Storm Watch, 1/22/10

2:30 pm – snowing again, or still, depending on one’s point of view. The problem is that when there is snow on the summit, the county road people can’t get their equipment through to work on N-F Rd., which remains closed. 15 mins later, the sun is shining.

12:45 pm – Report from Big Sur Valley: “Big thunder and lightning just now. Big hail.”

RAIN TOTAL UPDATES; 1.5 inches in the last 24-hours; 12.75 for the week; 39.35 for the season, and the snow continues …

Current Nexrad:

10:00 am NASTY-FERGIE RD. UPDATE: Confirmed with a local it is still closed, except to those who live on Alm’s Ridge, and even those people report it is bad and requires 4 x 4 with high clearance.

Somehow, I missed this announcement last night from Cal-Trans, probably because they didn’t send it to me or to the Chamber of Commerce. Also, if I am very lucky, I have some photos coming my way taken yesterday of the slip-out, by a former Cal-Trans worker with 28 years of experience on this road. Ralphie. If he comes up today to check on me, as he promised.

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010 @ 5pm

District: 5 – Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties

Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones

Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

#UPDATE#

FULL CLOSURE ON HWY. 1 NORTH OF RAGGED POINT BEGINS SUNDAY

MONTEREY COUNTY – Hwy. 1 will be fully closed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week beginning Sunday, Jan, 24 @ 5 pm for 2-3 weeks due to roadway erosion. This closure will be in effect nine miles north of Ragged Point Inn or three miles south of Gorda, which is seven miles north of the San Luis Obispo County line.

This closure is necessary to bring in a large crane after a section of fill was washed out by the surf due to recent heavy rains.

Hwy. 1 will re-open upon completion of this $2 million emergency repair, which will be performed by Windsor/Specialty Contractors.

Businesses remain open and Big Sur will be accessible from the north.

7:30 am – it is snowing. Woohoo!

4:30 am – a flashlight out my window reveals the ground is covered with snow! Not too thick, an inch, I’d say. And last night, for the first time in two days, I was able to concentrate long enough to be able to watch a movie. Must be getting better.