Heavy Rains Hit Santa Cruz As New Storm Looms

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Many Bay Area residents faced a rainy commute as they returned to work after the holiday weekend. Meteorologists forecast possible heavy rains in the Santa Cruz Mountains Monday as winds and wet weather from the season's first storm continued. Rains were expected to die down Monday afternoon, but another strong storm was on its heels and expected to hit the area late Thursday night through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

While scattered showers hit areas north of the bay, areas to its south — especially the Santa Cruz and Santa Lucia Mountains — were expected to see rain throughout much of the day.

As heavy rains continued, NWS issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for the southern tip of Santa Cruz County through 12:45 p.m. Monday.

Mining Ridge in Monterey County could see as much as 20 inches of rain, should rainfall continue, NWS said Monday morning.

"Rather impressive to see rain totals of that magnitude from one system," NWS wrote. "It's not completely unheard of, but definitely a rarity when looking over the last 15 years."

Santa Cruz County said Sunday afternoon that roads and rivers had held up well during the storm.

As of 10 a.m. Monday, there were five weather-related traffic advisories: Creek Drive was closed to all traffic due to downed trees and wires; the area near 17240 Laurel Road was closed due to downed wires and a fallen tree; Paulsen Road at Whiting Drive was closed due to flooding; Redwood Drive and Endlich Drive was closed due to a fallen tree; and the area near 3370 Vienna Drive was closed due to a tree that fell on wires.

For more on road closures, visit sccroadclosure.org.

Get tips from Watsonville Police Department Officer Efren Martinez on driving in the rain: