I don’t see anything shaping up in the weather or news department, so I offer this photo of the cove just north of Ragged Point. Enjoy, and I have a few more recent Big Sur photos to post in the next few days, while we enjoy the respite and beautiful weather!

At the last BSMAAC meeting on 12/12 (sorry I haven’t posted the notes, yet – my bad), one of the issues I brought up was the South Coast Ridge Rd., particularly up Chalk Peak. I asked Bradford what was being done to mitigate the fire problems to PREVENT rock and mudslides. He answered about what the USFS would do  IF there were slides. Sam Farr called him on that, pointing out that Bradford was not answering my question. Bradford then said he would have to get back to me the following week. When Friday, the 19th arrived, and I still hadn’t heard from Bradford, I called him. This time, he said the “engineers” said there was nothing that could be done to mitigate the conditions, BUT that the USFS had hired a contractor to go out during storms and keep the road open. ALL storms, I asked? Yes, he said.

According to one neighbor who drives this road all the time, that is not happening. And, in fact, this resident is out every other day, clearing rocks off of the Chalk Peak portion of the road.  I sent Alec Arago, Sam Farr’s aide, an email about the above with a copy to Bradford. Let’s see how, or if, he responds.

BTW, the South Coast Ridge Rd. is *closed* between Nacimiento-Fergusson Summit and Prewitt Ridge Rd. — and clearly marked so. Due to damage being created by non-local tourist people going off-road, I have called USFS law enforcement, asking for additional patrol of this area. That should start today.

Created a new page to the right, called Big Sur Fires, 2008. I am in the process of gathering all posts and photos onto one page for ease in historical access. 

Woke to a light dusting of snow this morning. My deck is covered. So, it was a white Christmas, I just slept through most of it! LOL.

I was thinking this morning that in the past, the only one interested in my rain totals was Kimball. What a difference a fire makes, yes?

4:00 pm update – Big Sur River peaked at 160 cubic feet per second. WOW! Uh, oh. Have you read the forecast discussion posted at 3 pm? It does not look good for this evening. There are ominous clouds to the north, and out on the ocean, although I am mostly clear. Snow levels might get down to 1500 feet tonight, the flood watch is still in effect, and this storm is still with us. I had 2″ of rain last night, and another 1/2 inch so far today. More expected tonight. Possibility of lightning, too.

Usually, I pick relevant portions of the forecast discussion and post here. The 3 pm posting is very long, and it is ALL relevant, so if you live in Big Sur, the Monterey area, or the Santa Cruz mountains, I would urge you to go to the right, under 2008-2009 Winter Conditions, and click on the NOAA forecast discussion link.

1:05 pm update – it’s  a white Christmas! Snow began falling at exactly 1:05 pm. Now back to finishing the lamb, etc. Later – the snow lasted only for a few minutes, but it was pretty while it lasted.

8:00 am update – Two inches of rain last night, bringing the season total to 11″. Winds still howling up here. It starts to get on my nerves, after a while. Snow possible this afternoon. Merry Christmas, everyone!

If you haven’t seen Joyce’s holiday card below, take a look. It is sweet.

My dear friend Joyce, gave me permission to post this wonderful holiday message, from one who lost her home during the Basin Fire. 

Joyce, you are amazing! The Coast is lucky to count you among our many strong crones. I am blessed to be your friend! Thank you for sharing this with all our Big Sur friends – near and far!

Noon update – winds are still present, and still gusting over 30 mph, just not as often. Every so often it gusts up again around 40 mph. Rains also present, but not significant. So far, .25 inches since last night. Dogs don’t want anything to do with outside, right now. LOL.

8:30 am – Its Christmas Eve, the winds are here, but not as bad as they have been in the past. My one neighbor used to have a wind gauge, but it broke at 140 mph (oh how well I remember that night!), so I consider the current winds (around 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, estimated) to be a breeze, frankly. I don’t get freaked until I have 75-100 mph winds. No rain, to speak of, just drizzle. If you haven’t seen the photos of Saturday’s Little Sur Fire, scroll down to do so. 

Enjoy the day, wherever you are, and count the many blessings you have in your lives. Merry Christmas Eve.

A couple additions to the “announcements” page – Christmas Caroling tonight starting at 6 pm at River Inn; Bistro opens to locals; Cal-Trans announcement about Holiday schedules.

7:00 pm – current whether discussion:

DISCUSSION...AS OF 5:50 PM PST TUESDAY...RECENTLY ISSUED A WIND
ADVISORY FOR MUCH OF THE BAY AREA AND CENTRAL COAST WHICH BEGINS 
4 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING AND EXPIRES WEDNESDAY AT NOON

1:00 pm -current weather discussion follows:

NEEDLESS TO SAY RAIN WILL FALL ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION THIS 
EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH WINDS IN 15 TO 30 MPH RANGE OVER 
HIGHER TERRAIN AND ALONG THE COAST. . . .

THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL DROP SOUTH AND EAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT 
INTO THURSDAY MAINTAINING SHOWERS ACROSS THE REGION. AS THE 
TROUGH MOVES SOUTH COLD AIR ACCOMPANYING THIS TROUGH WILL SETTLE 
INTO THE AREA BRING SNOW LEVELS DOWN TO AROUND 3000 FEET. SHOW 
SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER HIGHER TERRAIN.

9:30 am – not much rain, less than 1/4 inch. Catching up on some reports, but road seems to be clear. Hoping it clears up so a couple friends can come up for a visit today. Otherwise, I bought WAY too much food and booze (well, is there really such a thing as too much booze on hand during the holiday season?)

6:30 am – definitely not clear. It is raining. I forgot to empty the rain gauge, too, darn. Oh well, I’ll just subtract the 2.25 we just got.

Also, updated forecast has snow on Christmas Day down to 3000. That’s me! Maybe I WILL have a white Christmas, after all.

Added a new link to the blogroll — the BSVFB. This is a place to make donations and buy things which will support our local fire brigade! I know that economic times are difficult right now, but if everyone of my blog readers donates only $5 or $10, it will make a HUGE difference for the next fire season. And for those of us who have benefited from their services, here is an easy way to donate and/or support their efforts!

Speaking of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, did you know about the fire on Saturday that they responded to? Nor did I until Firefox informed me. When I wrote about it, I was contacted with these photos.

Daniel Danbom sent me these photographs of the fire at the Little Sur on Saturday that he thought my readers might enjoy. Thanks so much Daniel. If you want to see more of his photographs, check out his website: www.quicksilverfastphoto.com

Clear weather predicted for tomorrow, Tuesday, 12/23, so unless someone sends me something, I doubt I will be posting — UNLESS I finally get around to posting the BSMAAC meeting notes, and Cal-Trans projects. No promises, I finally don’t have an emergency with my work!

10:00 am update – quite chilly, but there is sun. Cal-Trans still reporting no problems, and CHP still reporting a lane closure at MM 50. I don’t know what to tell you.

8:00 am update  – 2.25 inches last night, bringing the season total to 8.75 inches. WOW! That was some rainfall. And this storm was the light one? Big Sur River flow peaked at 85 cubic feet per second. Quite a spike from the 15 cubic feet per second which is the usual.

Per the CHP website, there is a slide (it doesn’t actually SAY slide, but what else could it be?) at MM 50, blocking one lane, just reported at 8 am. It is not on the Cal-Trans website, yet. MM 50 is between River Inn and Andrew Molera SP. And remember, my friends, the slides do not stop just because the rain has!

BTW, while showers have not been taken out of the forecast for Christmas Day, snow has. Rather have snow than rain. Oh, well.

Happy Holidays to all. May they treat Big Sur gently!

11:15 pm update – continuous rain, increase in amount. Nepenthe is reporting 1.03 inches thus far. The Big Sur River water flow is steadily increasing. Check the chart. It is closely approaching the “pay attention” stage, particularly for the Grange and Debbie. Neither the CHP nor Cal-Trans are reporting any road problems at this hour, but frankly, I’d be surprised if there weren’t any rocks in the road, and if a slide doesn’t occur sometime before morning, based on the level of rain I can currently hear outside. Remember, what I get up here, eventually makes its way downhill!

BE SAFE!!

9:15 pm update – Nice, gentle rain. No big storm, no downpours, no lightning, hail or other phenomena, just a steady, gentle rain. Let you know the rain total in the am. Wow, Nepenthe automatic weather station is already reporting .67? Amazing. 

3:50 pm update – Boy, did I call that one. It is now raining.

3:30 pm update – The wind picked up a bit about half an hour ago, but has died back down. Temps have dropped slightly. It is currently 46.6. No rain, but it “feels” imminent.

Rain expected today and tomorrow. Half an inch expected in Big Sur today and tonight, and then just a smidgeon tomorrow. (Like that technical term?) Will update as the rain hits the Top ‘o the World.

Also, there may be a white Christmas above 3500 ft., maybe down as low as 2500. The models seem to be uncertain about whether this storm coming in on Christmas from Alaska will be out to sea or on the coast.