2026-27 Winter Storm Preparedness Town Hall – Big Sur Tonight’s meeting will be available on Zoom for those of you who can’t attend in person. Please see the information below. Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:Zoom: https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/98967600935?pwd=pKSEWpk77ySgYhFUpZEQzhFb9rMkGA.1 Passcode:817153Phone one-tap: +16692192599, 98967600935# US (San Jose) 16699006833, 98967600935# US+(San Jose)

Good afternoon Big Sur neighbors and friends, We are writing to remind you of an upcoming Winter Preparedness Town Hall meeting:Big Sur River & Watershed: Winter Preparedness Town Hall Thursday, October 29, 2026  6:00-8:00 PM Big Sur GrangeBig Sur residents are strongly encouraged to attend this important community meeting to learn what the Timber and Plaskett fires mean for our area heading into winter. Hosted by Monterey County District 5 and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), this town hall will focus on winter storm preparedness, flooding, evacuation routes, road closures, emergency alerts, and the risk of post-fire debris flows. Panelists from key agencies will be present to share information and answer questions. A key focus of the meeting will be the newly finalized BAER and WERT reports, which assess post-fire watershed conditions and identify areas at risk from debris flows, flooding, and erosion from both the Timber and Plaskett fires.BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response): Assesses immediate post-fire threats to people, infrastructure, water quality, and natural resources, and identifies emergency stabilization needs.WERT (Watershed Emergency Response Team): Evaluates post-fire watershed hazards, including potential debris flows and flooding, and identifies risks to homes, roads, culverts, and other infrastructure.Representatives from the Geological Survey will provide a 30-minute presentation on the reports and their findings, with a focus on what they mean for Big Sur following the Timber and Plaskett fires heading into this winter season. Public-facing maps and reports are also being prepared for online release, and CABS will share these public resources with the community as soon as they become available. This is an important opportunity to hear directly from agency representatives, better understand local risks, and learn how to prepare for the coming winter. We highly encourage you all to attend and share this notice with your neighbors.

I drove through there today and it is a bit scary. Rocks are falling in the northbound lane (it is closed) while 5 or 6 CT spotters are watching it and calling into a radio to halt traffic if they feel it is getting ready to let lose with more rocks. It is a very long closure and along side the north bound lane are rolls and rolls of the metal drapery CT likes to install to keep the hills in place.

FULL DAYTIME CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 NEAR
TORRE CANYON BRIDGE SET TO TAKE PLACE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
MONTEREY COUNTY — Travelers on Highway 1 near Torre Canyon Bridge will encounter a full daytime closure on Thursday, October 29.

The full closure will take place from 8 am to 12 pmand 1 pm to 5 pm from Post Mile 39 to Post Mile 40, weather permitting. The roadway will be open for one hour from 12 pm to 1 pm.

Crews will be installing wire mesh netting on slopes above the roadway in response to the Timber Fire and preparing for the winter season.

Message signs will alert travelers in advance of the section that is fully closed. Please avoid the area and allow for extra time for your travels. Community members in the area can expect noise associated with this closure.

Caltrans will communicate with emergency response agencies and school district personnel to coordinate their passage through the closure area as needed.

This is one of several full daytime closures expected in the area. Caltrans will continue to communicate with the traveling public as these closures take place.

Local News

Gov. Newsom signs order to protect Pacific Coast Highway, California coastal communities from El Niño impact

By Dean Fioresi

Updated on: October 27, 2026 / 10:37 PM PDT / CBS LA

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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Tuesday to protect the Pacific Coast Highway and California coastal communities from the potential impacts of looming El Niño storms.

The order directs state agencies to prioritize preventative work before the storms hit and to begin planning for “growing climate threats facing the highway” beyond the storm season.

“Highway 1 is more than our nation’s most iconic roadway. It keeps our coastal economy moving. It gets people to work, children to school, goods to local businesses, first responders where they’re needed most, and visitors to our legendary beaches,” Newsom said in a statement. “We know what repeated closures cost these communities, and we’re putting state agencies to work now to reduce the danger before storms hit.”

Newsom signed the order from Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach, where emergency repair work recently shut down part of PCH after a large crack formed in a cliff under the highway between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. (https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/gavin-newsom-pacific-coast-highway-pch-california-coast-protection-order-el-nino-impact/)

These photos Connie took tell the story without words. I will be featuring her photos today and next Sunday and maybe a 3d, depending on how many photos I decide to include. Most of these photos were taken on Los Burros or South Coast Ridge Road.

More photos in this Plaskett Fire Aftermath Story next Sunday.

By 5 am Thursday morning, Big Sur is supposed to get 1/2” to 1” of rain today per NOAA weather: Locals know, but visitors should be warned, to watch out for rock and mud slides, as well a debris flows, depending on the intensity of the upcoming rain. Post your reports in the comments if so inclined. Would love to know what you see and where.

Please see the attached notice for the Big Sur Byway Organization meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 11:30 am.

Please note that this will be a hybrid meeting; members are required to attend in person.

Members of the public are welcome to attend either in person or remotely.

In person:

Big Sur Lodge

47275 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA

Participate via Zoom Meeting Link: https://montereycty.zoom.us/j/91517568112

Or by phone: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 915 1756 8112

Date:	Wednesday, October 20, 2026
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Ashton Harris
Phone:	(805) 549-3318

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FULL DAYTIME CLOSURE OF HIGHWAY 1 NEAR

TORRE CANYON BRIDGE SET TO TAKE PLACE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

MONTEREY COUNTY — Travelers on Highway 1 near Torre Canyon Bridge will encounter a full daytime closure on Thursday, October 29.

The full closure will take place from 8 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 5 pm from Post Mile 39 to Post Mile 40, weather permitting. The roadway will be open for one hour from 12 pm to 1 pm.

Crews will be installing wire mesh netting on slopes above the roadway in response to the Timber Fire and preparing for the winter season.

Message signs will alert travelers in advance of the section that is fully closed. Please avoid the area and allow for extra time for your travels. Community members in the area can expect noise associated with this closure.

Caltrans will communicate with emergency response agencies and school district personnel to coordinate their passage through the closure area as needed.

This is one of several full daytime closures expected in the area. Caltrans will continue to communicate with the traveling public as these closures take place.

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

Our crews deserve to get home safely too.

Drive slowly and carefully in work zones.

CHP Traffic Incident Information Page: http://cad.chp.ca.gov

Traveler information in real time at: https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/

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NO Kings: Vote Early! Rally in Monterey, Saturday, October 17, 2-4 pm at Window on the Bay. Help stock ALL IN Monterey’s “Kindness Closet”. Bring non-perishable food items, new clothing, and household products to the rally. www.facebook.com/allinmonterey

Rally links:
👉🏼 Sign up at www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/1036958/

👉🏼 Volunteer at www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054EA9AF28A0FCC52-65992436-nokings

👉🏼 Donate at www.gofundme.com/f/support-montereys-50501-movement-to-protect-democracy

https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/1043517