Category: Fire Season

Highway Closure Extended, 1/9/17

3:30 pm – Sig Alert update SLO-1-72.9-MON-1-47.3) SR-1 Ragged Point to Fernwood remains closed overnight. CHP manning Fernwood. Emer veh ok @ Ragged Point

1pm update from Cal Tran –

Good afternoon everyone,

The status on Hwy. 1 is this: There are still multiple slides from Ragged Point (SLO PM 72.87) to Fullers (Mon PM 42.15). There are several trees down and across the Highway at Fernwood (Mon PM 47.03)

In essence, businesses are accessible between Fullers (PM 42.15) and Fernwood (PM 47.03), but in essence, to the general public outside of these post miles, Hwy. 1 is closed from Fernwood (PM 47.03) to Ragged Point (SLO PM 72.87)

Emergency vehicles will be able to get through, if safely passable at the time of need.

The recording will be updated to reflect the new closure parameters, but the Big Sur Chamber will notify the locals who may be between the Fullers and Fernwood Closures that businesses remain open.

Thank you all for your understanding and patience. Asides from Monterey County and the Big Sur Community, we have various slides, trees down and roads closed in Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties. An update will be provided this afternoon after 4 pm, when I receive it.

9:15 am – closure about to be extended again to Fernwood. See photo on next post.

From Caltrans

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for your patience with these updates. It’s not looking good for Hwy. 1 today; there are multiple slides all over the place…THERE IS A NEW AND MAJOR SLIDE JUST SOUTH OF NEPENTHE—between the Henry Miller Library and Nepenthe…more than likely, an emergency contract for repairs will need to take place.

So, the Hwy. 1 Closure is from Ragged Pt. (SLO PM 72.87) to Ventana Entrance (Mon PM 44.59).

Another assessment will take place around 4 PM and I’ll update as soon as possible; I’ll also provide a picture or two when available.

Have a safe day!
Susana Z. Cruz
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer/
Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas
para Caltrans en el Distrito 5
805.549.3138
805.549.3326–fax

Big Sur River Log Jam breaking up

Photo by Jeff Mallory

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Steve Beck sent out this notice to all Clear Ridge Road users:

“All, the River Inn Bridge is NOT USABLE!!! The valley is flooded. As far as i know Sycamore canyon gate entrance is good. Steve”

 

Big Sur River at 10′ and rising

5:30 pm – flow is now the second highest recorded, only behind the one in 1978.

Here is an interesting comparison of the state of the river from noon until 4:30. PHoto by Jeff Mallory

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4:15 pm scanner reports log jam just broke free and debris flowing down river. Per Nadine Clark and Brendon Shave.

It looks like the river just past its high water mark from January 4.

10+ Feet and rising fast.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=11143000

Flash Flood Warning

Photos by Brendon Shave

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There goes the road again!

1:53 PM – just received:

This is a notification from Alert Monterey County:
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY MESSAGE

The National Weather Service has issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for your area. This message is being sent to areas at greatest risk for flash flooding.

A WARNING is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring.
A WARNING is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.

We STRONGLY suggest you take appropriate precautions or preparations to protect life or property.

REMEMBER, A WARNING IS A HIGHER ALERT LEVEL THAN A WATCH. A WARNING MEANS IT IS IMMINENT OR HAS A VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF OCCURRING.

Voluntary Evacuation Notice

A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for the area in Big Sur from Fernwood to River Ridge. This is a precaution due to concerns about the potential for the Big Sur River to overflow. If you are in this area, Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies will contact you.
The River Inn has offered accommodations for those who want to voluntarily evacuate.

I am only guessing, but by “River Ridge” I believe they may mean “bridge” in referencing the bridge to Clear Ridge, as RI accommodations are on the east side, not near the river.

HIGHWAY ONE TO CLOSE AT 4 PM

Detail Information
2:09 PM 3 [4] 1039 SALCOMM W/INFO
2:06 PM 2 [3] REQ TO NTFY TMC AND NTFY MTRY COMM PRIOR TO 1600 HRS
2:06 PM 1 [1] CLOSE SR1 AT 1600 HRS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE CAL TRANS LUCIA AT RAGGED

Highway 41 Closed between MB and Atascadero

Contract being awarded to clean up this mess.

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Highway 41 will NOT reopen today, Saturday, 1/7/17

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Incident: 00234 Type: SIG Alert Location: Sr41 / Cerro Alto Rd Loc Desc: SR41 AT CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND Lat/Lon: 35.429180 -120.751708
Detail Information
9:54 PM 2 [3] WILL BE CLOSED AT LEAST ALL NIGHT
7:30 PM 1 [1] RDWY CLOSED DUE TO MUD SLIDE

this closure is being manned. Cal Trans stopped working on it in the dark as it was too dangerous because it was still moving.

NWS Weekend Forecast update

This is by far the worst prediction 20-24″ in TWO days?? *(Insert favorite swear word here)

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…Strong storm still on track to impact our region… (I’ve edited this to make it more specific for our area, but deleting SF Info.) NOTE: Remember, watch is to signify that the even is likely, but WARNING MEANS IT IS EMINENT.

UPDATE
· In general the forecast is generally the same as yesterday.
· Flash flood watch has been posted.
· Wind advisory and high wind watch is now in effect.

IMPACTS

*Impact 1 (Rain and Flooding) :
· Widespread rainfall through the weekend.
· 2 1/2″ to 4 1/2″ for most urban areas.
· 5-10″ for higher elevation spots. Locally higher amounts possible.
· Urban and small stream flooding is likely with the potential for stream and river flooding.
· Please see attached image for locations for the Flash Flood Watch and the rain forecast.

*Impact 2 (Wind):
· Southerly winds of 20 to 35 mph can be expected with local gusts over 50 mph possible. Higher elevation locations could see gusts over 60 mph.
· Drought stressed trees and weaken roots due to wet soil may fall down as a result of these wind speeds.
· Please see the attached images for wind speed forecasts.

*Current Watches/Warnings/Advisories as of 3 pm Friday:
WFO San Francisco/Monterey – MTR (Back to Top)
Outlook
Jan 07 1:00pm PST
Monterey
County

High Wind Warning
· Santa Lucia Mountains
Expires in: 22h 2m
Jan 07 1:00pm PST

Flash Flood Watch
· Santa Lucia Mountains
Expires in: 61h 2m
Jan 09 4:00am PST

Small Craft Advisory
· Pigeon Pt to Piedras Blancas 10-60 nm
· Monterey Bay
Expires in: 42h 2m
Jan 08 9:00am PST

Wind Advisory
· Southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur Coast
· Northern Salinas Hollister & Carmel Vlys
Expires in: 22h 2m

High Wind Warning
· Santa Cruz Mountains
Expires in: 37h 2m
Jan 08 4:00am PST

Flash Flood Watch
· San Francisco Bay Shore
· Santa Cruz Mountains
· San Francisco Penn Coast

High Wind Warning
· Santa Cruz Mountains
Expires in: 37h 2m
Jan 08 4:00am PST

Flash Flood Watch
· Santa Clara Valley
· Santa Cruz Mountains
· Northern Monterey Bay
· San Francisco Penn Coast
Expires in: 56h 2m
Jan 08 11:00pm PST

Small Craft Advisory
· Monterey Bay
Expires in: 42h 2m
Jan 08 9:00am PST

Wind Advisory
· Northern Monterey Bay
· San Francisco Penn Coast
· Santa Clara Valley
Expires in: 22h 2m

· For all current watch/warning/advisories, http://1.usa.gov/1boSTTW

FORECAST CONFIDENCE
· Precipitation: Moderate to High
· Wind: Moderate to High

TIMING
· Through the weekend for both rainfall and winds.
· Flooding concern will continue into Monday.

LOCATIONS
· This is for the entire San Francisco and Monterey Bay Region.

BigSur Kate & Facebook

Please pass the word to those who follow me on FB. TPTB do not like the documentation I sent them so suspended my account. They want my CDL ori Passport or some crap. I think Keith Vandervere has it right – the NSA wants me. LOL. For what, I don’t know.

I have sent in photos of my awards from Sam Farr and from Bill Monning, but don’t know if that will be enough. Until the idiots at FB review those documents, I am cut off from FB.