Category: 2011-2012 weather watch

Road Closure Update, 1/23/12

Noon – From Cal-Trans:

Cal-Trans official press release says there is no anticipated date of re-opening of the road.

9:30 am – semi-official report: there is no equipment buried under the slide, none of the rock shed is affected, the slide didn’t take out the light, only the wires going to the light, and it is expected that the road will be open in 3-4 days, but still waiting for the geologist’s analysis.

8:30 am – reported by local in comment section below: “Just went for a look, was told by the flagger that the slide has buried part of the rock shed, with much of their equipment, and will probably be closed for at least a couple of days. Also unofficial, but that was at 8:20 this morning.” If all that equipment is buried, it will be more than a couple days!

7:30 am – Per one of my “unofficial” but very reliable sources, the slide occurred just south of the new Rock Shed at Rain Rocks, and took out the light on the southern end of the construction. I have no word from Cal-Trans “official” sources, yet, about how long the closure will last. I suspect I will not get any official word until mid-day or later, as the resident geologist will have to evaluate the situation, then get the word to the PR guys/gals. Will update as soon as I have additional information. BTW, the CHP website no longer shows this closure, but that does not mean it is open.

Hard Closure of Highway One

Active Slide with debris covering both lanes on the road at Paul’s Slide/Pitkin’s Curve/Rain Rocks has closed Highway One indefinitely. Cal-Trans will have geologists look at the matter in the morning to give a better estimate about when it will be able to be cleared, but for now, no traffic will be able to get through in either direction, per Colin Jones of Cal-Trans.

Colin said it was at Rain Rocks, but he also said Pitkin’s Curve. CHP reports PM 22, which is Paul’s Slide, 1.5 miles south of Lucia. Cal-Trans website puts it at 1.8 miles south of Lucia, which is right at Rain Rocks, approximately. 😉 per Rock Knocker. Wherever it exactly is, it is north of Nasty-Fergy, so no getting through from the north, and the hard-closure on the south is at Limekiln Bridge, so travelers going north will have to go over N-F Rd.

NOTE: I have a report that there are rocks on the road at the Alder slide from last year that have made their way under the chicken wire drapery. Brace yourselves, as there is another 2-3 inches expected tonight into tomorrow, then an extended dry period starting Tuesday.

FROM NOAA AT 3 PM SUNDAY: “HAVE FOLLOWED RFC QPF FOR TONIGHT WHICH SHOWS SOME HEALTHY 6 HOUR RAINFALL TOTALS ROUGHLY BETWEEN 10 PM AND 4 AM. EXPECT UP TO 3 INCHES IN THE HILLS FROM SONOMA SOUTHWARD TO BIG SUR ….”

Impressive Rain totals

Here is what is expected:

Rain anticipated next 24-hours

And this is what we got the LAST 24-hours:

Impressive Rain totals

Can you believe those totals? 7.5 at Three Peaks, over 7 at Chalk Peak, and 5.5 in Big Sur proper?

Upcoming Weather Event

From NOAA, some much needed rain is on the way!
AS OF 9:10 AM PST SUNDAY…

BY WEDNESDAY THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED CHANGE IN THE WEATHER PATTERN IS
EXPECTED TO BRING RAIN TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. RAIN ON WEDNESDAY
AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL MOSTLY BE CONFINED TO THE NORTH BAY…BUT
RAIN WILL THEN SHIFT SOUTH ACROSS MUCH OF THE REST OF THE FORECAST
AREA ON THURSDAY AND THURSDAY EVENING. RAIN COULD BE HEAVY AT
TIMES IN THE NORTH BAY FROM LATE WEDNESDAY THROUGH
THURSDAY…ESPECIALLY IF THE GFS VERIFIES. THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN
MODELS KEEP MOST OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN WITH THIS FIRST IMPULSE TO
THE NORTH OF OUR AREA. BUT THE MODELS ARE IN BETTER AGREEMENT WITH
A SECOND IMPULSE DUE TO MOVE THROUGH LATER IN THE WEEK. THAT
SECOND IMPULSE IS PROJECTED TO GENERATE SOME RAIN ACROSS NEARLY
ALL OF OUR FORECAST AREA FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT…POSSIBLY HEAVY
AT TIMES…

Photos for a Saturday

Here are some photos I have taken lately that I have been wanting to upload – but y’all know how THAT has been going, right??

Fire at Wildbird

Just speculation about how it started, but originally thought to be a chimney fire, but BSVFB, upon arriving, thought it was more than that. Carmel and Carmel Highlands are on their way to assist BSVFB with this, but I would imagine, traffic will be an issue on this stretch of Highway One. For those of you not familiar with Wildbird, it is Margaret Owing’s old place.

Rain & Possible Wind & Photo Contest

Well, I was caught unawares this morning. I had an unexpected cloud burst this morning just after sunrise, and then later, some light rain. I think the total was only about .10 of an inch, but despite seeing the slight chance of scattered sprinkles, for some reason, I thought I was immune. Fat chance! There is also some possibility of increased winds this afternoon/evening, but no evidence of that yet at 3:30 pm.

PHOTO CONTEST: Okay, readers – I have only received FIVE entries from 3 readers and the contest ends tonight at midnight. If you are intimidated by the size of the banner, don’t be. I can crop the winning photo in the best possible way I can so it will fit. Come on

Rain, Condors, and Photo Contest

Big Sur Valley reported 3/4″ of rain. My rain gauge read only .2 of an inch, but it continued this morning until I was up to .4 inches.

We’ve been notified that there will be a special on the CBS News December 17th about the Big Sur Condor Protection Story.

Finally, I only have one (great) header photo submitted so far, and there are only 3 days left in the contest! You guys and gals always wait until the last minute. Remember, this quarter, the prize is a $50 gift certificate to the Big Sur Bakery by Mike Gilson of Big Sur Real Estate. See the notices section directly above this post for details!

Weather Conditions, 12/11/11

7:45 pm – I had a gentle drizzle up here, on and off for the last 5 hours, but nothing really measurable. 15 mins ago, serious rain started, and considering it is 38 degrees outside, if this keeps up, I might get snow.

I have been keeping a close eye on the weather, and reports of a possible storm sometime between Sunday and Wednesday. The reports (and I track Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Bakersfield) have been all over the map about strength and timing. As of 2:00 pm PST here on my mountain, it is looking like it may stay out to sea, and if we do get any showers, it won’t be much. I’ll keep tracking and let everyone know if there is anything significant.

Currently, the outside temperature is a balmy 39 degrees. I’ve got it up to 67 inside. Lucky me. Avis is busy working on her next Pitkin’s Curve/Rain Rocks photos post, and either she or I will get in up in a few days.

Wind, Road Conditions, and Mike Tyner

UPDATE: Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. should be officially open in the morning, and the county is planning on keeping an eye on it to make sure it remains clear. Telephones in South County were not working, so it took a while to get the evening update. Unless you must get through it, it would be advisable to wait until daylight hours.

County Roads is working Nacimiento RD from east to west to clear it, be there around noon. Will work toward the coast. County will give me an update sometime after 5 pm on conditions. Here is their website, but it is also listed in the winter links provided to the right: County Roads

One VWS biologist, Mike Tyner, was killed when a tree fell on him during the high winds of Wednesday, 11/30/11.

From Ventana Wildlife Society:

“Mike Tyner was a wildlife biologist who dedicated the last six of his nine years working for Ventana Wildlife Society, to save California Condors in Big Sur, CA. He was truly an exceptional individual who served as the field supervisor for Ventana Wildlife Society’s condor recovery program. Tragically, during high winds that we received in Big Sur on November 30, a tree toppled causing his death. This loss is catastrophic, heartbreaking, and painful. As our staff mourns the passing of a remarkable friend, our hearts go out to his family. Mike will be greatly missed!” – Kelly Sorenson, VWS Executive Director and VWS Staff

Mike Tyner and Condor

A friend’s house suffered structural damage when a tree fell on her roof.

Storm damage by Debbie Reed

Power has been out to Big Sur Valley for some time, and my appt to get my Commander serviced was canceled, as they had no power, either!

RESOURCE:

Get prepared and find some good savings on portable generators for the next power outage.