Storm Watch, 1/18/10

4:00 pm – the hail storm at 1 pm was short, but wicked, and then there has been no further news to report today. Looks like it is over until tomorrow morning (NEXRAD is still showing some sprinkles coming our way), when the next wave is expected to hit. That one is predicted to be of less severity, and involve less winds, but the one on Wednesday is predicted to be stronger than that received today.

1:00 pm – a nice two-hour break in the rain, and now it is hailing!

11:00 am – rain update: 1.9 in Big Sur Valley today; 3.35 up here. 3/4 inch just in the last hour!!

11:00 am – ROAD HAZARD: CAL-TRANS IN PROCESS OF CLEARING DEBRIS AT MM 31 (SANTA LUCIA RANCH.)

And I just heard a huge crash, scared both the dogs and I, and found that a pole, which had been dug into the ground, had fallen, blocking the door. Fortunately, I was able to kick at the bottom of the door enough to move the pole enough to open the door. Otherwise, it would have been to crawl out the emergency exit window. That would have been fun!!

10 am – 2.6 inches of rain so far today. Time to empty the rain gauge, as I did not do it last night! That makes 4.5 inches this week, and 31.1 inches for the season.

An excerpt from NOAA discussion for today: “DAY1 PROD HAS US IN A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE TSTORMS WITH THE MAIN RISK BEING STRONG WINDS AND BRIEF TORNADOES.”

9:30 am – ROAD HAZARD – FLOODING ON HIGHWAY ONE JSO OF ANDREW MOLERA SP PER CHP

9:15 am – In a twist of irony, scanner traffic is reporting downed power lines near Garrappata have started a fire. Crews responding. Well, that one can’t be going anywhere, not with this rain!! CHP has it as two separate fires near Garrappata Creek Bridge.

I’ve been guessing winds gusting up to at least 75 mph, and the gauges at Highland/Big Creek confirm that is what is being recorded there. Confirmed with my neighbor, who has a wind gauge, it is gusting around 75 mph up here. Although, I am a bit more exposed than my neighbor, so my winds could be a bit stronger. Are we having fun, yet?

8:30 am – one inch of rain in the last 1 and 1/2 hours. Up to 1.6 so far today. Having internet problems, so no pics until that is resolved. Wind still HOWLING! At times, it sounds like a freight train rollin’ on through.

NWS Satellite shot:

7:30 am – ROAD HAZARD – CHP reports vehicle hit a rock 1/4 mile south of Gorda and is leaking gas. Tow truck ETA 90 mins.

7:15 am ROAD HAZARD – CHP reports a traffic collision at Sycamore Canyon and Highway One, no details. CHP and PG&E enroute. Cones out by RP. Source in Big Sur Valley says it is a PG&E truck that went up the bank and landed on its side.

7:00 am – The wind started around 1:30 am. I don’t know when the rain started. .6 inches so far this morning, 2.5 inches for the week, 29.1 inches for the season. Winds are gusting quite high currently, and tossing anything that isn’t tied down – even was blowing around my gennie, so had to move it. Current satellite pics when I can. Internet is not cooperating.