At 3:19 pm on Valentine’s Day, a flash flood watch was issued for Big Sur for tomorrow. Sunday, 2/15. This from the NOAA forecast discussion:
As of 3:19 pm this afternoon, NOAA forecast discussion posted the following:
RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE FORECAST TO RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH THE GREATER AMOUNTS EXPECTED IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN... WITH POSSIBLY UP TO 4-5 INCHES ALONG THE BIG SUR COAST IN THE SANTA LUCIA RANGE AS THE FRONT STALLS SUNDAY EVENING. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN COULD CAUSE HYDRO CONCERNS ACROSS THE BURN SCAR AREAS OF BIG SUR AND THE SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BIG SUR COAST AND SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS. I just received additional information from the NWS a few moments ago (4 pm):...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MID-MORNING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA HAS ISSUED A * FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF MONTEREY COUNTY INCLUDING THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST AND BIG SUR COAST. * FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MID-MORNING * AS THE STORM PASSES THROUGH CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...RAINFALL RATES AND ACCUMULATIONS OF RAINFALL OVER TIME ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED USGS THRESHOLDS FOR PRODUCING MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT HAS ALREADY FALLEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS... ANY ADDITIONAL MODERATE OR HEAVY RAINFALL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OR DEBRIS FLOW PROBLEMS. * FLASH FLOODING AND/OR DEBRIS FLOWS WILL BE A PARTICULAR THREAT IN AND BELOW THE MONTEREY COUNTY BURN AREAS...INCLUDING BIG SUR VILLAGE. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODS AND DEBRIS FLOWS CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY WITH LITTLE OR NO NOTICE. RESIDENTS IN OR BELOW THE MONTERERY COUNTY BURN AREAS SHOULD MAKE PREPARATIONS NOW TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS. EVACUATONS SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS IF HEAVY FLOWS OF WATER OR MUD ARE OBSERVED.