Evacuation orders lifted for all of San Mateo, Santa Cruz counties

Evacuation orders have been lifted for all residents in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties living near the CZU Lightning Complex fires scar areas. 

Santa Cruz County residents were permitted to return home around 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, followed by residents in San Mateo County at 11 a.m., according to Cal Fire.

The orders were issued at 8 a.m. Sunday as the season’s first major storm was pushing through the Bay Area, fueled by an atmospheric river that brought high winds and torrential rain to the region.

Blustery, wet conditions resulted in localized flooding, downed power lines and poles, fallen trees and traffic accidents around the Bay Area.

The Cal Fire CZU Felton Emergency Command Center reported that it had logged 124 incidents in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties over the past 24 hours or so.

During a typical 24-hour period, it will field an average of 25 to 30 incidents, Cal Fire said Monday.

Crews from the San Mateo County Department of Public Works, PG&E and other agencies worked  to make sure it was safe for people to return home prior to lifting the order, said San Mateo County Fire/Cal Fire spokesperson Cecile Juliette.

The storm brought impressive rainfall totals across the Bay Area, with Ben Lomond Mountain clocking in at 9.63 inches, Mt. Tamalpais hitting 16.55 inches, the Oakland hills recording more than 7 inches in places and St. Helena getting hit with nearly 11 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Downtown San Francisco recorded its wettest October day ever, with more than 4 inches of rain.

Nik Wojcik of SFBay contributed to this report.

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