FOR MY SANTA CRUZ NEIGHBORS – WIRES DOWN EVERY WHERE. TREE BLOCKING HIGHWAY 9 AT HENRY COWELL STATE PARK, BOTH LANES. FELL ON VEHICLE AND TRYING TO EXTRACT DRIVER. HARD CLOSURE BEING ISSUED FOR HIGHWAY 9.
In other areas, flooding, accidents, major disruptions in Santa Cruz, Hollister areas, and Northern Monterey County. Be very careful!
8:25 pm – whoa, it just hit with a vengeance! Major wind, sleet, hail, rain! Second storm has definitely hit. Will check in probably only one more time tonight. Enjoy, but be safe, and stay off Highway One if at all possible tonight.
6:45 pm – I’m not an expert, but it feels as if the front has arrived. The wind has picked up, the temperature has dropped, and I would not be surprised to see snow before I go to bed.
5:30 pm – large rock in the road near River Inn & a disabled vehicle. I’m guessing they are connected. 😉 CHP is on the way. Watch out for rocks, particularly here on the South Coast. Cal-Trans is not out at night clearing. Still no rain or snow, but I’ll be checking until I turn out the lights for bed.
Noon – clouds suddenly forming rapidly. (is that redundant?) They seem to be “forming” as opposed to blowing in from the north or the west. I take it back. I went outside and watched the cloud movement, and they do appear to be moving in from the northwest.
Time to make one last round to dump the gauge, check to make sure everything is tight and covered. Has been quite crisp all day, so far. Heat required in doors.
8:00 am – Current conditions here are clear and crisp. A condensation cloud is trying to form here on the mtn. top, and I’m sure it will be successful, eventually. There is *no* snow visible on Cone Peak or elsewhere.
Rain total is 2.6 inches, for a season total of 6.35 inches. Temperature is 44 degrees. There are low clouds out on the horizon, but otherwise, I don’t see today’s predicted storm forming anywhere,but will, of course, be watching for it
NOAA prediction for today and tomorrow: “RAINFALL AMOUNTS GENERALLY 0.25-0.75 FOR MOST LOCATIONS…BUT THE HILLS COULD SEE 0.75-2.0 INCHES. IN ADDITION..SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP TO 3000-3500 FEET LATER TODAY. MINOR ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE EAST BAY HILLS WITH A FEW INCHES POSSIBLE BY SUNDAY. ATTM THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL LIKELY OCCUR OVER THE SANTA LUCIAS WITH 2-4 INCHES POSSIBLE.”
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7:00pm - Screaming south winds at the mouth of the valley, and rain starting. 3/4" in the rain gauge from last night's downpour. The next wave is just off the coast and is going to move in tonight...not a good time to go up the Donner Summit!!! This big and intense cyclone has its "eye" right over us, so behind this wind and rain will be the Arctic air stream, which will get it snowing down to 2,000 feet. Inland, in the intermountain west, they call for severe windchill factors with lows well below zero with high winds, plus blinding blowing snow in ALL areas east of the Sierras and Cascades. We have it a little easier here on the coast. And, oh, maybe some thunderstorms with hail too. Glad to be safely home after driving through a lot of rain up north to deliver my load of fish to market. Yesterday, on the ocean, it was absolutely freezing cold, even with four layers of clothing, plus my Grundens oilskins, two hoods, a Goretex hat, and gloves...a scene right out of Deadliest Catch.
Finally, for anyone who goes up to Carmel...the exhibit of my watercolors, along with Dick Puckett's paintings are still on exhibit at the Sunset Center, in the Arts Council for Monterey County's gallery. They will be on display until next Friday. Dick Puckett recently passed away. He was my mentor, and is a great historical figure, who has contributed so much to Art in our region...his story is too long to relate here, and quite amazing.