Per a news report from KION, A woman, and her family, visiting from China, stopped along the highway at JP Burns SP on Sunday afternoon. The husband and daughter ran across the highway to the SP. When the car began to roll, the woman ran back to it to try and stop it, but fell and was run over by the rental vehicle. She was declared dead at the scene.
Category: Weather Conditions
Lost Dog -FOUND
UPDATE – Awesome was found at the SPCA and reunited with his owner.
Awesome, a 3 year-old pit, sweet dog, wandered off From home on Palo Colorado Canyon, about 2 miles from Bottchers Gap Saturday Afternoon. He is about 65 lbs. No tags, and not wearing his collar. Here is his photo. Let’s bring him home. Call owner Mike at home, 831-622-0600 or cell 202-344-7331. (No cell reception at home, but owner in town today checking all local shelters.)
And while we are talking lost dogs, I was reading about a new app called Finding Rover – a facial recognition software for dogs. The app will emit a bark so one’s dog looks directly at the iPhone for a photo, then snap for a head-on shot. It will upload to Finding Rover, and if ever lost, can be sent out to local agencies. I understand MoCo SPCA is using this and thinks it will really help reunite lost dogs with their owners. I have not tried it yet, but will be downloading the app on my next wifi connection.
More Rain on the Way
From my SLO meteorologist:
“A broad upper-level trough of low pressure will develop off the California shoreline later on Wednesday and will gradually move eastward across the Central Coast Thursday. This system will produce gentle to moderate (8- to 18-mph) southerly winds, increasing clouds and widespread rain showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Total rainfall amounts will range between a quarter and three quarters of an inch throughout the Central Coast.
The central and southern Sierra Nevada will see snow above 6,000 feet where another round of late season snowfall is expected. The low pressure system exits the Central Coast on Friday. Increasing northwesterly winds and cooler than normal temperatures will develop on Saturday into next Tuesday. Much warmer weather may return by the end of next week.”
I haven’t checked what Monterey NOAA is predicting, but this is encouraging … Delaying the start of the fire season, perhaps, but thunderstorms at this date could be problematic, as evidenced by the Mother’s Day fire near Parkfield.
Public Meeting with Cal Trans on 2 South Coast Projects
Caltrans will be hosting a public meeting at the Willow Springs Maintenance Yard on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, at 10:00 AM, to review the Elephant Trunk retaining wall project and the upcoming Big Creek retaining wall project. The purpose of this meeting will be for Caltrans to provide overview of scope of both projects and current traffic management planning as well as to receive input from the public.
Unless unforeseen events prevent me, I will attend this meeting and report back.
Unsettled weather
okay, so it’s not REAL rain, yet, but it is wet AND cold up here, only 38 degrees. The “drizzle” is enough to have gotten the dogs wet this am. SLO Co is still expecting drizzle and scattered rain today and tomorrow. From my SLO forecaster:
“A cold 547 dm upper-level low pressure system will pass over the Central Coast today into Friday with increasing clouds and extensive night and morning marine stratus, fog and mist/drizzle and cool temperatures. In fact, today’s maximum temperatures will only reach the 60s in the North County and coastal valleys, while the beaches will remain in the 50s.
As this late-season system moves closer, scattered rain showers will develop across our area this afternoon into early Friday morning. As the atmosphere becomes more unstable this afternoon, thunderstorms could develop throughout the Central Coast, but more likely in the eastern regions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Total rainfall amounts will remain below a quarter of an inch for most locations, except for those areas impacted by thunderstorms were rainfall amounts could be much greater.
This low will produce thunderstorm and rain showers across the Sierra Nevada mountains with scattered showers possible across the foothills through Saturday. Snow levels are expected to drop to 5,500 feet. “
Predictions for Rain
Rain for the next two days is looking pretty good. And snow in the Sierras. Every drop and flake counts. (Love the juxtaposition of the fire restrictions and two days of rain – both posted today.)
Fire Restrictions in LPNF now in effect
NEWS RELEASE
Los Padres National Forest
For Immediate Release
Contact: Andrew Madsen (805) 961-5759
Twitter: @LosPadresNF
Fire Restrictions Take Effect in Los Padres National Forest
GOLETA, CA, May 6, 2015…Due to extremely dry vegetation and an increasing fire danger, Los Padres National Forest officials announced that Level III fire restrictions will go into effect beginning today, May 6, 2015. The following restrictions will be rigorously enforced until this Forest Order expires:
Wood and charcoal fires are prohibited in all areas of Los Padres National Forest except for designated Campfire Use sites; however persons with a valid California Campfire Permit are allowed to use portable stoves and lanterns using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel outside of designated Campfire Use Sites. California Campfire Permits are available for free download at the preventwildfireca.org website:http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/. You must clear all flammable material for a distance of 10 feet in all directions from your camp stove, have a shovel available, and ensure that a responsible person attends the stove at all times when it is in use.
- Recreational target shooting is prohibited in all areas of the National Forest unless specifically authorized by a special use permit with the Forest.
- Hunting with a valid State of California hunting license during open hunting season is exempt from this restriction.
- Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the national forest except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated Campfire Use Site.
- Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order on roads and trails specifically designated for such use. (This restriction is in effect year-round.)
A list of designated Campfire Use Sites is attached. For further information regarding current conditions and safety tips, contact your nearest Forest Service office or visit the Los Padres National Forest website athttp://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.
.
###
EXHIBIT A
Campfire Use Sites
Monterey Ranger District
Arroyo Seco Campground / Group Camp
Arroyo Seco Day Use Area
Bottchers Gap Campground
China Camp
Escondido Campground
Kirk Creek Campground
Nacimiento Campground
Mill Creek Day Use Area
Plaskett Creek Campground / Group Camp
Ponderosa Campground
Sand Dollar Day Use Area
Santa Lucia Memorial Park Campground
White Oaks Camp
Santa Lucia Ranger District
American Canyon Campground
Baja Campground
Bates Canyon Campground
Brookshire Campground
Buck Spring Campground
Cerro Alto Campground
Colson Campground
Cumbre Day Use Area
Davy Brown Campground
Figueroa Campground
Friis Campground
Hi Mountain Campground
Horseshoe Spring Campground
La Panza Campground
Miranda Pine Campground
Navajo Flat Campground
Nira Campground
Pino Alto Day Use Area
Santa Barbara Ranger District
Falls Day Use Area
First Crossing Day Use Area
Fremont Campground
Live Oak Day Use Area
Los Prietos Campground
Lower Oso Day Use Area
Middle Santa Ynez Campground
Mono Campground
P-Bar Flat Campground
Paradise Campground
Red Rock Day Use Area
Rock Camp
Sage Hill Campground
Upper Oso Campground
White Rock Day Use Area
Ojai Ranger District
Holiday Group Campground
Middle Lion Campground
Pine Moutain Campground
Reyes Peak Campground
Rose Valley Campground
Wheeler Gorge Campground
Mount Pinos Ranger District
Aliso Park Campground
Ballinger Campground
Caballo Campground
Campo Alto Campground
Chuchupate Campground
Chula Vista Campground
Dome Springs Campground
Dutchman Campground
Halfmoon Campground
Kings Camp Campground
Marian Campground
McGill Campground
McGill Group Campground
Mt. Pinos Campground
Pine Springs Campground
Rancho Nuevo Campground
Reyes Creek Campground
Thorn Meadows Campground
Toad Springs Campground
Valle Vista Campground
Elephant’s Trunk overnight closures Mid-May to Mid-Sept.
Today’s Date: Monday, May 4, 2015
District: 05–Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Jim Shivers or Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual)
Phone: (805) 549-3237 or (805) 549-3138
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATE ROUTE 1 RETAINING WALL PROJECT BEGINS NEAR THE SAN LUIS OBISPO/MONTEREY COUNTY LINE
SAN LUIS OBISPO/MONTEREY COUNTIES – A project to construct a retaining wall on State Route 1 in northern San Luis Obispo/southern Monterey Counties is now under way. It is expected to serve as a permanent restoration effort in this area known for major slides.
Full overnight closures on State Route 1 from Gorda to Ragged Point are expected to begin in mid-May through mid-September, Sunday night through Friday morning from 9 pm until 6 am.
Motorists traveling north/south of these closures are advised to reach their destinations before 9 pm. Access will be maintained for local residents and all businesses along the coast will remain open during the roadwork.
Motorists can expect one-way reversing traffic control via a temporary traffic signal Monday through Fridayfrom 7 am until 4 pm with delays not expected to exceed ten minutes.
Electronic Message Boards will be activated on US Highway 101 in Paso Robles and Hwy. 1 in Carmel and Cambria to inform motorists of these highway closures.
All local businesses will remain open during this project.
(more)
This contractor for this $9.5 million dollar project is Madonna Construction of San Luis Obispo, CA. This project is expected to be completed in 2017.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway construction zones.
For traffic updates on other state highways in San Luis Obispo County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm
# # #
Susana Z. Cruz
Caltrans District 5
Public Information Officer/
Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas
para Caltrans en el Distrito 5
805.549.3326–fax
2015-2016 winter El Niño predictions
Okay, I am reading predictions of a super El Niño, rivaling 1998. So how accurate are these predictions? Per NOAA, it depends on when the prediction is made. In Spring, NO reliability, but as we move away from Spring, the predictions become more accurate.there is a great chart that demonstrates this. 
In the meantime, this is what forecasters are saying:
“NOAA’s CFSv2 model is forecasting a strong El Nino event will develop this summer and continue through 2015. Warm water along the west coast, combined with weaker than normal winds caused by El Nino will prevent nutrient rich cold water from welling up along the coast. Species that depend on nutrient upwelling will face starvation. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology has an excellent El Nino forecasting model which is also predicting a strong El Nino. Because the jet stream has already gone into an El Nino pattern by moving south over the eastern Pacific ocean and Mexico and further north than normal over the eastern Atlantic ocean, the likelihood of El Nino failing to strengthen is small. Last year’s Kelvin wave failed to bring on a strong El Nino because trade winds in the south Pacific didn’t weaken but this year they have and waters along the west coast of south America have already warmed. The south Pacific has moved out of the cool mode it was in a year ago.”
I will continue to explore and discuss this possibility as it developers, and IF it developers as predicted, I will explore what that means in terms of road closures for Big Sur by looking at what happened in 1998, the last Super El Niño.
Road Trip, Part 2, 2015
also Reno
Home tomorrow to keep a closer eye on Big Sur. Big news about El Niño building, but I’ll believe it when I see it!