I am out of town, but just checked with neighbor who reports 4″ of rain this storm, and sustained 50 mph winds.
My son, Brendon just went to town, north, and reports 4 slides blocking the NB lanes. He sent me a video … I am trying to see if I can upload, but WP is saying it is not a supported file type. I’ll keep trying. The one he sent is just south of Deetjen’s.
Okay, here is the url to YouTube:
5:00 am – Rocks and Debris all up and down Highway One, but no specific closure listed on CHP. It sounds like a mess, and since the entries, shortly after midnight, I suspect there are closures that are not reported.
Woke at 4:30 am to the sound of pouring rain on a metal roof. That can be, and was, very loud. Went to my weather station to see I had received 1.10″ for the day – since midnight – what about between my last reading at 10:15 and midnight? With a little math from the last monthly reading and current monthly reading, I got a total of 3.14″ for the day, plus the current daily 1.10 inches, we are up to 4.25″, or 11.97″ for the year – probably 12″ now in the time it took me to type this. Oh, yes, I’d say El Niño is here.
Having trouble with WordPress. Hope to get it straightened out by tomorrow. I will post the finalists in the photo contest next week for voting, after the storm passes.
It has been a few weeks, but … Here are a couple I took this week out my window during breaks in our storms.
By now, the whole state is aware this big storm is coming, so I won’t belabor the point, but be aware and pay particular attention to weather watches and warnings, prepare, and I will be getting ready myself for tomorrow, and watching the storm come in from my Plaskett Perch.
I want rain, but 9″?
Just received this notice from the National Weather Service. Please pass this along to anyone you know living near a possible debris flow along Sycamore Canyon Road. Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Good morning,
This heads-up briefing is targeted at public safety and emergency response personnel in the Big Sur area of Monterey County – to heighten awareness of potential impacts from debris flow/slides in Sycamore Canyon near the Pfeiffer Burn Scar.
Please contact our office at 831-656-1717 any time – a forecaster available 24 hours a day for immediate support issues.
OVERVIEW
Strong Pacific storms will bring periods of rainfall to the area beginning by Saturday noontime and persisting through Tuesday and Wednesday. Rainfall will be moderate to heavy at times and will result in the most significant rainfall of the season to date.
TIMING
Rain begins by noontime Saturday and continues through Tuesday/Wednesday. The time period of greatest concern for heavy rain will be Saturday afternoon-Sunday. A secondary period of heavy rain is possible Tuesday.
Wind will increase overnight Saturday and into Sunday.
Flooding/Slides: Threat will increase as rain accumulations increase with greatest risks during and immediately following the heaviest rainfall.
DETAILS
Rain: Rainfall totals from Saturday through Wednesday will range from 2 to 4 inches with up to 9 inches or more expected in the higher mountains.
Wind: Southwest winds of 25 to 35 MPH with gusts of 45 MPH at the coast and up to 60 MPH in the higher mountains. Potential for trees and downed power lines.
Flooding and Slides: Flooding of small streams as well as low lying, and poorly drained areas is expected. Debris flow potential from Pfeiffer Burn Scar area in Sycamore Canyon during and following periods of most intense rainfall is high.
Rockfalls can be expected in the area and along Highway 1 due to the ground becoming wet and the heavy rain. Thresholds that we will use for debris flow concern:
0.70 inches in 15 minutes
0.90 inches in 1 hour
1.50 inches in 3 hours
2.00 inches in 6 hours
—
Logan Johnson
Warning Coordination Meteorologist
National Weather Service
San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, CA
http://www.weather.gov/sanfrancisco
10:00 pm – a total of exactly one inch since midnight, bringing the yearly total to 10.25″. Not nearly enough. It is amazingly quiet and peaceful for the first time in days. Bsk signing off.
From NWS, Monterey:
Sycamore Canyon Rd, by Herald Photographer David Royal
.DISCUSSION…AS OF 08:54 AM PST SATURDAY…THE VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM PARKED OFF THE MONTEREY COAST WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE REGION THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. KMUX RADAR IMAGERY CONTINUES TO SHOW BANDS OF PRECIP SPINNING AROUND THE LOW FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. THE BULK OF THE PRECIP THIS MORNING WILL BE MAINLY SOUTH OF THE GOLDEN GATE WITH THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL OVER THE SANTA CRUZ MTS AND BIG SUR COAST/SANTA LUCIA MTS. THERE ARE ALSO A FEW EMBEDDED HEAVY SHOWERS THAT ARE DROPPING A QUICK 0.25-0.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN ABOUT 45-60 MINUTES. A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE ALSO OBSERVED OFF THE BIG SUR COAST OVER THE LAST FEW HOURS AS WELL.
(At 10 am, I am up to .79″ and there is a break or a lull in the rain, but not the wind.)
8:00 am – Rain continues to rage, with a current total of .64″ Winds also still raging. Roof singing to me. Tried to let the dogs out, but Missy took one look outside, turned around, found a corner, and peed on the floor. Dakota hasn’t been outside since the lightning yesterday afternoon! She had her own accident during the night. She wouldn’t come out from under the bed for HOURS after the thunder and going outside is simply beyond her capabilities when it is raining this hard. At least the other three were brave, well-trained puppies. Just gotta work on those two girls.
5:00 am – the wind woke me up. At 4;52 am, the wind gusts hit 58 mph. Not quite as impressive as yesterday am, but still pretty healthy. A few minutes ago, the gauge said it was raining cats and dogs. (I really must look up the origin of that saying and get back to you on it.) My gauge is currently reading .27″ since midnight. The CHP website is not showing any road closures at this time. As with yesterday, I will continue to monitor conditions and bring you all the latest, so you don’t have to. One stop weather shopping. 😉
10:00 pm – I’m signing off for the evening. Thus far, I recorded 2.44″ since midnight. Winds are up a bit, again, but nothing like last night. Stay warm, stay dry, and sleep well.
And this is what we have to look forward to tomorrow – at least predicted!
2:00 pm – thunder and lightning just started. Wind howling again, and up to almost 2″ thus far? Rain rate 2.67″/hour. Whoa, Nellie! Up to 5.14″/hour! Unbelievable! Here comes that 7-8″
Here is the most recent satellite. Compare it to the last one.
Noon – no rain at the moment, winds calming down, gusts only to 10 mph. Whew! It is time for a nap!
11:00 am – 1.5″ Del Venturi Rd in Ft Hunter Liggett closed. Road still open to Cambria, so far.
10:00 am – 1.2″, sustained winds of 30 mph. Water spouts off Point Sur per NWS. Lots of fun! 38 degrees and dropping!
9:00 am – road conditions – slide JNO of Garrapata Bridge and Traffic Hazard at Soberanes Point of unknown type. I’m willing to get there are other, unreported as yet problems.
8:00am – Winds gusted to 71 mph this am. Rain totals sitting edging up on 8/10ths, dogs went out during a break in the rain, only to be caught in a down pour. Lid blew off the wood box outside, taking a railing with it, despite being secured. Raining cats and dogs at the moment, at the rate of 2″ per hour. Big, big tree blocking Plaskett per my neighbor, and that’s just the first one. Missy and Dakota got into a dog fight with blood and a torn ear. So, how is your morning going? Add your storm stories this am.
At 9:30 this evening there were reports of rain in Santa Cruz, and accidents at the Summit of 17. If true, it is arriving early, but a very welcome guest that we’d like to stick around!
report from Nor Cal – “[W]e are right in the middle of it at the Butte Co/Yuba Co. line, near Pike Co. Lookout. (Lat 39.4747; Long 121.2023) only a few drops of rain with the first round here, but lots of lightning and thunder.”
This same storm brings the possibility of thunder and lightning tomorrow to our area.
Also, first fire of season in LPNF, down by Highway 166. It is only 10 acres, contained on three sides, by pre-positioned USFS FF. Nice!
