I just don’t understand this … It is hotter than Darwin, as dry as the Mojave and people are having campfires? What is wrong with people?? And people wonder why those of us who live here don’t want any dispersed camping? Being constantly on edge that someone is going to “accidentally” burn us out is nerve wracking. This is absolutely nuts. I give up. We can’t educate those who don’t want to be, and they WAY out number the ones who do.
IMPACTS
*Impact 1 (Rain) :
· Widespread rainfall can be expected with locally heavy rainfall possible, especially along the coastal ranges. The most notable impact will be potential for a wet afternoon/evening commute on Wednesday.
*Impact 2 (Winds):
· South to southeast winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 to 50 mph can be expected in elevations near and above 1000 feet by Wednesday afternoon.
· These wind speeds may result in tree damage that could lead to isolated power outages.
· Difficult driving conditions are also likely in the higher elevations, especially for high profile vehicles and those pulling trailers/campers.
*Current Watches/Warnings/Advisories:
Wind Advisory for the Following Areas:
North Bay Mountains
East Bay Hills and the Diablo Range
Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest
Mountains of San Benito County and Interior Monterey County, including Pinnacles National Park
· For all current watch/warning/advisories, http://1.usa.gov/1boSTTW
FORECAST CONFIDENCE
· Moderate to High for the timing and location of the greatest impact.
TIMING
· Wind speeds will increase over the region Wednesday morning and peak in the afternoon and early evening.
· Widespread rainfall will mainly impact the region Wednesday afternoon and evening with lingering showers continuing into Thursday.
LOCATIONS
· Widespread rainfall will impact the entire region on Wednesday.
· The heaviest rainfall will likely occur over the coastal ranges were isolated locations may pick up as much as 1.25” through Thursday night.
· The strongest wind speeds will impact locations near and above 1000 feet in elevations while locally breezy conditions are expected in lower elevations, especially near the coast.
Weather Summary
A Pacific storm system will approach the region on Wednesday and spread rainfall across the entire region Wednesday afternoon and evening. Wind speeds will also increase Wednesday morning, peaking during the afternoon and early evening, ahead of a cold frontal passage. A few thunderstorms will be possible late Wednesday afternoon and evening with lingering showers likely through Thursday morning. A secondary, weak weather system passing to the north on Friday will bring another chance of light rain to the North Bay. However, no major impacts are expected at this time from this system.
BTW,this blog is in the finals for MC Weekley’s “best of …” Contest and voting is going on now.
The USFS has sent out a letter requesting public comment by May 30th regarding the installation of a solar array system to become the primary source of power for the main firefighting station on the South Coast of Big Sur. The existing diesel generating system will be used for back-up power only. It will cover an area of approximately 15,00 sq ft and the total height of the panels will be 7 ft. None of this will be visible from the highway. This is a HUGE step, and I heartily support it, and will let the USFS know that. Of our 5 largest visitor-serving facilities down here (Gorda, Treebones, PV Station, the Hermitage, and Lucia) 2 of them will now be primarily solar powered, Lucia having been the first to take this major step. Both are setting good examples for the rest of us (I have been completely solar for over two years. I run my genie for 2-3 hours maybe 4-5 times a year in the shortest days of the year. BIG savings in gas and emissions.)
I would urge all interested parties to support this endeavor. Email to comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres-monterey@fs.fed.us in either email, plain text (.txt) rich text (.rtf) or word (.doc). For oral comments or further information, call Jeff Kwasny, Resource Officer, at 831-667-1126. Snail mail comments to Tim Short, District Ranger, at the District Office in King City 406 Mildred, KC 93930
From Duke Krenkle, USFS:
“Hi Kate. I’m trying to contact as many residents as I can in the Prewitt Ridge area and thought you might be able to post some information on your Blog. The Forest Service is planning on completing some road repair work on South Coast Ridge Rd. in april and unfortunately it’s going to require a full closure. I haven’t gotten all the details yet and I’m hopeful we’ll be able to negotiate a time frame for the closure that can accommodate resident’s schedules, possibly one or two weekends. All I know right now is that the contractor will start april 20th and should be completely finished by april 31st. The project is located a half mile in from Nacimiento Summit in a narrow stretch of road.”
As soon as Duke receives further info and forwards it on to me, I will post it here. These posts also go to FB and Twitter, but there are those who live in these mountains who aren’t on line – not many, but a few, so if we can all work to assure that those individuals also are notified, it would be helpful.
From my SLO Weathercaster:
An impressive (549-dm) upper-level low pressure system iforecast to move over the Central Coast tonight. This system is currently producing a few scattered rain showers this morning, however, convective showers will become heavier by tonight.
This system will draw cold air from the upper levels of the atmosphere and create an unstable atmosphere with the a possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon through tonight.
These thunderstorms can create gusty winds, hail and periods of heavy rainfall. Total rainfall amounts are expected to range between a quarter and three quarters of an inch.
However, if your location is near a thunderstorm, higher amounts of precipitation could develop.
Today’s maximum temperatures will range from the high 50s to the low 60s. Snow levels are expected to drop to near 4,500 feet in the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi Mountains with up to nine inches of new snow above 5,000 feet.
For the first time in recent history (probably ever) The Weather Channel specifically mentions Lucia, Gorda, and Cambria, the biggest town – of a whopping 6,000 – being Cambria. It is because this is where this next big storm is expected to come ashore. This will find us late tonight or early tomorrow. The last one took aim at Santa Cruz and Big Sur Valley. Now it is our turn. I am as ready as I can be. Take advantage of this break, as the next one is not due until Thursday.
Take a look at the info I added to the last post, The Calm Before the Storm, for some good info and links about this Atmospheric River.
Featuring the Gem of the South Coast – Jade! It starts tomorrow at noon, until 6 pm, Sat. 10-6, Sun 10-5 at a Pacific Valley School, brought to you since 1990 by the South Coast Community Land Trust. (1996 festival was canceled due to The Wild Fire)
This is from the first festival:
My, my, how we have grown!
Don Harlan is the original road warrior. He worked Highway One for many, many years. He was the Supervisor at Willow Springs when Rock Knocker first came to work there in 1980. Don was part of the Lucia Loge Harlan’s and grew up and was schooled down here. He had many road stories, dating back to the 30s, when he watched the north and southern portions connect.
In 1971 he wrote an article which is passed on to the Supervisors (foremen in Don’s time) who work this section of the Highway. Greg DeAlba, the current supervisor shared this with me, and I think it would make an interesting serial for this blog. In it, Don describes the various trouble spots and how they came to be named. There is nothing PC about this piece, but it is a delight to read, both for the historical value and for Don’s writing style. He was one of a kind. Long after he retired, he showed up to Rock Knocker’s and my wedding in his hard hat. He never left home without it.
On Mondays, absent an emergency fire, flood, or road closure, I will be offering a segment of this piece, as it is 11 pages, single spaced. I am taking photographs of each portion, rather than re-typing it so that it is entirely true to the man Don was – and I can’t mess it up! Look for part 1 next Monday.
Less than two weeks … Oct 11, 12, 13th. We still need a few volunteers to help with parking – a 4 hour shift. You get fed, a T-shirt, (based on availability) and lots of good music and fun. Drop me an email at kwnovoa@mac.com if you can help. As always, the weather is expected to grace us. “A long stretch of dry and warm autumn weather should last through the second week” of October.
A couple weeks ago, the USFS sent out a press release regarding Kirk Creek Campground becoming a dry camp. I posted a notice here: USFS announcement
I have received a number of reports that Plaskett Creek campground was going to be dry. Apparently, this error began in the Pine Cone, and spread. My comment was always that I got the notice re the Kirk Creek campground, but not Plaskett. I have now confirmed with Bob, the mgr at Plaskett for Park Management, that it is in fact Kirk Creek, not Plaskett which is now a dry camp. He informed me he would be asking the Pine Cone to print a correction.
