Day: April 4, 2010

Rock & Mudslide just South of Lucia

11:30 pm – CHP has taken this off their website, but knowing what I do about the way CT works, I can’t imagine that it is cleared, unless CHP got out with a shovel in the rain and falling rocks. Doubtful.

10:30 pm – While I really don’t like to post so many times in one day, I believe another post is necessary. As of a little after 10 pm this evening, the CHP website is reporting a rock and mudslide just south of Lucia covering both the North and South bound lanes. It is reporting that the slide either needs to be cleared or the road closed.

10:18PM 1039 ENTAC
10:12PM PER UNIT RDWY WILL NEED TO BE CLRD OR CLSD
10:11PM BLKG NB AND SB LANES
9:50PM VEH 1125/1126

Given that it is too dangerous for Cal-Trans to work in the dark down here, I would venture an educated guess that the road will be closed until they can get out in the morning on dawn patrol to clean it up.

Sorry about all the multiple posts today, but what’s a journalistic-type blogger to do?

Storm Watch, 4/4/10 & Earthquake Maps

10:30 pm – howling winds and rain tonight. It is a blustery night! I had very small hail momentarily. Sorry, I changed my mind and am not going out in this to check and dump the rain gauge. In the morning.

For a change of pace, I thought you might want to see the earthquake maps from this afternoon’s 7.2 quake in Mexicali, Baja. Lots of aftershocks in SoCal. This first one is from this afternoon, when the quake first hit. The second one is from this evening, just a short while ago.

7:00 pm – Big Sur Valley is reporting that it is “dumping, dumping, down rain” right now. Unfortunately, Debbie cannot remember is she emptied her rain gauge. I know I did not, but I also know the exact amount that was in it before the rain started today. By dark, I had received .25″ and since I will be going out in the rain in the dark anyway tonight, will check and dump the rain gauge before bedtime, and report back, including a seasonal total.

While I have had a light drizzle on and off this afternoon, the winds and rain really kicked in around 6 pm this evening. According to NOAA, it could be significant later tonight for Monterey County’s coastal areas. I will be keeping an eye on it, and reporting any events that come my way. It could cause problems for the highway, of course, so be extra vigilante in the slide areas if traveling tonight after dark, particularly here on the South Coast where things are fragile, at best!

Easter: A Time of Rebirth

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a Happy Easter and to share more wildflower and other photographs to remind us of the rebirthing surrounding us each wonderful spring.

Turkey Flats

Turkey Flats got its name because the wild turkeys used to roam through here. Now, vehicles do, despite the signs prohibiting same. I am saddened when I see vehicles driving, parking, doing “donuts” in this wonderful wildflower meadow, disrupting the seeding and sprouting of the wildflowers.

Wildflowers at Turkey Flats

But the birth and rebirth of living things is a wonder to watch. Here is a baby pine tree stretching and growing with the season.

Baby Pine

And Oaks, battered and seemingly broken by the winds, sprout new and abundant life, to make up for their missing limb.

Wind Damaged

And the abundance of recovery –

Recovery

And the beautiful blue lupine to wish you and yours a very Happy Easter!

Lupines

On the weather front, a gentle rain started here around 12:15 pm, but did not last long. NOAA discussion informs us: “THEREFORE EXPECT RAIN TO RAPIDLY INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS ACROSS MOST OF THE DISTRICT. RAIN WILL BECOME HEAVY FOR A TIME JUST AHEAD OF AND DURING THE FRONTAL PASSAGE WHEN WINDS WILL BE STRONGEST. BEST TIMING FOR THIS NOW LOOKS TO BE LATE AFTERNOON HOURS FOR THE NORTH BAY…EARLY EVENING BAY AREA AND MID TO LATE EVENING FOR THE MONTEREY BAY REGION.”