Aerial photos from KMUD of Highway 101 slide

Click here for some excellent KMUD aerial photos of the slide.

CORRECTION

The Planning Commission meeting on Thursday is cancelled, NOT the one tonight as previously reported. Jack screwed up on that previous report. It’s a hybrid failure.

Thursday meeting cancelled

Thursday’s meeting of the Humboldt County Planning Commission is canceled due to the mudslide.

Hwy. 101 slide photos (Mudslide near Dean Creek)

From Humboldt County Public Works:

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Concerts to go on despite Hwy 101 closure

From Center Arts via Facebook:

We have had a few folks inquire if the Hwy 101 road closure will affect our performances for the upcoming week, the answer is no, the show must go on!
We plan to have Crosby/Nash, Lenka, Bright Eyes, Animal Colllective and Bella Fleck with no trouble.

Alternatives to Highway 101 (From County Roads Dept.)

From Humboldt County Roads:

Highway 101 between the Avenue of the Giants Exit at Silvendale and the Redway Exit at Dean Creek Exit has been closed due to a slide. The local roads around this area are not an option for travelers. The roads to the west, Briceland/Thorne Road, Wilder Ridge, and Mattole Road have all experienced damage in the recent storms. To the East, the Alderpoint Road has also had storm damage. The Dyerville Road has experienced heavy snow fall, it has been plowed but there is still snow on the road and it one lane in many places. These rural roads can not handle a large volume of traffic or use by heavy vehicles. For the public’s safety Humboldt County Public Works Department is recommending Highways 299, 5, and 20.

Hwy 101 could be closed 2 to 3 days

ROUTE 101 REMAINS CLOSED NORTH OF GARBERVILLE DUE TO MUDSLIDE

Eureka – Caltrans has announced that Route 101 in Southern Humboldt County remains closed due to a large mudslide approximately one mile north of Dean Creek, approximately 60 miles south of Eureka. The mudslide is 600 feet wide, extends 1,500 feet above the roadway, and continues to move.

Current estimated time of reopening to one-way controlled traffic may be as soon as two to three days, weather dependent. Caltrans will issue another update by 10:00AM on Friday, April 1.

Caltrans District 1 Director Charlie Fielder said, “We are doing everything we can to get Route 101 reopened as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and will continue updates as more information becomes available.”

The alternate route for motorists is Interstate 5, which can be reached north of the slide from Routes 36 or 299 and south of the slide by Route 20. For the most current road information on all State highways, please call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov.

Will fog burn off?

Fog was thick this morning in the Arcata Bottom, above. The fog was supposed to burn off, but as of 11:30 a.m., it’s still thick at McK Press headquarters on Central Avenue.

Raw from the NWS:

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA
308 AM PDT WED MAR 30 2011

.SYNOPSIS…STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION
TODAY…RESULTING IN WARMER AND DRIER WEATHER THROUGH FRIDAY.
ANOTHER WEAK SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE AREA ON
SATURDAY.

&&

.DISCUSSION…WEAK FLOW AND RESIDUAL MOISTURE IS THE PERFECT
COMBINATION FOR COASTAL FOG THIS MORNING. AS HIGH PRESSURE EXPANDS
EASTWARD FROM THE CENTRAL PAC…CLOUDS SHOULD CLEAR TODAY FOR
MOST AREAS AS UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE IS SHUNTED TO THE NE.
SUBSTANTIAL WARMING ALOFT OCCURS TODAY…AND EVEN MORE SO ON THU.
H85 TEMPS PEAK AROUND 16C IN MENDOCINO CO…TRANSLATING TO TEMPS
IN THE 70S TO NEAR 80…ABOUT 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL FOR
THIS TIME OF YEAR. WITH THE WARMING COMES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
THERMAL TROUGH ACROSS THE INTERIOR. THIS IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH
PRESSURE OFFSHORE WILL LEAD TO INCREASING NORTH WINDS OFFSHORE.
THIS PATTERN IS REMINISCENT OF SUMMER…AND AM CONCERNED THAT
COASTAL STRATUS MAY DEVELOP AND HANG TOUGH THE NEXT TWO MORNINGS.
I BEEFED UP CLOUDS AND BROUGHT IN FOG ALONG THE COAST…BUT
CONFIDENCE IN THIS SCENARIO IS NOT REAL HIGH.

THE RIDGE AXIS CROSSES THE AREA EARLY FRI AS A TROUGH DROPS OUT OF
THE GULF OF ALASKA. MODELS HAVE SLOWED DOWN THE PROGRESSION OF
THIS TROUGH DUE TO THE STRENGTH OF THE RIDGE. TEMPS COOL ON SAT
WITH TROUGH PASSAGE ALONG WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS. ANOTHER RIDGE
POKES UP BEHIND THE TROUGH ON SUN…AND PERSISTS INTO MON. THE
RIDGE FLATTENS BY TUE…WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ANOTHER WEAK
TROUGH COMING AT US FROM THE NORTHWEST. JCA

Hwy 101 closed north of Dean Creek in SoHum

From Caltrans:

ROUTE 101 CLOSED NORTH OF GARBERVILLE DUE TO MUDSLIDE

Eureka – Caltrans has announced that Route 101 in Southern Humboldt County is closed due to a large mudslide approximately one mile north of Dean Creek. Caltrans crews are currently onsite and assessing the situation.

No estimated time of opening is currently available. Caltrans will issue another update by 2:00 PM today.

Motorists are advised to use an alternate route. For the most current road information on all State highways, please call 1-800-427-7623 (1-800-GAS-ROAD) or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov.

Front page 3.30.11

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