Storm Watch, 4/19/10

11 pm – NOAA discussion, in part:
.DISCUSSION…AS OF 9:05 PM…SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A FAST
APPROACHING FRONTAL BAND SITUATED OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST. ALTHOUGH THE FRONT ITSELF IS NOT FORECAST TO REACH THE COAST UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT LIGHT RAIN IS ANTICIPATED TO BEING FALLING OVER THE NORTH BAY IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING ARE SHAPING UP TO BE QUITE INTERESTING … WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY AS WELL AS SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. TEMPS ARE FORECAST TO DROP TO BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF A LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION ON PEAKS OVER 3000 FT.

IRONICALLY THIS COLD SNAP THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FALLS EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO THE DAY THAT THE REGION EXPERIENCED A RECORD BREAKING HEAT WAVE. APRIL 20TH AND 21ST OF 2009 SAW TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 90S ACROSS THE BOARD WITH A FEW LOCATIONS REACHING INTO THE LOW 100S.

6:45 pm – I am sitting watching the storm come in from the west. Only 1/2 an hour ago, it was warm, sunny, and beautiful. I looked around at the completely clear skies and thought, yeah, right a storm is coming. Sure. Now, I watch it come in.

I don’t have the quote, and will add one later, but this afternoon’s report indicated that the storm would be coming in to the Monterey area late tonight or early tomorrow morning, bringing a cold front with it that could bring snow levels down to 3,000 ft., along with hail on Tuesday.

Also, don’t forget to make your plans to stay off Highway One on Sunday for the Big Sur International Marathon. Highway One will be closed, except for Caravans from 4 am to 1 pm, from the MAF facility north to Rio Rd. Caravan schedule and additional info later.