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Planning Against a Deluge On Central Coast Ag Land

Planning Against a Deluge On Central Coast Ag Land

Watsonville, Calif.-For the first time state water planners and engineers have all encompassing outlook at flood damage potential across the entire state. That's helping protect Ag lands potentially in harms way on the central coast.

The State Department of Water Resources took a 500-year look into the future to find recommendations for managing the state's flood risks. Some 7 billion dollars worth of Ag crops grow in flood plains and 700 million dollars of Ag assets are on the central coast!

So how much would it cost to completely prepare for a major tsunami or extreme rains? WWater planners estimate 100 billion dollars, but there are only 30 billion dollars worth of projects on the books.

Watsonville Tornado Hits Six Greenhouses

Reported by: Jacqueline Tualla

As another storm creeps towards the Central Coast we're learning more about a tornado that destroyed a half a dozen greenhouses in Watsonville during the last storm.

Sales Manager Tony Scalisi described the tornado as a loud hissing noise followed by debris circling in the air. The tornado ripped through six greenhouses at the Kitayama Brother's Nursery in Watsonville. "At first we didn't know what it was. I thought it was all a circular wind. I didn't know it was that extensive," said Scalisi.

Rare Tornado Touches Down in Watsonville

 

Story by Marissa Pendergrass

A rare tornado rips through Watsonville on Saturday, after winter weather wreaked havoc all over the country this past weekend.  The question many of you posted on our Facebook page:  why are we just now hearing about this tornado?  So we went to see the damage first hand and spoke with experts about why this is so uncommon. 

Meteorologists said it started as a waterspout over the Monterey Bay, then turned into a tornado when it moved onshore it lasted for about three minutes, leaving about a mile's worth of destruction in its path.   

Rain Storm Approaches: Road Crews Are Ready

Written By Briana Bermensolo - email

A winter storm is brewing on the Central Coast.  It's been, for the most part, a dry season so far.

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory. Wind gusts could get as high as 50 miles per hour.

Rain is also in the forecast.

Lunar Eclipse Visible on Central Coast Saturday Morning

Lunar Eclipse Visible on Central Coast Saturday Morning

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The last total lunar eclipse of the year is Saturday. And there won't be another one for three years.

Viewers in the western half of the United States will have the best views Saturday in the hours before dawn, the farther west the better.

On the Central Coast the eclipse will begin around 4:40 a.m. Saturday and will reach totality around 6 a.m. Totality will last 50 minutes, until shortly before moonset.

The National Weather Service is predicting clear skies in the early hours of Saturday.

The observatory deck at Chabot Space and Science Center in the Oakland Hills will be open from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. for free eclipse watching.

The scene from the Pacific -- Australia and parts of Asia -- will be prime.

Fast Moving Front Drives in Rain, Gusty Winds and Cool Air

The cold front has passed through the Central Coast and will continue to move Southeast. The front drove heavy to moderate rain into our area overnight. We picked up between .50" - 2.00" of rainfall. The storm also produced gusty Southerly winds and some localized flooding. We are starting to dry out, with the exception of a few leftover showers this morning. Temperatures will be very cool today. Inland areas will top out in the low to mid 60's. Coastal highs will top out in the low 60's.

Another batch of energy is digging in behind the front. This will swing through late in the afternoon. It will sock us with another round of cold air. This will be enough to produce instability and create thunderstorms later today. Most of the storm activity would be in Monterey and San Benito Counties. Lightning, heavy rain and hail may accompany these stroms.

What Happened? The Inside Story of California's Spring Storm Disaster

The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) has just released a 9-minute public education documentary that tells the story of this year's March Storms.

When the storms were all over the state calculated more than $50 million in damages that left dozens of major roads impassable, the town of Capitola flooded and Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. forced to declare a state of emergency for 17 counties.

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The video includes as-it-happened video footage of a major landslide on Nelson Road in Santa Cruz County, as well as home-video of flood waters raging through downtown Capitol, inundating their police department and emergency operations center.