Posted on 01/01/2006 5:29:39 PM PST by blam
California vineyards flooded as torrential rain causes chaos
By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
(Filed: 02/01/2006)
Northern California's famous wine country suffered widespread flooding yesterday after powerful storms pummelled the region.
Rivers overflowed their banks, engulfing homes and triggering mudslides that blocked roads across the area.
At least a dozen people were rescued from the rushing waters and, with more rain forecast, emergency officials urged residents in low-lying areas close to rivers to evacuate.
The heaviest rain hit the Napa Valley area, just north of San Francisco and home to more than 200 vineyards, including the Robert Mondavi Winery, Francis Ford Coppola's Niebaum-Coppola estate, Domaine Chandon and Beringer. More than nine inches fell.
In St Helena, the heart of the Napa Valley, the Napa River rose to record heights, peaking at nearly eight feet above its flood level.
The nearby Russian River was more than 10 feet higher than normal and predicted to rise to 13 feet, threatening the town of Guerneville, in Sonoma County.
In Napa, the swollen river sent water surging into the town centre, flooding an estimated 1,000 homes.
"We had so much water in such a short amount of time that manhole covers were popping all over the city," said James Krider, a city councillor.
Many vineyards along the river were affected but officials did not predict widespread losses as most growers had already harvested their grapes.
The flooding exceeded the previous recent major deluge in 1997 but not the devastating storm of 1986 that caused £60 million worth of damage and took three lives.
Across the north of the state, an average of five inches of rain fell. More was forecast yesterday, with the storms lasting until tomorrow.
In Sonoma County, helicopters plucked people from flooded areas to safety. Others were rescued by boat.
One man died on Saturday when he was crushed by a storm-battered eucalyptus tree. A woman in Santa Rosa suffered a broken leg when a mudslide destroyed her home.
Flooding and mudslides closed several major roads, including the famous Pacific Coast Highway, California's Route 1.
In Pasadena, west of Los Angeles, rains threatened today's New Year Rose Parade for the first time since 1955. The 116-year-old event features elaborate floats and draws thousands of spectators.
Along the coast, the storm churned up the sea, creating waves of up to 18ft waves and triggering a high surf warning.
Storm warnings were also issued in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where heavy snow was expected to cover mountain passes.
The weather caused mudslides that closed major interstate routes and left more than 600,000 homes along America's western coast without gas or electricity.
As of early on Sunday morning, more than 110,000 households remained without power.
In Nevada, Reno experienced its worst flooding since New Year's Day 1997.
Sunday's storm was expected to drop another 2in in northern California, up to 4in in southern California's coastal valley and 8in in the mountains, forecasters said.
"It's looking pretty powerful," said Bonnie Bartling, a regional weather specialist.
Not to worry. You can always find a replacement.
"As majestic as the cascading waters of a drain pipe, MD 20/20 is bottled by the 20/20 wine company in Westfield, New York."
Sourced at Bumwine.com
If you don't live there you can pronouce it anyway you like.
I have heard both, but in the area they say Gurn'ville.
Yuck!
That not wine!
Some vineyards have been flooded many times and thrive...
We just had an article posted here the other day blaming the Bears for eatiing all the grapes.
I think one way or another they are going to hike up the prices. JMO
Napa Valley is a wonderful place.
Haven't been there in 20yrs but it was great back then.
It is a nice area, but we've been cured of our west coast ways. MO is our home now. The weather is cold here, but the people are warm:). I saw lots of 50 year old men with long gray pony tails, earrings, and tie died shirts on last time we visited southern OR. I felt really bad for them.
Yes this is true.
I poisoned myself (not intentionally) in my youth with NightTrain and Vodka never could touch either one again.
Just the thought makes me queasy.
________________________________________________________
It wasn't us, honest..
Yes how unfortunate that is what is down there.
Eastern Oregon is men in Wrangler and Cowboy hats.
Where I am on the coast we have a mix of FReeper and DUmmie types.
We actually can co exist but funny not in the same neighborhoods.
LOL You were there. : )
Oh ya' I sure was
Sounds like it's time for some bussing and forced integration.
Thanks. I grew up between Fresno and Bakersfield.
No problem. I was born in Oakland but my family is from Fresno, so I never knew how to pronounce anything correctly...:-)
I live about 8 miles from "Rancho (Cambodia)" Lots of wind and some rain but everything is really okay here.
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