LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After a month of high water conditions, Clear Lake’s elevation finally dropped below flood stage on Thursday, with an ongoing flood warning set to expire on Friday morning.

Flood stage on Clear Lake is 9 feet on the Rumsey gauge. Clear Lake’s level fell below that mark just after noon on Thursday and has continued to steadily recede, according to the United States Geological Survey gauge on the lake.

The National Weather Service’s flood warning, issued in February, will remain in effect until 10 a.m. Friday, with the agency reporting that the lake is expected to fluctuate near flood stage through Saturday.

The lake had first gone into flood stage on Feb. 8, and was closed to motorized vessels from Feb. 14 to 28 due to concerns about damage to the shoreline, as Lake County News reported.

Clear Lake remains in the “monitor stage,” which is the elevation above 8 feet Rumsey.

The California Nevada River Forecast Center predicts that the lake’s level is going to continue steadily receding, and could fall below 8 feet Rumsey late next week.

The county can look forward to lessening flood conditions thanks to a break in the weather.

The updated specific Lake County forecast from the National Weather Service shows mostly clear conditions through the middle of next week, when there are once again chances of rain.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.