Snow still evident out my bedroom window, but appears limited to shady and north-facing areas. Sun is bright, but it is very cold. NOAA’s forecast discussion for the next 7 days very interesting, with a number of storms lined up, and snow levels on some dropping in elevation. Looks like I’ll be snowed in at least once or twice again. I KNEW I should have bought those snow chains!!

Today’s a day when I run to Cambria to stock up on gas for the generator, dog food, and general supplies for myself. Maybe pick up some new reading material while I’m at it. 

Tonight’s storm is predicted to be much like Sunday night’s, which means more snow up here in the higher elevations. Thursday night’s storm is predicted to drop snow levels to 2500 ft. Friday through Sunday is very unsettled, and then Monday night, increasing chance of lowering snow levels. Will definitely be an interesting period. 

Chew’s Ridge is reporting 22 degrees right now. I can’t be much warmer. Brrr…

From NOAA’s hazardous weather outlook:

THE STORM ON FRIDAY WILL BRING RAIN...LOW SNOW LEVELS AND LOCALLY
STRONG WINDS WITH THE UNSETTLED WEATHER CONTINUING AT LEAST INTO
SATURDAY.

PERSONS THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA SHOULD PREPARE FOR INCLEMENT
WEATHER INCLUDING PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN WITH LOW SNOW LEVELS. IN
ADDITION PEOPLE HEADING TO THE MOUNTAINS THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND
SHOULD EXPECT SEVERE WINTER WEATHER DRIVING CONDITIONS.

PEOPLE LIVING IN AND NEAR THE BURN SCARS SHOULD MONITOR THE
FORECASTS CLOSELY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

Cone Peak is barely visible behind Pine branch. That is Prewitt Ridge in the foreground, all covered with snow.

Scroll down to Storm Watch 2/9 for rain and snow totals and continuing weather coverage throughout the day.

See dog foot prints. Dogs love snow.

The first of three photos I will be uploading to give readers an idea of the snow up here.

6:30 pm – No weather conditions to report this afternoon, so I was able to get some quality time for work. We have 4 more storms lined up. The first will arrive sometime tomorrow night or Wednesday morning. February is busy making up for our beautiful, but dry January.

From NOAA discussion: “WILL NEED TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE

 HOLIDAY WEEKEND SYSTEMS AS MODELS ARE INDICATING THAT THERE COULD BE
 A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RAIN."

12:30 pm – additional snow flurries, but light. It is very cold up here, though.

Noon – rain total .8 inches, season total: 17.6. Snow measurements: 3 and 1/2 inches before melt, which is happening as I type.

Break in weather, temporarily, but snow started again at 10 am. Gennie working, USB card works like a charm. Got some photos I am trying to upload, but internet being persnickity. If it isn’t one thing, it is another, heh?

9:00 am – still snowing. Two solid hours now, maybe more. But snow rapidly accumulating, for sure 3″ now, maybe more. Having generator problems. It doesn’t like the cold, so unsure if I will be able to continue posting this morning.

And this from the early morning NOAA discussion:

THE SYSTEM LATE IN THE WEEK LOOKS TO BE A BIT WETTER THAN
 THE PREVIOUS TWO AND AFTER SEVERAL MODERATE RAINFALL EVENTS...
 CONCERNS MAY BEGIN TO DEVELOP FOR POTENTIAL DEBRIS FLOWS IN THE
 BURN AREAS LATE IN THE WEEK. THOSE CONCERNS WILL INCREASE
 SIGNIFICANTLY IF THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE CORRECT IN BRINING A
 MUCH WETTER AND WINDIER SYSTEM INTO NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CA EARLY
 NEXT WEEK. BECAUSE THIS IS STILL OUT AT DAY 8 AND BEYOND...AND
 BECAUSE THE MODELS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME SETTLING ON TIMING FOR
 THIS POSSIBLE HEAVY RAIN EVENT...THERE CURRENTLY EXISTS A GOOD DEAL
 OF UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHEN AND WHERE THE FOCUS OF THE HEAVIEST PRECIP
 WILL BE. IN ANY CASE...THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL NEED TO BE
 WATCHED CLOSELY...PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE LIVING IN OR NEAR THE BURN
 AREAS.

7:45 am – it has continued to snow, constantly, for the last 45 minutes, adding to that which is already on the ground. I will take photos, and I realized, I have an USB card reader, so hopefully, I can transfer some of the photos to my computer this morning.

7:00 am – WOW! LOTS of snow~~ In fact, it continues to snow as I am typing. It is so beautiful, but looks like I am snowed in, again. At least 2-3 inches, maybe more. I cannot see the rain gauge level, as it is covered with snow. 

3 am – woke to snow covering the ground. Doesn’t look to be too thick, but still quite a bit. Will get rain totals in am, as well as snow depth (less than an inch, it looks like).

BTW, my A/B cord is tweaked, so I will probably not be able to upload any photos.

9:00 pm – rain pretty consistently for the last 3 hours. I’m guessing I will log between 1/2 an inch and 1 inch by morning, that is, if it in fact passes through by midnight. If it continues raining all night — all bets are off. BTW, if it is raining, it is not snowing, obviously.

5:45 pm – Ashley reported rain started in the Lucia area, and not 2 minutes later, it started at my place. NOAA forecasters are predicting it should not be a great amount, and should taper off by midnight. I will give rain totals tomorrow morning at my usual time (7:00-7:30). .

Drizzling and miserable up here today. Quite cold, too. Will keep everyone posted through out the day, if anything post-worthy comes up.

BTW, I am trying to decide if it is worth my while to reinstitute my CB up here. If any of my “back-country” neighbors still have/use theirs, would you drop me an email or a comment? TIA

Short break in Storm Watch reporting, while we enjoy a little break in the weather.

The CHP reports *NO* road problems on Highway One.

On another note, I don’t know if any of you are watching the news regarding Australia’s horrific wildfires. SF Chronicle reports 84 dead. Two towns gone, and 800 miles of countryside burned. It is horrible and my heart goes out to the Australian people.

Noon – beautiful sunshine and blue sky, on and off this morn. Enjoy while we can!

7:30 am – .65 inches last night, 16.8 for the season. Looks like a break in the weather this morning. CHP reports no road impediments.

7:00 pm – the rain continues. I would be very surprised if there are no problems on the road tonight, given what I am experiencing up here. If anyone has any reports, please advise. Otherwise,  BE CAREFUL!!

5:00 pm – .75 today, 16.15 for the season. Excuse me while I enjoy my stiff drink. Be safe out there tonight, as I would imagine Highway One may create some problems for the motoring public.

4:30 pm – the rain has continued almost constantly since noon and it is getting on my nerves. The state just told me I will NOT get paid anytime soon. I’m going to have a stiff drink, and then I’ll put up the rain totals within the hour.

2:00 pm – it has rained CONSTANTLY for the last 2 hours, although it appears to be letting up. Big Sur Valley reports little rain. A small mudslide on one of the access roads in the State Park is also reported.

Noon report – after no significant rain for the last 3 hours (about .15), rain is picking up again. Will bring the day’s rain totals and season totals up-to-date this evening, just before dark. CHP still reports NO road problems in Big Sur. That presumably means no closures, but I am sure CT is constantly plowing until dark to keep the road clear, UNLESS they are on mandatory furlough, like other state employees.

8:00 am – significant rain has been falling the last 1/2 hour. Will check in around noon or so with additional rain totals.

Both CHP and CT are reporting NO road problems in the Big Sur area.

7:30 am – I received .5 inches last night, and it continues to rain. Snow expected Sunday to Monday should  only be a light dusting, at this point.

From this morning’s NOAA forecast discussion:

HEAVIER RAINFALL IS EXPECTED FARTHER TO THE SOUTH WHERE CLOSE 
TO 2 INCHES MAY ACCUMULATE IN THE SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS OF
MONTEREY COUNTY

6:00 pm – rain during the day, slight, bringing an additional .10. Season total now 14.85 inches.

Two interesting items of note in the NOAA forecast discussion. The first:

A SECOND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM JUST NOW CROSSING 135 W IS APPROACHING 
THE FORECAST AREA AND IS EXPECTED TO BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS 
AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

And the second item of note:

A LULL IN THE ACTION IS EXPECTED SUNDAY AS THE LOW SLIPS TO THE 
SOUTH AND A NEW TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE APPROACHES FROM THE NORTH.
THIS TROUGH WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY COOLER THAN THE PREVIOUS TWO
SYSTEMS...DRIVING SNOW LEVELS TO 2000 TO 2500 FEET BY SUNDAY NIGHT
INTO MONDAY MORNING. THIS WILL RESULT IN A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS
OVER THE NORTH AND EAST BAY HILLS AND EVENTUALLY TO THE SANTA
LUCIAS BY MONDAY NIGHT.

8:00 am. Rain begins again. I would imagine this is how the day will unfold. Be safe, and enjoy the rain, although it looks like this is the pattern for the next week, which we desperately need to avoid a protracted fire season, again. 

7:00 am. Rain total .75 inches, most of it received between 2:15 and 2:45 am. Big Sur Station reports .83 inches.  Currently, no rain. Neither CT nor CHP reporting any road problems, and CT was out working bright and early, so road should be clear. Will report more if I get any additional information.

As predicted, I wasn’t awake at 10 pm, but I was at 1 am. No rain. Still awake at 2 am, I heard the rain of this storm begin. Only 15 minutes later, it is pouring – heavy rain. Rain totals at first light.