Category: 2009-2010 El Niño

Weather Watch 12/7/09

And for tonight’s treat, the “Storm overtakes Sunset” taken and submitted by Barbara Woyt, ending tonight’s storm session.

5:30 pm – the snow began again, and this time, the ground is showing quite a bit of the white stuff! In fact, there is complete dusting at the moment, and with the hard freeze tonight, it could be quite slippery in the am. Woohoo!!

REMINDER: HIGHWAY ONE CLOSED FROM 8 PM TO 5 AM BETWEEN RAGGED POINT AND THE COUNTY LINE. NO ONE WILL GET THROUGH. THIS IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY, PER THE LATEST CAL-TRANS NEWS RELEASE!!

2:00 pm – the sun did not last long, at all. Overcast, dark, cloudy, and cold … very cold, and windy … very windy. Received under 3/4 of an inch (around .65) from this storm. Will do final tally and season total just before dark. Now, to cuddle up under the down comforter, with as many dogs as I can and read a good book. Look for me back around dark.

Noon – sun is out! Quite windy and cold, though.

11:00 am – the snow stopped about 15 mins. ago, and never accumulated on the ground.

9:45 snowing, big flakes sometimes, but so far, it is not accumulating on the ground.

9:20 am – snow mixed with the rain. Maybe, just maybe, it will really snow today??

7:30 am – 4/10th of an inch. Will check season total later today. Cannot see Cone Peak for the clouds. Will update as I am moved to do this very cold, very wet day.

6 am – At midnight this morning, significant rain was falling. Now, at 6 am, it is still falling. I have used the flashlight to determine there is no snow immediately surrounding me, but of course, cannot see much in the dark. Will report on Cone Peak when it becomes light. Will also report rain totals for last night upon the lighting of this little section of the globe.

From the 5 am NOAA weather discussion:

THE MOST IMPORTANT WEATHER STORY AT THE MOMENT ARE THE LOW SNOW LEVELS. TEMPERATURES HAVE DROPPED TO
NEAR FREEZING AS LOW AS 1000 FEET IN THE SF BAY AREA AND SOME SNOW HAS BEEN REPORTED LOCALLY DOWN TO NEAR SEA LEVEL IN THE EAST BAY. EXPECT SNOW TO ACCUMULATE ABOVE 500 FEET ACROSS THE SF BAY THROUGH THE MORNING COMMUTE…CAUSING DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER
HIGHER ELEVATION ROADWAYS…INCLUDING HIGHWAY 17. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY FOR THE EAST BAY HALLS AND SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS WHERE UP TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE BY LATE MORNING. MOST PRECIPITATION HAS ALREADY ENDED IN THE NORTH BAY MOUNTAINS AND THEREFORE LOCATIONS NORTH OF SAN FRANCISCO ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SNOW ADVISORY. FARTHER TO THE SOUTH…A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT
UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 1000 FEET IN MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES.

On a completely different note, I am starting a new page sometime today on the 4-year long Rain Rocks/Pitkins Curve project, which will be available to the right. I propose to take photographs over the duration of the project, documenting its progress.

Storm Watch, Sunday 12/6

This morning I watched as the storm moved in. I was out before 8 am today, as I had many appointments along my day. First met the ex at the school at 8:30 am. It forced me to get on the road down my hill, bringing me scenes such as this one:

I have a number of other photos to upload, but I have tried for hours!! The rain started at 10:00 pm, down here, but has tapered out at 10:40 pm. There were earlier incidences of rain, further north this afternoon, but this is the first down here. I have spent several hours trying to upload the second photograph, and I give up.

It is midnight, the rain is pouring. I am falling asleep, I can only try again in the morning.

6 am. I can upload more, and will post a weather watch shortly.

The two below (if they will upload) were taken from Rocky Point Restaurant, around 3 pm Sunday afternoon. The sunlight on the sea left us with a silvery glow.

Cloud Seeding Update, 12/6

RE: MCRWA’s proposed cloud seeding proceeding on the basis of a negative mitigation report without benefit of a full environmental impact report (EIR).

Statement to be included in Board Packets, as suggested.

This is part of what I posted, straight off my blog:

(See prior post on this subject, a few posts below)

In addition to the above, I would like to stress that there are over 200 registered voters who live on the South Coast of Big Sur, outside of the somewhat transitory Esalen population (and at least an equal number who don’t register, for whatever reason), in isolated rural pockets who are stakeholders in the proposed action.

All of us were completely unaware of the proposed action by this board which directly impacts our lives, our properties, and our livelihoods until Friday, December 4th in the late afternoon. I would hope that the Board consider its decision carefully, and develop a full and complete Environmental Impact Report before allowing this project to proceed.

This EIR should take into consideration those concerns I expressed above, as well as those we, who will be impacted, may not have yet realized. I suggest that this EIR be developed before this board takes any action on this proposal, and that time for the scars of the Basin Complex Fire and the Chalk Fire to heal, which the BAER report indicated would be five years, or 2013, also be considered in the EIR. I would also hope that this board consider acting with more transparency to impacted communities in the future by broader dissemination of proposed actions so that the public comment period can be a meaningful one, not just a rote rendition to satisfy compliance requirements.

I plan to be at the December 21st meeting, if weather and road conditions allow, to address you personally. If there is any further information you require of me before that date, please feel free to contact me by using any of the means provided below.

(Ed. Note – I am reading all sorts of scientific articles on cloud seeding, attempting to educate myself.)

Today’s weather report, 12/5



The Watchers, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

This is what the cold looked like today. 38 degrees at 3 in the afternoon, on the California Coast!

Water pump replaced today, Propane all full up, to town tomorrow for the extra dog food, people food, candles, extra gas, and sundry other items, just in case. Never hurts to be prepared!

Weather Update 12/5

I don’t know about where you are, but it is 38.9 degrees and dropping on this mtn top, at 2:30 in the afternoon, fer pete’s sake! Brrrr …

This morning’s NOAA discussion, in part:

“THIS TROUGH WILL BRING MODIFIED ARCTIC AIR TO NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. IT WILL INITIAL MIX WITH LIMITED MOISTURE FROM THE WEST CAUSING A FEW SHOWERS OVER THE REGION BEGINNING AS EARLY AS SUNDAY EVENING. THE SHORT WAVE WILL CONTINUE THE POSSIBILITY OF SHOWERS THROUGH MONDAY AS SNOW LEVELS LOWER SIGNIFICANTLY. BY MONDAY MORNING THE SNOW LEVEL WILL LOWER TO BELOW 1000 FEET IN THE NORTH BAY…AROUND 1500 FEET IN SAN FRANCISCO AND TO AROUND 2500 FEET IN THE MONTEREY BAY AREA. HOWEVER…IF CONVECTIVE SHOWERS DEVELOP LOCALLY LOWER SNOW LEVELS
WILL OCCUR.”

Cloud Seeding Program off Big Sur Coast

XT has posted an article here: Cloud Seeding Article

about a cloud seeding program being proposed by the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. I have confirmed his story independently. The earliest the seeding would begin would be the end of January. Seeding, while controversial, has the potential to increase rainfall by 20%.

These are the concerns I have voiced so far:

Obviously, I have some serious concerns about this as we on the South Coast, seem to be directly in the path. Of course, the road up Chalk Peak has always been fragile, to say the least, and after the Chalk Fire last year, only a lot of faith and hope has held it up. Chalk Peak is the only way in or out for at least 12-15 people. Plaskett Ridge Rd. is in dire need of repair. It hasn’t been graded since 2000, and the storm of October 13th took a horrible road and turned it into a nightmare. The Hermitage is also in jeopardy, although I know they have been working hard to shore things up, so-to-speak. At Limekiln State Park, the damage from the Chalk Fire has not even been repaired, yet. Mud flows and debris flows could permanently close that park with the current fiscal situation in the State.

Additionally, there are at least three Cal-Trans projects down here currently going on that could be significantly impacted, if not stopped altogether by any decision to seed the clouds, and I think the appropriate Cal-Trans staff should be consulted, as well. XT reports that no EIA or EIR is being prepared, simply a negative mitigations report, which should have to take into consideration the horizontal drain project 1 mile north of Ragged Point; the rockshed at Rain Rocks; the bridge at Pitkins Curve; and the Gambo Tieback project just south of Packard Beach, as well as the damaged hillsides from the Chalk and Basin Fires.

The water situation in the Salinas Valley Ag community is reaching critical stages, Lake San Antonio is at 33% capacity. Lake Nacimiento is at 13%. I know their concerns, and why they would want both Lake San Antonio and Nacimiento to be at their fullest levels by the end of the season, but at what costs?

Frankly, this is a frightening possibility for the South Coast, particularly for those in or near the footprint of the 2008 Chalk Fire, and for the entire Big Sur Coast that sits in the footprint of the Basin Complex Fire.

From XT: “A hearing, at which the MCWRA Board will be asked to certify a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project, rather than a full Environmental Impact Report, will be held on December 21 at 1:00pm at 893 Blanco Circle, in Salinas.”

Road & Weather Update, 12/4/09

Spoke with Charlie Hench, Cal-Trans Engineer, this morning regarding the impact of the weather on the predicted night closure of Highway One between Ragged Point and the county line. He said, “Just because it rains, doesn’t mean the drilling won’t go on. It’s a safety issue.” He explained that each day the call would be made about whether to drill that night, and Charlie will then make the calls to notify people, including this reporter. This is a tough one for Cal-Trans, and for the traveling public. The work needs to be done to save the road, and cannot be done without closing the road from 8 pm until 5 am for four nights. The “official” news release for this came in today and is posted on the Cal-Trans page.

On the weather front this from the NOAA discussion:
“THE LATEST NAM12 AND GFS MODELS ARE INDC A SHIFT IN THE FCST THINKING FOR SUN THROUGH MON. WILL WAIT TIL THE 12Z ECMWF…WHICH WAS TRENDING COLDER TOO BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES. HOWEVER…IT IS LOOKING LIKE IT COULD BE COLD AND SHOWERY SUN NIGHT/MON MRNG WITH LOW SNOW LEVELS. IF IT CLEARS OUT MON NIGHT THERE COULD BE A FREEZE.”

So, I will update this again tonight, as bigsurkate is now on weather watch for the next week.

Upcoming Road Closure & Weather Alert- Important Information

Important Information! I have confirmed with Cal-Trans that Highway One will be closed Sunday night, 12/6 from 8 pm until 5 am and every night through Thursday, 12/10, between Ragged Point and the County line. Delay is possible due to the expected storms. This is to facilitate drilling possibly for tiebacks? THIS IS A HARD CLOSURE. NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED THROUGH.

Given the forecast, delay seems likely: “WILL WAIT TO
THE 12Z ECMWF COMES IN BUT AM LEANING TOWARDS BUMPING UP POPS [probability of precipitation] FOR SUNDAY A BIT.

NOAA has issued this special weather statement as of this morning. Could be trouble next week for the contract above, and for all of us for the coming week!

…WET AND WINDY WEATHER PATTERN DEVELOPING NEXT WEEK WITH A SERIES OF SIGNIFICANT STORMS EXPECTED TO HIT THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST…

A VERY WET AND WINDY WEATHER PATTERN IS SETTING UP NEXT WEEK BEGINNING LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND LASTING INTO THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEK. A SERIES OF STORMS WILL SET UP OVER THE PACIFIC AND PUSH INTO CALIFORNIA THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

THE RESULT OF THESE STORMS WILL BE STRONG WINDS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAINFALL…ALONG WITH LARGE WAVES NEAR THE COAST AND HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATION FOR HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM THESE STORMS INCLUDE:

* URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING ALONG WITH POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS.
* HIGH WINDS THAT CAN DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES PRODUCING POWER OUTAGES.
* HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO VERY SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS.
* DANGEROUS NEAR SHORE CONDITIONS DUE TO HIGH SURF FROM LARGE WAVES.

THIS IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/SANFRANCISCO FOR THE LATEST WEATHER UPDATES ON THIS STORM SYSTEM.

12/2/2009 Weather Report

THIS COMING WEEK HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING EXCESSIVE RAIN TO THE REGION AS WELL AS STRONG WINDS. RAIN IS EXPECTED EVERYDAY NEXT WEEK. THEREFORE THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO STOCK UP ON EMERGENCY SUPPLIES IN THE EVENT OF POWER OUTAGES AND OTHER WEATHER RELATED PROBLEMS. STAY TUNED TO THE NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE
LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION.

Gries Fundraiser at TreeBones

In addition to what is listed below, John Handy writes that one can just purchase the entertainment and dinner for $50, so call the number below if interested in attending.

BUY a YURT & BE a LIGHT

Treebones is offering a special Star lit night of Big Sur bliss & beauty to all those who would like to create & be part of a very magical event.
A one of a kind opportunity to enjoy the 16 cozy yurts nestled in a tribal- like village perched over the pacific ocean with your friends.

HOW MUCH? $2oo buys a yurt, dinner & breakfast for two.
Or slice it up… $100 a person, double occupancy
WHEN? Wednesday December 9th (which happens to be Crystal’s birthday)
Check in starts a 3 pm.
Appetizers and Silent Auction Preview at 6:30 pm
Dinner and live music at 7 pm.
HOW? Call Donna 877 424 4787
Includes chef inspired gourmet buffet dinner South Coast style with all the fresh greens harvested from the onsite garden, various local side dishes, pass around sushi appetizers, wine & dessert , sleeping accommodations (double occupancy) , use of heated pool & ocean view hot tub and wonderful Big Sur entertainment.
Begins at 3 pm check in, ends at 11 am Dec 10. Certain terms & conditions will apply
On top of the dinner, continental breakfast & overnight stay we will host a no-obligation silent auction with artful, practical & seasonal items for sale.

All the proceeds are going to the local Gries family. It is the heartfelt wish of Treebones & staff to volunteer their efforts and business entirely to meet the goal of helping this family whose story follows:

“Recently, Crystal Gries, Big Sur Volunteer Firefighter and EMT, was involved in a terrible accident on Highway #1. Her SUV flipped several times and her neck was broken. Miraculously she survived and her baby was unharmed. I visited her the other night; thankfully she’s going to recover without paralysis. When I spoke to her and her husband Tommy (who is also a volunteer firefighter here in Big Sur), my eyes filled with tears as I started to understand the true scope of their financial problems. No medical & Tommy can’t work while Crystal is recuperating for 2 or more months. Crystal & Tommy are giving people who have dedicated extreme amounts of their own time through the years on the Brigade; helping others in fires or accidents. They need our help now.” John Handy, Owner Treebones
It’s in your hands, let it move to your heart.
http://www.treebonesresort.com