Category: 2009-2010 El Niño

Weather Changes

Today, the NOAA forecast discussion had this to say:
“COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE ON THERE WAY TOMORROW WITH 10 TO 20 DEGREES
OF COOLING EXPECTED. THE BIGGEST CHANGES WILL BE SEEN ALONG THE
COAST WITH THE RETURN OF ONSHORE FLOW TO THE AREA. THESE COOLER
TEMPERATURES WILL USHER IN A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THURSDAY AS A
COLD FRONT ENTERS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. BEHIND THIS COLD FRONT SEVERAL
UPPER-LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL PASS OVER THE AREA PROVIDING A SLIGHT
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION THROUGH THE WEEKEND.”

Also, there is a meeting Thursday (11/5) at one of the cottages at the Big Sur Lodge to discuss Highway One issues (bicycles, trash, etc.), and formulate a presentation for the Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council Meeting on Friday the 13th. For details on Thursday’s meeting, call Jack Ellwanger 667-2025.

Monday Weather Report

Today’s glorious weather to continue through tomorrow, then a drop of 5 to 10 degrees on Wednesday. Guess I better plan my garden work for tomorrow! There is a chance of rain on Friday, but currently that is just for the bay area, not for down here. I did read a few days ago (and for the life of me, I can’t remember where) that El Niño was strengthening for this winter. We will all be keeping an eye on that! Have a glorious Monday, everyone!

Zebras for Sister O’Blarney

For no particular reason … I often see these zebras on the Hearst Ranch, in areas around San Simeon. Every so often, they are close enough to photograph, as these were just the other day. Sister O’Blarney (aka Rose) has a passion for zebras. These are for her.

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Announcements

The OES of Monterey County has a new feature which allows you to register your cell phone, VoIP number, and/or email address to get emergency updates. Go to this site: Register OES

Also, don’t forget the Bal Masque this Saturday, benefitting the BSVFB and the food and wine festival the following weekend. I understand there are a few tickets left for some venues. (See link under non-profits to the right). Proceeds to benefit the Big Sur Health Clinic and other charities.

Also, the Coast Property Owners Association annual meeting is coming up on November 16th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the River Inn. Details to be posted on the announcement page shortly.

Wind Advisory

…STRONG GUSTY NORTHWESTERLY WINDS EXPECTED TODAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY MORNING…WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT WEDNESDAY…

Per the NOAA discussion: “WIND WILL CONTINUE TO PICK UP THROUGH
THE DAY TODAY WITH HIGHER ELEVATIONS EXPECTED TO GUST AS HIGH AS 60
MPH IN MANY LOCATIONS (WINDIEST SPOTS OF THE CWA SUCH AS MOUNT DIABLO
COULD EASILY HIT HURRICANE FORCE LEVELS OF 75 MPH FOR BRIEF PERIODS)”

As of this morning, Cal-Fire has issued this staffing request due to these late October winds:

O-1 Staff all Cal-Fire Crews 24 hrs a day
O-2 Staff one Strike Team Leader Crews per Camp 24 hrs a day
O-3 Staff as many Cal-Fire Engines the Unit can 4-0
O-4 Staff all Cal-Fire Dozers 24 hrs a day
O-5 Staff Unit ECC and Expanded as needed
O-6 Staff Sonoma, Redding, and Grass Valley AAB’s with 1 Air Attack and 1 Air Tanker each and support personnel as needed
O-7 Staff Cal-Fire Helitack Crews

Be very careful today. It is quite dry, despite the record rainfall on October 13th.

Loma Fire Update & Wind Advisory

As of 6:30 pm, Cal-Fire lists the Loma Fire as just under 500 acres and 55% contained.

9 am – No news on the Loma Fire. Still listed as 600 acres and 20% contained, per Cal-Fire at 7 am. All sources quiet since last night (that’s good) but a wind advisory has been issued. From NOAA discussion: “DECIDED TO ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY TO COVER THE HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS WHERE WINDS WILL LOCALLY GUST CLOSE TO 60 MPH. FOR LOWER LYING AREAS…A BIT OF A TOUGHER CALL. HOWEVER THE STRONG SURFACE GRADIENT PLUS GOOD POSSIBILITY OF DOWNWARD FORCING OF WIND ABOVE THE SURFACE SHOULD PRODUCE LOCAL GUSTS OF 45 MPH OR EVEN GREATER.” This is for this evening through Wednesday.

Additionally, it looks as if our area will be dry all week, rain not anticipated. Fuel moisture levels are being reported at only 10%. Our great storm of October 13th did NOT end the fire season, unfortunately.

Be sure to read the comment to this post from a former Big Surian, now near the fire for her description.

Bal Masque & Weather Watch

One week from today, the famous Nepenthe Bal Masque to benefit the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade will begin at 6 pm. Check with The Phoenix Shop to see if any tickets are still available. It is always a wonderful time for all. And the costumes? No one does costumes like Big Surians!!

Also, keep an eye on the forecast for next Thursday and Friday. The models keep changing, but possible rain on Thursday and lightning on Friday. I will be watching this and posting as it gets closer to time, if it looks like the storm may affect us.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Weather Report

I got sidetracked — not hard for me to do — and forgot to report the rain amounts from Monday. I received .25 inches, bringing the total for the season to 16.25 inches.

Since then, the weather has been warm and beautiful. Today, by noon, the temperature is a glorious 83 degrees! It doesn’t get much better than this. Gotta love Fall, here on the Central Coast.

State Parks “after the storm” update

“We finally opened Andrew Molera back open on Friday afternoon after a good assessment of the excessive muddiness and flooding. The river breached its banks into the trail to the campground and I wanted to give it ample time to dry out before we allowed people to walk in. They didn’t get power restored here for almost 72 hours as well The problem was up on east Molera at the last pole. Grief!! They ended up finding the problem with a helicopter and had to hike in equipment to fix it. We were the last to get power restored here in the valley.

Pfeiffer SP, JP Burns, and the Point Sur Lighthouse are back open. I have yet to complete a good assessment of all the trails. I have an employee hiking up to Sykes this weekend for a personal camping trip. He is going to let me know how it is.

I measured 10± inches on my rain gauge here at Molera.”

Thanks for the update, Rain!

Random 2009 Jade Festival Photos #1

As I have time, I will upload some more photos of the 2009 Jade Festival.
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Jade Queen, 2009, Lyn Chambers. Lyn, whose sister Gail has been teaching at Pacific Valley School since before I hit the South Coast, 20 years ago, has unselfishly donated of her own time to help her sister, our school, and our community. An attorney in Palo Alto, Lyn has come down to assist the school during budget development crunches, as well as provided the use of her house to Gail and her students for numerous field trips over the years. She has assisted in Gail’s quilt-making projects with the students, helped close the classroom at the end of school, and done more things than I can remember. Her generous gift of her time has benefitted us all. I couldn’t have been more pleased by the selection.
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Dan “The Man” Singer, who has been Syd Carr’s back-up for as long as Syd has been music director. Syd and the incredible sound team he has put together help to make the music as professional as any large festival.

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Avis Latone and Mollie Field. Avis works the raffle booth, collecting prizes from the vendors as well as announcing the drawings, which are held throughout the Festival. Mollie Field is the co-founder of the South Coast Community Land Trust (SCCLT) and worked the Main Information booth with me this year. The gorgeous quilt in the background is one I had custom made by an Amish woman in upstate New York.

My internet connection is terribly slow today, or I have little patience, or both, so more photos to follow at a later time.