Saturday’s sunrise on Cone Peak…so very welcome as I hadn’t seen the sun in a week or eight days. Of course the usual cloud formed on my mountain as the wet ground warmed up, but hey, I got to see it for a few hours. That helps my mental health.

And sunset last night…

One of the Best Mushroom Years in Recent Memory       If you’ve ever wanted to experience Big Sur at its most abundant, this is the year. Early rains, cool temperatures, and ideal forest conditions are creating exceptional mushroom growth, making the upcoming Big Sur Foragers Festival one of the most anticipated yet. The festival returns January 22–25, 2026, with immersive culinary events and expert-led foraging hikes — all benefiting the Big Sur Health Center.  Tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite.Fungus Face-OffSaturday, January 24 | 12–3 p.m. | Big Sur Lodge     An afternoon tasting event featuring mushroom-inspired creations from top regional chefs, paired with Monterey County wines and brews.$125 per ticketLimited to 200 guestsHistorically sells out Purchase tickets now on EventbritePURCHASE TICKETS    Wild Foraging Walk & Talks HikesJanuary 24–25, 2026Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park    Join expert foragers for guided mushroom hikes through one of California’s most dynamic ecosystems. With conditions shaping up to be outstanding this season, these hikes are expected to fill quickly. • $75 per hiker• Limited to 30 participants per hike Walk & Talk tickets are available now on Eventbrite — advance purchase required. PURCHASE TICKETS Participating Restaurants & Beverage PartnersFernwood, Big Sur Lodge, The Pocket, Julia’s Vegetarian, Terry’s Restaurant + Lounge, Post RanchWrath, Morgan, El Vaquero, Flywheel, Scheid, Joyce Wine CompanyBitter Ginger, Martha’s Hopyard Edible Monterey Bay returns as media sponsor and judge panel, with Jeff White of KRML serving as emcee. This is a limited-capacity weekend — and one of the best mushroom years Big Sur has seen in some time. Secure your tickets now on Eventbrite before events sell out.PURCHASE TICKETS The Foragers Festival has traditionally served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center.  The community’s non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to continue to support the presence of local health care services in the Big Sur area.  Thank you for your support!www.bigsurforagersfestival.orgThe presence of the Big Sur Health Center’s facility on theSanta Lucia Chapel and Campground property is made possible through the generosity of All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Visit Our Website    View as Webpage

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I have never seen a model predict an arc of supercell thunderstorms making landfall in California like this before.

The severe weather setup we will see tonight is something you might only experience in this part of the world once a decade, or even less often.

The @NWSBayArea discussion puts it into perspective: “In fact, our next shift just walked in and one of the meteorologists said it feels like Kansas in May out there.”

The most dangerous line of severe storms, with the highest tornado threat, will make landfall after midnight along the coast from the Central Coast up to the North Coast.

However, lines of strong storms will begin making landfall after 7 PM. Expect widespread wind gusts of 50+ mph, with isolated gusts over 70 mph tonight.

this was primarily for last night, but it is not over.

As is usual, South Coast of Big Sur got the highest amount of rain. Winds were pretty horrific, too. One resident of almost 40-50 years said it was the worst he had ever seen. Another said it was like a bomb went off. From my perch, I have experienced worst, at least twice I can remember, but this is not yet over, expecting to go on through Friday.

For power outages in Monterey County, here are two of the PG&E maps:

For San Luis Obispo, the Tribune reports:

Rain and wind is expected all day Wednesday as well as Christmas Day, according to the forecast.

In total, the storm is projected to bring around 3 to 5 inches of rain in coastal valleys, with as much as 8 inches of rain in more mountainous parts of SLO County, according to the National Weather Service’s forecast discussion.

On Tuesday at 1:28 a.m. the NWS San Francisco CA issued an updated high wind warning valid from 4 p.m. until Wednesday 4 a.m. The warning is for Marin Coastal Range, Sonoma Coastal Range, Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore, San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest and Big Sur.

The NWS states, “Southeast winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected. Isolated areas along the coast may see a few gusts up to 75 mph.”

by Thomas Hamel

I am posting about tomorrow’s Solstice today as I already have some beautiful photos by Thomas Hamel for my photo Sunday post. For me, the winter solstice is one of my favorite days of the year…as the days start getting longer again. The light is returning. Another favorite day is the Spring Equinox.

Highway Highlights – December 17, 2025

Crews at Regent’s Slide continue clearing debris and have exposed most of the original roadway.

Grinding and paving operations will begin soon, weather permitting. Rain later this week may temporarily pause work, but crews are ready to resume as conditions allow.

🌐Regent’s Slide Removal Emergency Project website: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5/district-5-current-projects/05-1r640

⚠️For our latest road conditions and updates, visit the Caltrans #Quickmap at QuickMap.dot.ca.gov or call 1-800-427-ROAD.