather forecast calls for rain on Friday with a high in the low 60s, south winds of 11 to 21 mph with gusts up to 31 mph. New precipitation amounts will possibly measure between a quarter to a half inch. Friday night rain can be expected before 10 p.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after that time, with possible new rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarter inch.
Saturday’s weather will include showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 a.m.., the rain likely into the afternoon, with a high around 60 degrees, west winds of six to 13 mph with gust up to 18 mph. New precipitation amounts possibly between a tenth to a quarter inch, with higher amounts as part of possible thunderstorms. Saturday night will see a chance of rain with a low around 50 degrees.
Sunday, New Year’s Eve, will see a change of rain with a high near 60 degrees during the day and a chance of rain mainly before 10 p.m., with a low near 50 degrees.
Monday, New Year’s Day, is forecast to be sunny with a high near 60 degrees.