There are reports that the annual migration south has begun. Given traffic hazard reports, it seems everyone is out looking. Here is a CHP traffic hazard report re Rocky Point area:
1:26 PM 1 [1] LOTS OF VEHS 1125 BOTH NB AND SB SIDE
Be careful out there … I noticed lots and lots of tourists Sunday at JP Burns (ignoring cones, fog lines, other traffic), Bixby (ignoring no parking signs), Hurricane Point, Garapatta, and all points northerly, many seemingly ready to prove Darwin right.
9:00 am – There is no expected opening time for the freeway, so if you are traveling north or south, alternate routes are recommended. This fire has been crazy last night and this morning with embers described as hockey pucks being blown across all lanes of the 101. The fire has burned 1100 acres, threatened many homes. The CHP website reports:
8:24 AM 19 [22] SR 166 FROM SANTA MARIA OVER TO THE I-5 IS OPEN AND AN ALTERNATE ROUTE FOR TRAVELERS HEADED SOUTH
4:49 AM 18 [20] 1039 C20
4:49 AM 17 [19] ^31-S4 – IT IS NOT RECOMMEND THAT TRACTOR TRAILERS USE THE 150
4:39 AM 16 [16] ^ALL FRWY CLOSURES FOR UNKN DURATION AT THIS TIME***
4:39 AM 15 [15] ^FURTHER MEDIA INQUIRY MAY BE MADE w/ VCFD
4:38 AM 14 [14] ^PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR 1000 HRS AT ICP VENTURA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
4:37 AM 13 [13] ^NEXT BRIEFING AT 0900 HRS
4:26 AM 12 [12] ^SB PCH AT SEACLIFF – CLOSED
4:26 AM 11 [11] ^NB PCH AT EMMA WOOD – CLOSED (FIRE TOO CLOSE TO HAVE A MANNED CLOSURE IN PLACE)
4:26 AM 10 [10] ^SEACLIFF ONR TO SB 101 – CT MANNED HARD CLOSURE IN PLACE
4:26 AM 9 [9] ^MUSSEL SHOALS ONR TO SB 101 – CT MANNED HARD CLOSURE IN PLACE
4:26 AM 8 [8] ^BATES RD ONR TO SB 101 – CT MANNED HARD CLOSURE IN PLACE
4:26 AM 7 [7] ^SR150 ONR TO SB 101 – CT MANNED HARD CLOSURE IN PLACE
4:26 AM 6 [6] ^SB 101 AT SR150 – FULL CT HARD CLOSURE IN PLACE // TRAFFIC CURRENTLY BEING DIVERTED TO SR150
4:25 AM 5 [5] ^W MAIN ST at PEKING ST – VPD MANNED CLOSURE
4:25 AM 4 [4] ^W MAIN ONR TO NB 101 – CLOSED
4:25 AM 3 [3] ^SB 33 TO NB 101 TRANS – CONE CLOSURE w/ CHP UNIT 97
4:25 AM 2 [2] ^NB 101 AT SR33 – CT MANNED HARD CLOSURE IN PLACE // TRAFFIC CURRENTLY BEING DIVERTED TO SR33
4:25 AM 1 [1] ^INFO FOR THE PUBLIC/MEDIA – CLOSURES IN PLACE DUE TO THE SOLIMAR FIRE
Graphic by Dan Danbom
5:00 am – Rocks and Debris all up and down Highway One, but no specific closure listed on CHP. It sounds like a mess, and since the entries, shortly after midnight, I suspect there are closures that are not reported.
Woke at 4:30 am to the sound of pouring rain on a metal roof. That can be, and was, very loud. Went to my weather station to see I had received 1.10″ for the day – since midnight – what about between my last reading at 10:15 and midnight? With a little math from the last monthly reading and current monthly reading, I got a total of 3.14″ for the day, plus the current daily 1.10 inches, we are up to 4.25″, or 11.97″ for the year – probably 12″ now in the time it took me to type this. Oh, yes, I’d say El Niño is here.
It has been poring all night. By 8:30 pm, my weather station read 1.99″, and by 9:30 pm, it read 2.37″ and it is still raining cats and dogs – as my weather station likes to Point out.
At the 6:30, I am up to 1.25″ – much more than expected!
And as of 3:30 pm, I have 3/4″ for today, the Solstice.
For those of us who run our systems on solar power (and the human body is one) it is a happy day – knowing that while today is the shortest day/longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, it also signals that beginning tomorrow, our days will get longer. Today, if I want to wash clothes, I must run the genie, also charging the discharged batteries.
As for weather, I have received .37″ as of 8 am. My SLO weather caster has this to say: “The sun will reach its southernmost point of the year this evening and usher in winter at 8:48 p.m. As if on cue, a weak cold front will gradually move southward and produce cloudy skies and light
rain later this morning into Tuesday afternoon throughout the
Central Coast. Snow levels with the mild system will remain above
6,000 feet today before rising to around 7,000 feet Tuesday.”
I am hoping Wednesday is the break in the rain I need to go get my yearly blood work done. Keep that thought!
5:00 pm – so much for Accuweather today. No snow. No rain. Just clouds. Could be rain before dawn, but who really knows? Even Weatherunderground said 90% chance of rain today. It’s really voodo, so we need a witch doctor, not a Meterologist!
11:55 – it now says it will snow in 5 mins, but I doubt it. It is only partially cloudy, and there is sunshine at the moment.
10:00 am – from my accuweather app:
8:30 am – It is only down to 36 degrees, but it feels like I could get snow up here later today. It is only 49 inside, so I’m working on warmth this morning … Built up the fire, but it takes time. My only other thoughts today are to keep the two alpha females from fighting. It’s a simple life I am leading at the moment.
From my SLO Meterologist:
“Another cold Gulf of Alaska storm is expected to arrive
just before Christmas with the possibility of relatively
low-elevation snow. This active pattern could possibly
continue through the end of the year.”
I’ll be working on the firewood this week!
Today’s Date: Monday, December 14, 2015
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
HIGHWAY 1 LANE CLOSURE NORTH OF LUCIA TOMORROW FOR TREE REMOVAL
MONTEREY COUNTY – An emergency project to remove a fallen tree on northbound Highway 1 approximately
one-mile north of Lucia will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Motorists will encounter one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Motorists can expect
a delay not to exceed 15 minutes.
Caltrans will remove this tree as a result of recent rain in the area.
This tree removal will be performed by the Caltrans Willow Springs and Salinas Tree crews.
Kate Healy’s dog, Kas, went on walkabout in the rain yesterday and has not returned. She was last seen yesterday morning at the Partington back road. She is the large white Turkish dog in this photo. She does have a collar and tags. Let’s bring her home.
Long story, Ashley, who commented below has been in contact today, Tuesday, with Kate Healey. Dog and owner will soon be reunited. Ashley was traveling through and after finding Kas, took her home to Sacto rather than worrying about the dog in a pound. Nice job, everyone!
