Tuesday, January 10, 2017

The atmospheric river ... became an actual river

Sacramento Weir Opened For First Time In More Than 10 Years

Water officials opened the weir around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. It’s all an effort to alleviate pressure on the Sacramento River levees.

How the Sacramento Weir works

While the system’s five other weirs overflow automatically once the river reaches a certain elevation, the 1,920-foot-long Sacramento Weir consists of 48 gates that must be opened with a long hooked pole. The gates are opened when the river level at the I Street Bridge reaches 29.87 feet. The weir, built in 1916, was last opened in December 2005.

Meanwhile, closer to home, ferries were canceled due to wind and waves, BART is running a partial schedule because downed trees have blocked tracks, planes are hours late or canceled entirely.

It's pandemonium.

Happily, the forecasters promise at least a few days of relief in sight.

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