Here is a lovely graphic to explain it all. Look at Mining Ridge, above Cow Cliffs:
| Date: | Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 4:30 pm |
| District: | 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties |
| Contact: | Alexa Bertola or Jim Shivers |
| Phone: | (805) 549-3237 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGHWAY 1 ALONG THE BIG SUR COAST CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS
DUE TO FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS
MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 is closed from Ragged Point (PM 72.8) in the south to Palo Colorado Road in the north (PM 61.5) due to flash flood warnings being issued for the Colorado Fire and Dolan Fire burn scars.
Rainfall is expected to exceed the threshold for possible debris flow in the Dolan and Colorado Fire burn scars. The National Weather Service’s flash flood watch was modified to a warning for this coastal area of Monterey County.
The closure was made in coordination with the California Highway Patrol and Monterey County.
Caltrans will assess conditions at first light tomorrow morning to evaluate if the highway can be re-opened.
Wow! That’s a lot of rain! And more to come….
What the heck? I live further South into San Luis county. Is there a reason this particular area would get this much rain?
It always does get a lot of rain.
Mining Ridge is usually higher than most other places each storm but (now) 11.5” seems extraordinary. Our Highlands Peak Wx 2000’ lower in the same watershed only got 3”. More consistent with normal trends up the mountain like Anderson and Chalk peaks. https://bigcreekreserve.ucsc.edu/natural-history/weather-data/index.html
I’m going to inquire with NOAA CNRFC. It’s really hard for me to believe this one. Big Creek would be raging way higher if we got eleven inches today.
The NWS forecast discussion is also skeptical. “ 24 hour totals Chalk Peak 6.74″, Three Peaks 7.29″,
Anderson Peak 5.79″. It should be noted the Mining Ridge at over
11″ is questionable at best. Mining Ridge is usually an over
performer for orographic rain amounts, but double seems to be an
outlier.”
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=MTR&issuedby=MTR&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1
Thanks for this, Mark. Does seem a bit much compared to the rest of the area.
Thanks everybody