I will probably be in and out today due to very windy and rainy conditions interfering with satellite, power, and sundry other issues like the highjacking of my twitter account by someone around 2 am this morning. I am locked out of my own account. They changed my password and email associated with my account. I am tempted to crawl into bed, pull the covers up over my head, and call it a day.

And on that note I bring you the morning’s forecast, much as we were told to expect:

Key Points--

* Moderate to strong Atmospheric River impacts the region today
* Direct threat to life and property from wind and water impacts
* Flooding of streets, creeks, and streams is expected
* Moderate to major impacts may occur from river flooding
* Flash flooding, debris flows, and shallow landslides are possible
  in complex terrain
* Downed trees expected with widespread power outages possible
* Difficult to impossible travel for some areas due to road closures

The much advertised atmospheric river is taking aim on
the central California coast this morning with deep moisture
advection spreading inland at this hour. Rainfall so far this
morning has been light, generally a few hundredths of an inch per
hour or so. However, rain will increase in coverage and intensity
through the remainder of the morning as a strengthening surface low
approaches the northern and central California coast. As such,
southerly winds will strengthen to around at 25 to 40 mph with gusts
to 50 mph. Gusts of up to 70 mph are expected along the coast,
ridges, peaks and coastal gaps. Winds will be strongest between 4 AM
- 12 PM PDT and likely result in downed trees with the potential for
widespread power outages. With respect to the rain, the highest
rainfall amounts through the day will be in the coastal ranges and
inland hills with 2-3" totals from the Santa Cruz Mountains
northward and 3-6" in the Santa Lucia ranges with isolated amounts
up to 8" in the favored peaks.

For the Monterey District, this Appendix A is much clearer. (The information below this pdf screen shot is exactly the same, but the format is not as clear)

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) & (b), and to provide for public health and safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective from 12:00pm on MARCH 10, 2023, through MAY 9, 2023.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Entering or using the following developed recreation sites or portions thereof:
a. b. c. d.
Monterey Ranger District sites as identified in Exhibit A;
Santa Lucia Ranger District sites as identified in Exhibit B; Santa Barbara Ranger District sites as identified in Exhibit C; or Ojai Ranger District sites as identified in Exhibit D.
a. b. c. d.
Monterey Ranger District trails as identified in Exhibit A;
Santa Lucia Ranger District trails as identified in Exhibit B; Santa Barbara Ranger District trails as identified in Exhibit C; or Ojai Ranger District trails as identified in Exhibit D.
a. b. c. d.
Monterey Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit A;
Santa Lucia Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit B; Santa Barbara Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit C; or Ojai Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit D.
a. b. c.
Monterey Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit A; Santa Lucia Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit B; or Ojai Ranger District roads as identified in Exhibit D.
36 C.F.R. § 261.54(a).
36 C.F.R. § 261.58(b).
Being on the following National Forest System trails:
36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).
Being on the following National Forest System roads:
36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).
Using a motorized vehicle on the following National Forest System roads:
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an official duty;
2. Persons with a Forest Service non-recreation special use authorization, such as for electric transmission lines and associated facilities, oil or gas pipelines and surface operations, or communications sites and tenants;
3. Commercial recreational special-use permit holders are exempt from Prohibition 1 above to the extent necessary to conduct site and facility clean-up and maintenance.
4. Persons with a non-special use Forest Service written authorization to conduct non- recreational activities including, but not limited to hazardous fuels reduction, habitat/ecological restoration, research, resource surveys, or grazing livestock activities;
   Forest Order 05-07-00-23-05 supersedes Forest Order 05-07-00-23-02
5. Owners, lessees, or residents of private land adjacent to or within the National Forest Boundary, to the extent necessary to access their properties; and
6. Persons with a Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
   This prohibition is in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.
   A violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.
   16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
   Executed at Solvang, California this 10th day of MARCH, 2023.

FOREST ORDER NO. 05-07-00-23-05 SPECIAL CLOSURE – PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST
EXHIBIT A- MONTEREY RANGER DISTRICT 1. Closed Developed Recreation Sites
Kirk Creek Campground Ponderosa Campground
Nacimiento Campground Mill Creek Day Use Area

2. Closed National Forest System Trails
   3E06 / Pine Ridge Trail: From junction 2E14 /Ventana Camp to Junction at 3E22 Terrace Creek
   5E13.1 / Sand Dollar/Jade Cove #1 Trail 5E13.2 / San Dollar/Jade Cove #2 Trail
3. Closed National Forest System Roads
   19S08.2 / Reliz Canyon Road
   19S09D / Escondido Campground Road 19S09J / Lucia Adobe Road
   20S05.3 / Central Coast Road
   20S05.4 / South Coast Road
   20S05.5 / South Coast Road
   20S05.6 / South Coast Road
   20S05.7 / South Coast Road
   20S05D / Chalk Peak Campground Road 22S01 / Nacimiento-Fergusson Road 22S01A / Ponderosa Campground Road
   4E04 / Rocky Creek Trail
   22S01B / Nacimiento Campground Road 22S01C / Nacimiento Station Road 22S02 / Kirk Creek Campground Road 22S03 / Mill Creek Day Use Area Road 22S04 / Prewitt Ridge Campground Road 22S04A / Alms Ridge Campground Road 23S01.2 / Los Burros Road
   23S01B / San Martin Road 23S02.1 / Plaskett Ridge Road 23S02.3 / Plaskett Ridge Road
   4. National Forest System Roads Restricted to Non-Motorized Vehicle Use
   19S09.3 / Arroyo Seco Indians Road

current closure order as of 5/25/23 is here: https://bigsurkate.blog/2023/05/25/updated-forest-closure-order-5-25-2023/

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Shelter-In-Place to residents and businesses west of River Rd. from Highway 68 south to Fort Romie Rd due to flooding. A hard/full road closure is currently in place for River Rd from State Route 68 to Fort Romie Rd. All residents/businesses in these areas that are not under Evacuation Orders should Shelter-In-Place until further notice. Reentry will not be permitted. Monitor local media, social media, & Nixle alerts for updates. Call 211 for information. Call 9-1-1 only if you have a life-threatening emergency. Shelter in Place: Go/Stay indoors and do not travel. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction. View Evacuation Map: https://bit.ly/3Za0Xc0

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has upgraded Evacuation Warnings to Evacuation Orders for residents in areas of Salinas River due to flooding effective immediately and until further notice.

This one is from Ashleigh Seefeldt

That does not look good, and Monday night into Tuesday I think it is a good bet it will look worse.

Just got this photo around 3 pm from Rhea Withrow. Per Caltrans, this is above 20 ft long.

2 pm — I received this from a local and passed it on to Caltrans PIO, Kevin D. I will update when I have any additional information.

“I went down to bring Sam up for lunch here at the Hermitage.  I could not get to the Lucia employee driveway.  CHP and Caltrans at the major road collapse just north of Dane Creek.  There are two spots.  The one closest to the Hermitage is bad.  The retaining wall that was built a few years ago failed.  There is about 15 feet of it hanging in the air.  Highway is undercut past the middle line.  I informed the CHP of the 8 guests that need to get out.  I don’t know how that will happen.  But, what do I know?”

Full closure of #Hwy1 from Salinas Road to Highway 129 in #Watsonville due to flooding. No ETO. Please avoid all nonessential travel in the area. #Hwy129 Per Caltrans.

Date:	Sunday, March 12, 2023
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FULL CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 IN EFFECT DUE TO PÁJARO FLOODING

MONTEREY / SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES – A full closure of Highway 1 is in effect from one mile south the Monterey/Santa Cruz County line at Salinas Road, to Riverside Drive (Hwy. 129) in Watsonville in Santa Cruz County. There is no estimated time for reopening.

Drivers are urged to avoid travel in the North Monterey/South Santa Cruz County area. Contractors and public safety officials are working throughout the region as part of their storm response.

Conditions are dynamic. Please limit all non-essential travel. 

A detour is in place. Travelers may take Hwy. 156 or Hwy. 129 east to the US 101 to travel around the Hwy. 1 closure.

Travelers are urged to drive with caution on Hwy. 129 as crews are present and working to address previous storm damage at various locations on Hwy. 129.

If you must travel, know and understand the road conditions before you head out.

To monitor state highways, visit https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/.

To monitor load roads in Monterey County, visit http://tinyurl.com/RoadsMC

To monitor local roads in Santa Cruz County, visit https://www.sccroadclosure.org.

A new atmospheric river, similar in intensity to our most recent rain event, is scheduled to arrive early next week accompanied by high winds.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
******************************************************************

Floodwaters from the Pajaro River levee breach have moved south towards Las Lomas and are beginning to impact Elkhorn Rd between Osborn Rd and Strawberry Rd. Be prepared for possible road closures. Drive slowly through the area and watch out for inundated areas of the roadway. Do not drive through flooded areas. Call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.

Photo by Dan Danbon

Evacuation Warnings upgraded to Evacuation Orders for areas of the Salinas River Effective Immediately Until Further Notice | Advertencia incrementada a orden de evacuación para las áreas del Rio de Salinas en efecto inmediato hasta nuevo aviso

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office upgraded Evacuation Warnings to Evacuation Orders for residents in areas of Salinas River due to flooding effective immediately and until further notice. 

If you are in an Evacuation Order Zone quickly & calmly evacuate. Check with your neighbors to ensure they have been made aware of this alert. 

Monitor local media, social media, & Nixle alerts for updates. Call 211 for information. Call 9-1-1 only if you have a life-threatening emergency. 

If you need animal sheltering, call the SPCA at 831-373-2631. For the SPCA after hours line call 831-646-5534. 

Emergency Shelters and Temporary Evacuation Point locations can be found on the Evacuation Map or by calling 211. 

View Evacuation Map: https://bit.ly/3Za0Xc0 

Date:	Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Alexa Bertola
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UPDATE #29

STORM RESPONSE CONTINUES ON HIGHWAY 1

AS CLOSURE REMAINS IN EFFECT

MONTEREY / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast will remain closed between Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County and Deetjen’s Inn in Monterey County due to slides and rockfall from an ongoing winter storm event. There is no estimated time for reopening.

Crews responded to new slide and rockfall events throughout the day. Waterfalls have appeared at new locations and the soil throughout the coast remains saturated.

Crews will continue to make repairs tomorrow and will work all daylight hours in an effort to reopen the highway as soon as conditions permit for safe travel.

Blasting crews were called in to reduce large rocks at two locations on either side of the San Luis Obispo/Monterey County line. At one of these sites at PM 0.8 in Monterey County, a temporary signal has been in place and repairs were already being made to a slip out below the southbound travel lane. This location continues to experience significant slide activity as a result of the most recent storms.

At Mud Creek at PM 8.8, a boulder the size of a shipping container is perched in the netting above the roadway with crews assessing how best to approach its removal.

Considerable slide material continued to accumulate across the roadway at PM 29.5 as well as at Anderson Canyon at PM 35.3.

Caltrans crews are also on alert in northernmost Monterey County where the Pájaro River has breached its levee. Water continues to flow across agricultural fields towards Highway 1 near the Monterey/Santa Cruz County line.

A new atmospheric river, similar om intensity to our most recent rain event, is scheduled to arrive early next week accompanied by high winds.

Caltrans and contracted crews will continue to work all daylight hours, seven days a week, to respond to storm issues.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.