Here is to an awesome April! (As of 7 am, 4/16/22) And it is once again, Mining Ridge for the win! Tomorrow, Easter, I can finally finish sowing all those wildflower seeds I got!!! (not recommended, as I normally sow in fall, but also like to sow before a good rain, and just didn’t get that much). I am afraid seed viability might not be good by next fall.
Save the date!!!
Ivan Geronimo Gomez was found guilty of 16 felonies including arson, marijuana cultivation, injury to a firefighter and animal cruelty.
The Dolan Fire eventually destroyed 128,050 acres and 14 structures, and may have killed 11 endangered condors. More than a dozen firefighters were injured, one critically, when they had to deploy their emergency fire shelters.
Gomez could be facing 24 years in prison.
Ed Note: after serving his time in prison, he will be deported if he was in this country illegally, which it appears he was.
REPAIR WORK COMPLETE AT BIXBY BRIDGE
HIGHWAY 1 FULLY REOPENED
NO FRIDAY CLOSURE
Overnight closures earlier this week were necessary for contracted maintenance crews to perform repairs and inspections on the bridge support for the safety of all travelers.
REPAIR WORK AT BIXBY BRIDGE MAY EXTEND
TO CLOSE HIGHWAY 1 FRIDAY OVERNIGHT
The confirmed closures this week are as follows:
Wednesday March 30 10 pm to 6 am
Thursday March 31 10 pm to 6 am
On Friday morning April 1, an update will be provided as to whether an extra night of work is needed to complete repairs to the bridge structure. In the event that Friday overnight work is needed, the schedule for the closure of Highway 1 at the Bixby Bridge would be as follows:
Friday April 1 11 pm to 6 am
Again, an update will be provided via press release and social media the morning of Friday April 1 as to whether or not the Friday overnight of work is needed.
Note: Due to the use of a large crane and other heavy equipment on the bridge during the closure, the roadway would take at least 30 minutes to reopen for emergency vehicles.
Caltrans is working closely with the California Highway Patrol to coordinate traffic control and emergency response during closure hours.
In case of an emergency requiring travel across the Bixby Bridge during the hours of the closures, residents and all travelers are advised to call 911
There is no detour for this closure and traffic control will direct motorists to return along Highway 1 in the direction from which they came.
Message and directional signs will alert motorists in advance of the closure area.
These closures are necessary for contracted maintenance crews to perform repairs and inspections on the bridge support for the safety of all travelers.
HIGHWAY 1 AT BIXBY BRIDGE TO CLOSE TONIGHT MONDAY MARCH 28
FIRST OF FOUR OVERNIGHT CLOSURES THIS WEEK
During the closure hours, a specialized crane and other heavy machinery will lower crews in a basket down to the bridge structure to effect repairs and conduct inspections.
The hours of the overnight closures will be from 10 pm to 6:00 am.
Highway 1 at Bixby Bridge will be closed:
Monday March 28 10 pm to 6 am
Tuesday March 29 10 pm to 6 am
Wednesday March 30 10 pm to 6 am
Thursday March 31 10 pm to 6 am
This schedule is weather dependent as rain or wind may affect the use of specialized equipment.
Note: Due to the use of a large crane and other heavy equipment on the bridge during the closure, the roadway would take at least 30 minutes to reopen for emergency vehicles.
Caltrans is working closely with the California Highway Patrol to coordinate traffic control and emergency response during closure hours.
In case of an emergency requiring travel across the Bixby Bridge during the hours of the closures, residents and all travelers are advised to call 911
There is no detour for this closure and traffic control will direct motorists to return along Highway 1 in the direction from which they came.
Message and directional signs will alert motorists in advance of the closure area.
These closures are necessary for contracted maintenance crews to perform repairs and inspections on the bridge support for the safety of all travelers.
The wind and rain kept me awake. It was so glorious and I was so excited, it was 1 am before I finally crashed — like a kid at Christmas time. Hoping for more today, which we are expecting as the flash flood watch has been extended until 8 pm. Lightning possible this afternoon.
Final tally as of 8:30 am:
For this afternoon, per NOAA:
As noted below, the bigger story for this afternoon will be thunderstorm chances. The low off the coast has instability associated with it as noted by the ongoing lightning on NLDN and GLM. NUCAPs sounding data also shows CAPE values >than 200 J/kg. Hi-res models and ensemble data (NBM thunder) all suggest a chance for thunderstorms this afternoon, especially south of the Golden Gate, as the surface low moves inland. Current forecast has this potential hazard captured well and as a result a Flash Flood Watch remains in effect.
