Here is a message for you from the City of Palo Alto. This information also appears at www.cityofpaloalto.org/StormUpdate, which is a good page to keep bookmarked during storm season.
Peak Storm Impacts Expected Today; Flood Watch & High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory In Effect (9 Bay Area Counties): No significant storm impacts overnight. Conditions as of this morning include wind gusts up to 38 mph reported at the Palo Alto Airport, there is a power outage impacting 687 residents in the Duveneck neighborhood, crews are on scene working to clear a fallen tree which has shut down Eastbound Oregon Expressway at Bryant Street and the City is aware of other trees or limbs that have fallen on neighborhood streets, and crews will be addressing those as soon as they can. Baylands, Foothills and Arastradero Nature Preserves are closed.
The National Weather Service forecast notes continued heavy rainfall and high/hazardous winds to increase in intensity of up to 60 mph. A High Wind Warning and a Wind Advisory are in effect until 10 p.m. Sunday and a Flood Watch is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday. Expect community-wide rain and wind impacts through Tuesday. Please use caution if you must travel as conditions can change quickly. City staff continue to monitor creek levels, equipment is staged, and staff are ready to respond as needed.
OTHER COMMUNITY CONDITIONS/UPDATES/SAFETY REMINDERS:
- Parking Enforcement Waived: Parking enforcement in downtown parking lots and garages will be waived through Tuesday, should residents in flood prone areas want to move their cars.
- Flood Stages/Emergency Alert Notification: As a reminder, should creek flow measure a rate of 4900 cubic feet per second (CFS), this triggers flood warning stage, and the City will issue an emergency alert notification and include blocks of homes impacted. Should flow rates continue to rise, with flooding imminent, which is triggered at 5400 CFS or higher, the City will issue a second emergency alert and include blocks of homes impacted noting that residents should consider evacuating. See more about the different stages of flooding below, under "Evacuation Resources." Any such messages will be sent City-wide so as to make everyone aware of what is occurring, so they can remain safe and take informed action.
- Monitor creek levels and track the weather forecast, as conditions can change quickly. Helpful online resources can be found further down on this page under "Track Weather/Creek Levels".
- Prepare now: If you live in an area that has seen flooding in past years, consider preparing for flooding as a precaution. Sandbag locations are stocked. Location information can be found below under "Storm Ready Resources."
- Stay informed: Sign-up for emergency alerts and follow Palo Alto Police on Nixle for public safety updates. Sign up for utilities power outage text alerts and gain details about power outages at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/outages
- Report community concerns: Only call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Report neighborhood impacts through Palo Alto 311 or call us directly at the phone numbers listed on this page.
- Colder Temperatures are Expected: Find Countywide Warming Centers, including Palo Alto Library hours here.
