8:30 pm – rain started in earnest about 1/2 hour ago. Heads up, as there are accidents being reported in places where slides were previously reported.
5:59 pm – CHP reports a rock slide just north of Rocky Point in NB lane. CHP should be able to move them by hand. Same reported, basketball size in NB lane near Pt. Sur.
5:15 pm – Whoa!! Heavy hail, the entire ground is covered in white from only a few minutes of heavy, intense hail. And so starts what promises to be an interesting evening.
5:00 pm – Rain has started again. From this afternoon’s forecast discussion:
400 PM PST MON FEB 16 2009 .DISCUSSION...AS OF 2:45 PM PST MONDAY...VERY ACTIVE WEATHER ON TAP FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.RADAR IS ALREADY PICKING UP SOME STRONG CELLS...INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE LIKELY HAIL PRODUCER...OVER MONTEREY BAY AT THIS HOUR WITH DBZ VALUES UP TO 60. CONSIDERING THIS IS HAPPENING WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE REALLY FAVORABLE CONDITIONS...TONIGHT AND TOMORROW LOOKS QUITE STORMY.4:30 pm – Yes, I am still here. I’ve been tracking the CHP site all afternoon, too. Unless you want a report on the naps of my four dogs, I’ve had nothing to report. Oh, except the flow rate of the Big Sur River has declined. Topped out at 1200 cu. ft./sec. and was down to 1040 the last I checked, but boy it sure has risen, based on what I have watched on the webcam all afternoon.
1:00 pm – I was just going to post that it was quiet, but the wind picked up slightly, and it has begun to rain again. Coming down quite significantly, a combo of rain, slush, and snow. At least the winds aren’t bad!! For those that don’t know, I am at 3250 ft. The cloudburst lasted less than 15 minutes, and all quiet since – a harbinger of things to come this evening, I expect.
11:30 am – no new slides reported by CHP during the last hour.
10:45 am – RAIN TOTAL CORRECTION – I did not read it from inside correctly. I received 3.5 inches yesterday and last night, bringing the season total to 23.75 inches. Sorry for the error. Hard to read from inside, when it has been blown around. Also, CHP no longer reporting slide at Salmon Creek. Our Cal-Trans crews are working hard and we are all so VERY appreciative. Thank you!
10:14 am – CHP reports large rock slide at Salmon Creek blocking NB lane.
10:00 am -Big Sur River flow rate is growing significantly. Was 900 cubic feet at 8:15 am, and now 1200 cubic feet per second at 9:45 am. Keep an eye out, everyone!!
As JK reports in the comment section, at 9:06 am a slide just south of Burns Creek has closed both lanes. As of 10:00 am, chp is reporting nothing. But I suspect slides will continue throughout the day with the rain totals we have been having. We have had rain the last 6 days, and 10 day out of these first 16 days of February.
8:30 am – Rain total for yesterday and last night was 4.5; season total 24.75 inches. CHP reports traffic hazards all over Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, but nothing regarding Highway One in Big Sur. Cal-Trans also reports nothing.
Debbie reports she spent the night in town, and drove in this morning and there was lots of rock in the NB lane, but everything passable, at least to the Valley. Power is on, creeks and rivers within their banks. Thanks for the first hand report, Debbie!
Friend in town says this morning’s news reported a slide in Carmel Highlands, blocking the road.
There was a line down in front of River Inn last night a little after 11 pm that started a small fire, but everything controlled.
And finally, the Big Sur River discharge rate has jumped to almost 900 cubic feet per second as of 8:15 am.
CHP reports a slide just south of Burns Creek blocking both lanes @ 0906
CHP reports NB lane blocked by a slide just north of Salmon Creek
My weather radio alarm went off just now with a special marine warning of a severe rotating cumulonimbus cell over Monterey Bay.
They say it has nickel-size hail, 60-knot winds, and possible waterspouts (tornadoes on land). They advised that even Captain Lingcod should “cut cable and head for safe harbor. Big cloud fill the sky, one has just come over the mountains from the south and is hailing on our roof with screeching winds.
Time stamps are 1 hour off, so Dave posted at 5:32 pm. I don’t know if that would be the same cell which hit me at 5:15 pm, or whether I have another one headed my way. I should know in the next hour.
OH NO!
Those t-storms that pass over Kate are heading northward at warp speed to to me! So that accounts for my “oh no!”