Month: December 2012

12/26/12 Road and Weather Conditions Updates

11 am – from our local CHP (in comments below):

“Hi Kate, This slide is at Partington Ridge Road. They don’t have an estimated time to open the road, they’ll know more in a few hours. NO ONE IS BEING ALLOWED THROUGH RIGHT NOW. NO ONE! They are putting equipment in place to get started.

Ben”
9:30 am – all local stations reporting Highway One closed, with no ETA for opening.

8:30 – that blue skies didn’t last long, up here, anyway.

7:30 am – blue skies – great news for CT. NWS continues scattered shower activity over most of the region.

Detail Information
6:51 AM 4 [10] 1039 ETAC OFCR CROSSON
6:45 AM 3 [7] SIG ALERT SENT
6:36 AM 2 [4] THERE IS NO ETA FOR OPENING AT THIS TIME
6:35 AM 1 [1] **HWY 1 IS CLOSED **

Unknown at this time whether this is the Partington Slide, or another, as Partington wasn’t being reported by CHP yesterday afternoon and evening. It is listed as 23 mm 1, which would be Lucia.

There were periods of extremely heavy rainfall here last night, beginning around six pm, so this could be anywhere. My rain gauge is showing just under an inch. Will update as I obtain more information.

Road Condions and Weather in Big Sur on Christmas Day

I am getting private requests for road conditions in Big Sur, so I decided I’d better post. While the CHP website does not have the closure listed anymore, I have experienced in the past that they often take continuous closures off their website. I do not know if it is open or closed, but CalTrans continues to report it closed on their website. ” I IS CLOSED FROM LUCIA TO FULLERS POINT /IN BIG SUR/ (MONTEREY CO) 3- DUE TO A ROCK SLIDE – MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE BIG SUR AREA BUSINESSES ARE OPEN.” I do know the road closed signs were still up today, and some people went through anyway. I also imagine that in the dark, and the pounding rain I have had tonight, it could turn into a nightmare. I do have a photo taken today, but writing for permission to use it. Once given, it will be posted at the bottom of this post.

I do know that the area can be dangerous, as many parts of this highway during the winter can be and I would be hesitant to advise family or friends to take that route, unless they were familiar with the dangers – I would feel very responsible if something were to happen to them. Additionally, more rain is expected tonight and tomorrow, and conditions could become treacherous at a moments notice. This is what is coming.

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Whatever your personal decision is about traveling this road, i hope you opt for safety over expediency, and always stay aware. A tiny falling of pebbles could be your warning that a slide is imminent. Keep this Holiday safe for you and your loved ones.

Photo by Wally and Nola Barnick, of Coast Outfitters, next to Fernwood.
Photo by Wally and Nola Barnick, of Coast Outfitters, next to Fernwood.

Another mudslide

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It is cleared. Photo. Y Debbie Reed

9:30 am – another slide, this one near River Inn. Only blocking 1/2 a lane, so not closing road. Should be able to get clear in no time, but considering that we have more rain on the way for the next two days, could be a precursor of things to come. Please be safe out there!

Seasons Greetings

From Dan Danbom – and I join in the sentiment!

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And from Dave Allen, aka Captain Lingcod!

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And from Wally Miller:

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From ??

Merry Christmas, everyone! I’ll be cooking a mustard-herb crusted rack of lamb with all the fixings today, so that Rock Knocker and I can enjoy our Christmas together. I’ll check in, occasionally, but unless there is another emergency, I am taking the day off. Felix Navidad, everyone.

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Partington Slide photos

The following four photos were sent to me by Partington Ridge resident Jim Merz. Excellent photos, and clearly show the instability, and the massive nature of the slide.

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The following two photos are provided by Mike Gilson, and show Highway One level damage.

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And here is one from Magnus Toren that shows what none of the others show – the top of the slide, which demonstrates, as Rock Knocker says, “It ain’t done, yet!”

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And from North Coast CT crew, Brandie Kirby, another couple:

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And finally, one last photo from Greg DeAlba, Supervisor, Willow Springs Maintenance Station:

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Highway One Closure Updates, Christmas Eve, 2012

CALTRANS PRESS RELEASE
Today’s Date: Monday, December 24, 2012 at 5 pm
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*Update #2*
HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF BIG SUR IS CLOSED AT PARTINGTON RIDGE ROAD DUE TO A ROCK SLIDE; ROADWAY OPEN AT RAGGED POINT

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 will remain CLOSED overnight and Christmas Day a few miles south of Big Sur due to a major rock slide that occurred on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 23.

Caltrans is mobilizing an emergency contractor to clear the large debris field and to repair a 60-foot section of the damaged roadway at Partington Ridge Road.

The highway is shut down just south of Deetjens Big Sur Inn (Mile Marker 42) and at Lucia (Mile Marker 23). There is no official estimated time of opening but we are working to have one lane available to traffic later this week.

The rock slide south of Gorda at Mile Marker 7 was cleared at noon today so there is NO closure at Ragged Point in SLO County.

4:50 PM 14 [41] PER STEVE/CALTRANS MM 38 STILL CLOSED DUE TO LARGE ROCKS/BOULDERS ON RDWY [Shared]

11:00 am -Rock Knocker just saw a whole convoy of CalTrans vehicles heading north to Partington.

10:30 AM 52 [136] A27-014 150 DMG”D RDWY BOTH LNS , HOLES THROUGH OUT , BOULDERS LRGR THAN SUVS [Shared]

9:54 am – From my son, who needed to go north, this report:
“road is closed for the day, holes in road, rocks as big as cars, partington ridge road fell onto Hwy 1, going over NF, love you bye”

9:53 AM 42 [122] [Notification] [CHP]-CT SPOKE WITH DIST MNGR WILL TRY TO OPEN F/RAGGED PT TO WILLOW SPRINGS TO GET TRAFFIC FLOWING AROUND 1200 HRS WILL TRY TO DO THEIR BEST BUT MM 38.5 WILL POSS NOT BE OPEN TODAY [Shared]

9:44 AM 41 [119] [Notification] [CHP]-PER CALTRANS MM 38.5 AT THE BIG SUR AREA WILL BE CLOSED MOST OF THE DAY 1023”G FOR THE GEOLOGIST TO CHECK IF AREA IS STABLE [Shared]

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9:00 am – here is the slide just south of Alder Creek. Photo by John Handy, of Treebones Resort. I will get it uploaded as soon as possible. The other slide is at Partington Rd. it has large, truck-sized boulders, so will take a while to clear. Hopefully, I will have a photo of that to upload later.

6:30 am – the Cal Trans crews should be rolling out just about now, probably in both directions to assess the damage, and hopefully clearing what they can. I wouldn’t expect a report from them for at least an hour, maybe two.

After midnight sometime, a reader reported VW sized boulders near the bottom of Partington Ridge Rd. , which is 15 miles north of Lucia. Whether this is the same, or a different one than reported as being just North of Lucia at MP 23, is anyone’s guess. CHP website reported this:

4:43 AM 38 [104] [Appended, 05:20:44] [1] LGE VEH SIZE BOULDERS IN RDWY [Shared]

I will update this post throughout the day as information becomes available.

Road Closed

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It is hard to tell from this photo, but there are 40+ stranded tourists sleeping in their cars at Lucia, and three RVs. They’re stuck between the two slides. CalTrans will be out at first light to clear the road both north and south, if possible. I have no idea how bad it is, as I have received no first hand reports. My son spoke with a German tourist parked at Lucia for the night and the tourist said there boulders covering the road 12 kilometers north. I have been in email contact with both the PIO, Colin Jones, and Greg DeAlba, the Supervisor of the Willow Springs maintenance yard, and CT will be out at first light.

Just got a call at 5:41 pm, from Colin Jones of Cal-Trans. Highway One is closed from Ragged Point to just South of Big Sur at mm 42. (Grimes)There is a slide near south of Gorda, Colin said near Alder Creek, but i suspect Mud Creek, as that has been acting out lately, and a number of other places are questionable. The highway is closed for the night. It will be re-evaluated in the morning, and Colin will call with additional information in the morning. I apologize for the original typos that my subscribers see, but I am on iPad most of the time, and typos are the way of typing by touch.

Expected weather thru Christmas

At 3:48 pm, CHP reports rocks in the road at Hurricane Point on Highway One. Of course, this isn’t much, but it *could* be a sign or symptom. I can’t remember the year this slid before, but it cut us off to the north for MONTHS. Anyone remember the year?

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1:00 pm – okay, our turn! I’ve been checking the CHP website regularly, and 90% of the problems – roadway flooding, mud/rock/dirt slides, and traffic hazards – have been in Santa Cruz County this morning. that might change. Since the heavy rain is upon us, keep safe, everyone, particularly if you have to be out and about. Here’s one CHP report I particularly like re Crg 12 and Strawberry Canyon Rd, which is out in Northern Monterey Co, near the Prundale area, I believe.

“12:56 PM 1 [1] HILL COMING DOWN INTO ROAD”

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10:00 am – Santa Cruz is getting HAMMERED!

6:30 am – weather and road condition reports will be provided throughout the day, but to begin with, this report from NWS:

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
417 AM PST SUN DEC 23 2012

.DISCUSSION…AS OF 4:00 AM PST SUNDAY…ANOTHER WEATHER
SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE DISTRICT TODAY. THE LEADING EDGE OF
THE SYSTEM IS BRINGING LIGHT RAIN TO THE NORTH BAY THIS MORNING.
LIGHT RAIN WILL SPREAD OVER THE SFO AND MRY BAY [then picking up this afternoon] …. TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 1 TO 2 INCHES ACROSS THE AREA WITH LOCALLY 2 TO 4 INCHES IN THE HILLS.

RAIN WILL END TONIGHT IN THE NORTH AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING IN
THE SOUTH. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED MONDAY. A FAST-MOVING FRONTAL
SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BRING RAIN TO THE NORTH BAY TUESDAY
AFTERNOON SPREADING INTO THE REST OF THE DISTRICT TUESDAY NIGHT.
THE MAIN IMPACT OF THIS STORM WILL BE NORTH OF THE CWA SO RAINFALL
AMOUNTS WILL BE MUCH LESS THAN THE CURRENT SYSTEM AFFECTING US.

THE EXTENDED FORECAST HAS A HIGH DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY AS WE MAY BE
DEALING WITH A CUTOFF LOW.

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Slide at Grimes Point near Coast Gallery

2:00 pm – this slide has been removed from the CHP website.

This from CHP:

Detail Information
1:13 PM 2 [10] [Notification] [CHP]-CT ADV 2ND CITZ REPORT OF SLIDE AT GRIMES PT – CT PERSONNEL (5151) FOR THE DOT RADIO, TWO CT PESONNEL ENRT ETA 20 MINS
12:25 PM 1 [1] VERY LARGE BOULDERS BLOCKING NB LANE

This is just the beginning, and all motorists should avoid Highway One at night, if at all possible. With all the rain expected by Christmas, we could easily have a longer closure in our future!

Weather Report, 12/22/12

11:32 AM – highway 1 [1] MUD SLIDE AND BOULDER 1125 SB LANE ONLY
This is at Highway One, southbound at the intersection with Carmel Valley Rd. man, I’ve never seen a slide here in all my 28 years!

10:00 am – Okay, we’ve got weather, boys and girls, and we are going to HAVE weather, unsettled weather up until Xmas.

Here is a NEXRAD shot from early this am:

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And here are the 24 hour rain totals from 6 am (when I GLANCED at my rain gauge at first light, I think it was around 1 and 1/2 inches, since yesterday afternoon)

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Here is another NEXRAD shot from later this am (note the time in PST is on the top left)

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And here is the most recently tweeted shot from NWS-Monterey. It shows a band of lightning and strong winds coming through Carmel:

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