Landslide on Grizzly Peak, flash flood warning in Berkeley
Friday saw "severe flooding" at Centennial Drive and Stadium Rim Way in the Berkeley Hills along with flooding at Ashby Avenue and Seventh Street.
UC Berkeley has advised community members to avoid Grizzly Peak "until further notice" due to a landslide about 1 mile south of Centennial Drive.
The northbound lane of the roadway is closed, UC Berkeley said in a WarnMe alert Friday just after 4 p.m.
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Berkeley police said there is also flooding near Seventh Street and Ashby Avenue in West Berkeley "due to the heavy rainfall. Please AVOID traveling through the area and use alternative routes."
In a Nixle alert, BPD said the ongoing storm was "impacting several areas in the city. We want to remind the community to take precautions, and if you must travel, please consider the following safety measures."
- Drive only if necessary
- Avoid driving through flooded areas
- Keep a proper distance between vehicles
- Be aware of fallen debris and powerlines
- If a traffic signal is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop
- Be cautious of first responders and public works crews as they manage various incidents.
A flash flood warning is in effect in Berkeley and Alameda County until 6 p.m., the city of Berkeley also announced.
"Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads," the city said in a brief statement just before 4 p.m. "Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads."
According to the National Weather Service, "local law enforcement" reported flash flooding in the East Bay just before 3 p.m.
"Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring," the National Weather Service said.
UC Berkeley reported "severe flooding in the roadway" at Centennial Drive and Stadium Rim Way in the Berkeley Hills earlier this afternoon: "The intersection and connecting roadways will be closed for the immediate future until the flooding can be cleared."
UCPD and UC Berkeley Facilities Services worked to clear the area. The roadway was open as of about 3:40 p.m.
Berkeley also has a flood advisory in effect until 9 p.m. due to "excessive rainfall" in western Alameda and central Contra Costa counties.
A small craft advisory is in effect until Saturday at 3 a.m.
The Bay Area has braced for impacts this week from the "bomb cyclone" that began Wednesday due to an atmospheric river storm.
"Rain totals are expected to be much higher on Friday and Saturday across the wider Bay Area, as a second storm system moves more to the south," the East Bay Times reported Friday.
This story was updated after publication due to the developing nature of events.
