ATTN: Weather Alert for next week

Sometimes, I feel like the NWS — only with photos!

Today, Friday, 12/19/08: A Hazardous Weather statement has been issued for next week. It reads pretty much the same as yesterday’s statement, which is reproduced below. 

Thursday, 12/18/08 – This out this afternoon about a system shaping up for next week. Pay close attention. Floods, mud, and debris flow could be in the making.

AND BIG SUR COAST-
 123 PM PST THU DEC 18 2008

 ...STORMY WEATHER WITH HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE 
FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PERIOD FROM TUESDAY INTO EARLY 
FRIDAY...A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WEATHER PATTERN 
APPEARS TO BE SHAPING UP AS EARLY AS TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. 
THE PACIFIC JET STREAM WILL SHIFT FARTHER SOUTH...TAPPING 
INTO SUB-TROPICAL MOISTURE. SNOW LEVELS WILL RISE TO OVER 
6000 FEET AS A CONTINUOUS STREAM OF PACIFIC MOISTURE SLAMS 
INTO NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. THIS MAY CONTINUE AT 
LEAST THROUGH THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

AS THE START OF THIS PATTERN CHANGE IS STILL FIVE DAYS AWAY
...THERE IS SOME FORECAST UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE STRENGTH 
AND TIMING OF THIS STORM SYSTEM. HOWEVER...THERE IS INCREASING 
CONFIDENCE THAT A PERIOD OF WARMER...VERY WET AND WINDY 
WEATHER WILL DEVELOP. IF THIS OCCURS THERE WOULD BE A 
THREAT OF URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING...AS WELL AS 
MUD SLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS OVER BURN SCARRED AREAS FROM 
THIS PAST SUMMER`S FIRES. PERSONS IN MONTEREY AND SANTA 
CRUZ COUNTIES WHO ARE NEAR THE BURN AREAS SHOULD PAY VERY
CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION SINCE IT 
APPEARS THAT HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE IN BOTH AREAS. 
IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL...VERY WINDY 
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD ESPECIALLY 
ALONG THE COAST AND HIGHER ELEVATIONLOCATIONS.

CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECAST...STATEMENTS AND 
WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS WE APPROACH 
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIOD.