I heard about this earlier today from one of our locals, but here is the official word. (Mud Creek is by Sea View Ranch.)
There is an active slide at PM 8.88 south of Gorda. The entire NB lane was blocked off with an earth berm to prevent material from blocking the entire roadway. We have coned the area off and the Highway will remain open for the time being. The SB lane and a portion of the shoulder are clear. The Willow Springs crew will be out first thing in the morning to access and clean up.
Thanks.
Greg DeAlba Jr.
Supervisor
Willow Springs and Big Sur Maintenance
“Just back from walking dogs @ Rocky Creek. Incident jno mm60 (which is just north of the new Rocky Creek viaduct) is entirely cleared. It looks to have been some stray branches from the Westmere cypress trees.” (Martha Diehl)
6:00 am – just got word from a local (sent t 12:30 am, but just received) that Nacimiento is closed due to slides.
As of 5:30 am the CHP website lists 3 areas of concern. (Try as I might, I can’t seem to copy and paste). From South to North they are: MM 26, 34, and 60. MM 26 is Gamboa Point, but the CHP lists it as just north of Limekiln State Park, which is actually closer to MM 20. This one is listed as rocks and boulders and barely enough room for a small car to get through. CHP says there is signage, but not enough. MM 34 is near Esalen’s South Coast Center, and 60 is just South of Palo Colorado Canyon. One of them is a tree that is crossing both lanes, but unclear which. Dawn is still a couple hours away, at which time dawn patrol will be out clearing the way. Until then, be careful, aware, and drive slowly.
11 pm – bedtime. Currently at 1.82″ since midnight. Still raining. Remembered to write down the monthly amount so I can figure out the rain amount for this last hour. Be safe everyone.
Okay, I’ve been taking the day off, but not without checking on things, specifically road conditions. Here is one that won’t affect most of us … It’s on Garrapatos RD.
Incident: 00365 Type: Traffic Hazard Location: 59625 Garrapatos Rd Loc Desc: Lat/Lon: 36.400156 -121.873975
Detail Information
4:39 PM 3 [5] RP HAS PLACED A RR TIE IN THE RDWY
4:38 PM 2 [4] APPRX 200 YDS FRM THE PRVT ROAD
4:36 PM 1 [1] SINK HOLE IN MIDDLE OF RD , DUE TO A CULVERT THAT HAS BEEN UNDERMINED
I have received over an inch since midnight. I forgot to write down the monthly amount so I could figure out later what I received from 8 pm until midnight. Sorry
8:15 am – up to .41″ already. Going to be a fun day!
7:30 am – At 6 am, there was nary a drop of rain. At 7:00 am it was pouring, and that continues. Already up to .20″ No major road conditions on Highway One to report at this time, BUT several mudslides in SLO Co reported, and remember the Big Sur hills are already saturated, so expect difficult conditions to develop. Will continue reports as needed throughout the day.
These are the current conditions: (graphic to be posted when Internet allows)
Per John Lindsey, SLO forecaster: “Rainfall amounts with this system are expected to range between 0.50 and 1.25 inches. Overall, between 1.25 and 2.75 inches of rain is forecast between today into Monday with higher amounts in the Santa Lucia mountains.”
Low flying helicopters to be operating along the Big Sur Coast
for PG&E utility inspections
March 9-12, 8am-5pm
Residents may see or hear helicopters hovering and flying close to the power lines for several minutes at a time throughout the day. The inspections are to observe clearances between vegetation and the power lines so we can ensure we continue to provide safe, reliable, and affordable service. No electric service is expected to be affected by these inspections.
If residents have questions about this work, we encourage you to refer them to the PG&E Customer Outreach Specialist Lizz Williams @ (831) 784-3592. Please note that our work schedule is subject to change and is dependent on safe weather conditions. We appreciate your patience while we complete this important project.
Incident: 00054 Type: Traffic Hazard Location: Sr1 / Sycamore Canyon Rd Loc Desc: SR1 JSO PFEIFFER BIG SUR STATE PARK Lat/Lon: 36.240221 -121.777039
Detail Information
2:40 AM 3 [7] 1039 CT DIST 5
2:38 AM 2 [3] BLOCKING ALL OF SB SR1 AND PART OF NB SR1
2:36 AM 1 [1] TREE BLOCKING HWY JSO BIG SUR STATE PARK
2;30 pm – Winds nasty this early am, and rain is pouring. This is a 60′ tree near Esalen’s back gate blocking the road. A SIG alert has been issued. UPDATE – CAL TRANS SUPERVISOR ENROUTE TO ASSESS, WILL BE 1/2 HOUR OR MORE UNTIL ARRIVAL.UPDATE AT 3 AM – TREE CLEARED AND ROAD OPEN AT THIS LOCATION.
From CHP website:
Incident: 00037 Type: Traffic Hazard Location: 54201 Sr1 Loc Desc: SR1 JSO BIG SUR MM 33 Lat/Lon: 36.139275 -121.650808
Detail Information
2:17 AM 10 [21] EMAIL SENT TO CAL TRANS ALSO
2:01 AM 9 [19] 1039 SLO COM CENTER
1:59 AM 8 [18] 1039 MTY COM
1:56 AM 7 [16] 1039 27-S6 UPDATED
1:55 AM 6 [15] PER CAL TRANS , SUPV ENRT TO CHECK AND WILL ADVISE IF ROAD WILL BE CLOSED
1:49 AM 5 [14] PER S6 , CONFIRM CAL TRANS WILL PUT OUT SIGNS NEAR CARMEL TO ADVISE CLOSED
1:47 AM 4 [12] BLOCKING BOTH NB/SB LNS JNO MPM 33
1:47 AM 3 [11] [Notification] [CHP]-PER CAL TRANS DONT RESPOND AT NIGHT MIGHT HAVE TO CLOSE ROAD
1:46 AM 2 [8] 1039 CAL TRANS
1:42 AM 1 [1] LARGE TREE ROOTED UP , 1125
7:00 – So, just at 6:30 am, my usual time to let the dogs out, it starts majorly hailing. Rain total so far is 4.55″ but the Hermitage reports just over 6″ so far. I think my gauge is in a rain shadow. Santa Cruz County Roads are a mess – too many flooded, closed, trees, power lines, etc. down to recount. The SL River crested and evacuation centers were set up.
Here is a photo of the car that slipped off the edge on Hermitage RD.
Photo by Brendon Shave
Highway One, Big Sur: This is from the CHP website. It is near Post Ranch entrance:
[3] 1039 27-S3 WITH INFO
5:45 AM 1 [1] 2 SLIDES ABOUT 1/2 MILE APART / 1 IN NB LANE / OTHER IN SB LANE
I can’t imagine the rest of Highway One is in the best of shape either. Continued monitoring and reports as the day continues. Remember, be safe, and don’t put anyone else’s life in danger via the need to rescue you. Bigsurkate
7:30 pm – This is the report my son, Brendon Shave, gathered about the car over the side on Hermitage RD.
“Ok so I went down the drive and got info for you, they aren’t staying here as I thought. Gergen tourist drove up our drive and at 2/10 of a mile they attempted a turn around and got the car stuck in the mud on the edge, they got out to look at the situation and after exiting the car it rolled over the side down 60ft (according to CHP) they then walked to Lucia and called for help. Ambulance, CHP, Rangers and fire brigade (according to Chinon at Lucia) all showed up. Cambria towing decided to come in the morning. Currently there is caution tape tied between trees at the site. The culvert where the Almo rental car went over is flooding at current and if the car is in that culvert it is certainly a wash, excuse the pun. Both German passengers in their late 20’s early 30’s are safe and dry. Fire brigade (I was told climbed down to the car and retrieved all the personal belongings for the tourist couple and hey will ride win CHP to Monterey and stay the night in a hotel. That pretty much sums it up. Good night.”
Pebble Beach
6:30 pm – Okay, people … Roads closed, trees down, wires down, etc. all over the SLV area and other mountainous parts of Santa Cruz. Mud, debris, etc. in a couple areas of SLV area. In Big Sur, tree down near Soberanos, tourists 60 feet down in a ravine, 2/10ths of a mile up the Hermitage RD. It’s going to get worse tonight, so stay off Highway if at all possible tonight. Don’t make our BSVFB and others have to come out in this to rescue you!
2:20 pm – it’s pouring now, peeps.
9:30 am – It’s a coming down now. Not real heavy, but steady. This graphic carries a warning for us Big Sur folk and our ribbon of asphalt to the rest of the world.
7:00 am – So far, I have received 1.04″ since Friday morning. Looking for a busy, wet day today. NOAA has decreased the 6 day total of Friday to Thursday down from 8.51″ to 8.1″ – not much of a decrease, still a pretty healthy amount. This is their graphic this morning.
