altadenablog

Weather service says high winds could be on their way

by Timothy Rutt

Fortunately, anything that could be blown over probably already has been.  National Weather Service is predicting Santa Ana winds that will hit strongest in Los Angeles and Ventura counties by early Friday evening.  During the Friday night-Saturday morning peak, the weather service says there will be potential for 60-70 MPH gusts across teh mountains, with coastal and valley areas ranging between 45 and 60 MPH.

Along with the winds comes rapid drying and the potential for single digit humidity.  While the weather service is predicting heightened fire concerns, it may not be sufficiently dry to go into red flag conditions.

 

Rain on the way for the weekend

by Timothy Rutt

A light to moderate rain is predicted for Los Angeles County this weekend, moving in Firday night and into Saturday, followed by a quick-moving cold front Sunday night.  The National Weather Service shouts:

A SERIES OF STORMS WILL AFFECT MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. HOWEVER...A COUPLE OF WEAKER STORM SYSTEMS WILL BEGIN TO PUSH INTO SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY ON FRIDAY...THEN SPREAD SOUTHWARD ACROSS VENTURA AND LOS  ANGELES COUNTIES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY BRINGING ONLY LIGHT TO  MODERATE AMOUNTS OF RAINFALL ACROSS THE REGION. THE CENTRAL COAST  WILL RECEIVE BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH OF PRECIPITATION... WITH  LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY MOUNTAINS... WHILE AREAS SOUTH OF POINT CONCEPTION WILL RECEIVE BETWEEN ONE QUARTER  AND THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH. THERE WILL BE GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND ANTELOPE VALLEY ON SATURDAY WITH WIND ADVISORIES LIKELY NEEDED.  SNOW WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM WITH THESE INCOMING STORMS AS THE SNOW  LEVEL WILL INITIALLY BE AROUND 9000 FEET... THEN LOWER TO 6000 FEET BY SATURDAY NIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINIMAL IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE 6000 FEET. THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCAL PONDING OF WATER ON FREEWAYS AND LOW-LYING AREAS FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE CENTRAL COAST. ANOTHER QUICK MOVING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT...AND MOVE OUT BY MONDAY AFTERNOON. RAIN AMOUNTS SHOULD BE LESS THAN THE WEEKEND STORM.

Weather service issues high wind warning for Thurs. morning-Friday

by Timothy Rutt

Here we go again ... the National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning starting Thursday morning at 4 AM and going through Friday afternoon.  Mountain communities are particularly targeted for this predicted windstorm, although valley areas may see some, too.  NWS shouts:

STRONG NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL DEVELOP EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INLAND THROUGH THE GREAT BASIN.  THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL AFFECT THE VENTURA AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS...INCLUDING THE SANTA MONICAS...AND THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY. DAMAGING WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE OVER SOME COAST AND VALLEY LOCATIONS. WINDS WILL EASE SLIGHTLY LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON...THEN INCREASE AGAIN THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO NOON PST FRIDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A  HIGH WIND WARNING... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM THURSDAY TO NOON PST FRIDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * WINDS...NORTHEAST 25 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH. * TIMING...WINDS WILL INCREASE LATE TONIGHT AND PEAK THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...WITH ANOTHER PEAK THURSDAY EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...WINDS MAY KNOCK DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES AND CAUSE UNSECURED OBJECTS TO BE BLOWN AROUND. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...  A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

 

Batten down the hatches -- "once in a decade" high winds predicted Wed. night - Friday

Our weather guy Bill Westphal refers us to Ken Clarke's Accuweather blog for the western U.S.:

All signs now point to the good possibility of a strong Santa Ana wind event setting into Southern California late Wednesday night and Thursday ... This will be set up about as perfect of a high wind situation as one can get. This certainly is shaping up as a once a decade type wind storm if everything falls in place as it is looking right now. The strongest winds are most likely in Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange Counties and across the Inland Empire in all Santa Ana wind prone areas ... Winds of 30 to 60 mph with gusts to 70 mph seem most likely in the populated areas but I could see wind gusts up to 90 mph on the top of some of the non-populated mountain tops.

Take in or secure anything in your yard that could become an outdoor missile.  Secure your brand-new Athens rolling trash cans, keep your animals indoors, and make sure your flashlights and emergency radios are in place in case of power outage.  Travel will also be sketchy, so be prepared.

Rain predicted for Saturday, may be only half inch

Prediction of rain has been dialed down a bit, but the latest from the National Weather Service is that we may see the wet stuff around dawn Saturday, and probably not as much as feared:

 A STORM SYSTEM CONTINUES TO DEVELOP OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN  AND WILL APPROACH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FRIDAY. LIGHT RAIN IS EXPECTED  TO DEVELOP ON THE CENTRAL COAST FRIDAY AFTERNOON... POSSIBLY REACHING  THE LOS ANGELES BASIN AROUND DAWN SATURDAY. CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY  REMAINS WITH HOW MUCH RAIN WILL FALL FROM THIS STORM BUT THE BEST ESTIMATE AT THIS POINT IS UNDER A HALF INCH IN ALL AREAS. SNOW LEVELS WILL BE ABOVE 7000 FEET FOR THE DURATION OF THIS EVENT...WITH ONLY LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED EVEN AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

Going to be a hot one ... again ...

Temps predicted to be over 100 degrees again today, with some "monsoonal moisture" in the mix.  Stay cool today!  National Weather Service shouts:

DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO EXCEED 100 DEGREES OVER MANY VALLEY AND LOWER MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS AS A DOMINANT HIGH  PRESSURE SYSTEM REMAINS OVER THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES. SUNDAY  HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE HOTTEST DAY OVER SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA AS THE RIDGE PEAKS IN INTENSITY. ADDITIONAL SUNSHINE WILL HELP TO BOOST TEMPERATURES AGAIN ON SATURDAY...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DANGEROUS HEAT INDEX VALUES ESPECIALLY OVER PORTIONS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

HEAT INDEX IS A MEASURE OF HOW HOT IT REALLY FEELS.  THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES ON SATURDAY ARE EXPECTED OVER THE LOS  ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS... WHERE VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND  105 WILL BE POSSIBLE. SUCH HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES MAKE IT DIFFICULT  TO REMAIN COOL... AND POSES A POTENTIALLY FATAL RISK FOR HEAT ILLNESS AND FATIGUE...ESPECIALLY FOR THE HOMELESS...ELDERLY...AND PEOPLE  WORKING OUTDOORS.

THE BEACHES WILL REMAIN A SOURCE OF RELIEF... WITH  HIGH TEMPERATURES MAINLY IN THE 70S... EXCEPT 60S ALONG THE CENTRAL COAST.

 SOME LINGERING MONSOONAL MOISTURE AND A WEAK DISTURBANCE MOVING INTO THE AREA WILL ALSO HELP TO BRING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND SATURDAY TO SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA  BARBARA COUNTIES... AS WELL AS TO THE MOUNTAINS OF VENTURA AND LOS  ANGELES COUNTIES AND FOR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. ANY THUNDERSTORMS THAT DEVELOP ON SATURDAY MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF HEAVY  DOWNPOURS... GUSTY WINDS... SMALL HAIL AND DANGEROUS CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTING.  

A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORM WILL CONTINUE ON SUNDAY FOR THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND ANTELOPE VALLEY. DRY  SOUTHWEST FLOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA FOR MONDAY... WITH NO SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED. DURING THIS PROLONGED HEAT EVENT...PEOPLE PLANNING OUTDOOR  ACTIVITIES SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE HOT TEMPERATURES AND ADJUST THEIR ACTIVITIES ACCORDINGLY. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN...THE  ELDERLY... OR PETS IN ENCLOSED AUTOMOBILES EVEN FOR A SHORT PERIOD  OF TIME. EVEN IF THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPEN... TEMPERATURES CAN QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE-THREATENING LEVELS.

Flash flood watch in effect this afternoon.

Rain is coming, and the National Weather Service shouts ...

..FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT... 

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A 

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE STATION...MORRIS...BRIGGS AND CROWN BURN AREAS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. 

* FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT 

* RAINFALL RATES COULD EXCEED ONE INCH PER HOUR. 

* FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOW WILL BE A THREAT IN AND BELOW THE RECENT BURN AREAS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. 

RESIDENTS IN OR BELOW THE RECENTLY BURNED AREAS ARE URGED TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS.

High wind warning continues thru noon today

National Weather Service shouts:

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY...

A HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PST TODAY.

* TIMING: DAMAGING WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING...THEN SLOWLY DIMINISH THIS AFTERNOON.

* WINDS: NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS BETWEEN 25 AND 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS MORNING. THE DAMAGING WINDS ARE EXPECTED MAINLY IN AND NEAR THE FOOTHILLS.

* IMPACTS: WITH THE SOIL LOOSENED BY RECENT HEAVY RAINS...TREES WILL BE MORE EASILY UPROOTED BY THE STRONG WINDS. THE VERY STRONG WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DOWNED POWER LINES AND CAUSING POWER OUTAGES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS THAT WINDS ARE IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS GREATER THAN 60 MPH. BE ALERT FOR FLYING DEBRIS. IF ON THE ROAD...KEEP EYES OPEN FOR FALLEN TREES AND DOWNED POWER LINES. SECURE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND STAY INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.

UPDATE 9:45 AM: Lori Webster @ Webster's Fine Stationers tweets that they're out of power ... again.  Don't know how widespread this is yet.

Weather service issues small stream flood advisory

And coming along right on schedule:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED AN * URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR... LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...  THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF... TUJUNGA... SUNLAND... SIERRA MADRE...  LAKE VIEW TERRACE... LA CRESCENTA... LA CANADA/FLINTRIDGE... MONTEREY PARK...DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES...LONG BEACH... LANCASTER ...DIAMOND BAR... ACTON... * UNTIL 1100 PM PST  

* AT 755 PM PST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADARS INDICATED THAT MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN HAS PUSHED INTO THE WESTERN THIRD OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. IT WILL OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE COUNTY BY 830 PM PST. RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN ONE QUARTER AND ONE  THIRDS OF AN INCH PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED THIS EVENING. THE RAIN WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON AREA ROADWAYS... WITH SOME LOCAL  FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS AND INTERSECTIONS. IN ADDITION... MINOR  MUDSLIDES AND ROCK SLIDES ARE POSSIBLE... SINCE THE GROUND REMAINS VERY WET FROM THE STORM THIS PAST WEEK. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Flash flood watch in effect

As the morning begins, a flash flood watch is in effectin the burn areas, shouts the National Weather Service:

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* THE RECENT BURN AREAS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY...INCLUDING THE STATION...MORRIS...BRIGGS AND CROWN BURN AREAS.

* FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING

* LOCAL RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN ONE HALF AND THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ON SUNDAY.

* FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOW WILL BE A THREAT IN AND BELOW THE RECENT BURN AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

RESIDENTS IN OR BELOW THE RECENTLY BURNED AREAS ARE URGED TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS.

Weekend weather: rain, wind, and lots of it

The National Weather Service says a storm system developing off the coast will bring “significant rain and mountain snow” this weekend. A cold front associated with the storm is expected to move across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties Saturday, bringing wind (gusts around 35 MPH, possibly 60 MPH in the mountains) along with rain and lots of it: preliminary estimates are 0.75-1.5 inches across the coast and the valleys, with 1.5 to 2.5 inches in the mountains. 

Snow levels will drop by Saturday night to around 4500 ft., and about a foot of snow is predicted.  Weather Service says there will be a lull Saturday night and Sunday morning, but then another front is predicted to move in, bringing with it more rain and mountain snow.

Still excessive heat warning today

Still 105 degrees predicted for today (altho' our reliable weather-watchers said it only got up to about 102-103 yesterday, practically balmy!) Plug your ears, here comes the National Weather Service:

..EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY...

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY.

* TEMPERATURE: HEAT INDEX READINGS...A MEASURE OF THE LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT CAUSED BY THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY... ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO AROUND 105 WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING.

* IMPACTS: HEAT STROKE...HEAT EXHAUSTION...AND HEAT CRAMPS ARE POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN... AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

The closest cooling zones for seniors are:

• Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, 8 AM-5 PM;
• Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM weekdays, 8:30-3 Sat;

The county also recommends checking in with your local library, which is air conditioned and has plenty to read (and is next door to the senior center at 600 E. Mariposa).

Riders on the storm

Whenever we need the word about the weather, we go to Bill Westphal (and who wouldn't?):

Based on the latest Computer Models, it appears that Los Angeles County will receive the brunt of this approaching Storm.  Although not expected to be as strong as last Saturday’s, the mountains may receive up to 1.50” of rain along with the possibilities of Thunderstorms and Hail.

 

The bulk of the Shower and Thunderstorm activity is expected Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening but showers could linger into Wednesday as the Storm wraps around. 

 

This is a Cold Low Pressure System and Snow Levels are expected to be 3000’ in the Northern Mountains Tuesday Afternoon and possibly drop to 2000-2500’ Tuesday Night.  (Echo Mountain is 3500’.  Top of Lake Ave is 1800'). 

 

Hopefully the Burn Areas will be spared any further damage but we should all be alert especially during heavy Thunderstorms.  Depending how things turn out we could get some snow out of this storm. 

 

Enjoy the Weather.

Another storm on its way

This from the screamin', all-caps National Weather Service: another significant storm heading this way, maybe reaching the area tonight and going on thru Wednesday, weather, flood, and mud warnings and watches possible.  Full NWS report after the jump:

Weather I'm right, or weather I'm wrong ...

This morning, as the first drops of Storm #4 start coming down, the National Weather Service says Station Fire areas are still under flash flood watch, heavy rains expected today.  The newscast we heard said that LAX weather station has recorded record LOW barometric pressure, which means there's a big one comin' our way.

Stormwatch Wednesday: flash flood watch & wind warning

And the National Weather Service says:

..FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE 2008 AND 2009 BURN AREAS THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR

* THE 2008 AND 2009 BURN AREAS IN SANTA BARBARA...VENTURA...AND LOS ANGELES COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA. THIS INCLUDES THE STATION...MORRIS...AND JESUSITA BURN AREAS.

* THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT.

* RAINFALL COVERAGE AND INTENSITIES WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY. THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE BURN AREAS OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BETWEEN 11 AM AND 5 PM...SPREADING INTO LOS ANGELES COUNTY BETWEEN 3 PM AND 9 PM. DURING THIS TIME... PEAK HOURLY RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN .75 INCHES AND 1.00 INCH PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR RATES AS HIGH AS 1.50 INCHES PER HOUR NEAR THUNDERSTORMS AND ACROSS FAVORED SOUTH FACING SLOPES...INCLUDING THE STATION...MORRIS...AND JESUSITA BURN AREAS. AFTER A LULL IN RAINFALL ACTIVITY LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THERE IS EXPECTED TO BE PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN LATE THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...PROMPTING THE EXTENSION OF THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BURN AREAS.

Forecast: surprise -- more rain

Rainocalypse continues today.  Here's the weather bullet from NOAA:

Today: Showers likely before 10am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 10am and 4pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 55. Southeast wind between 11 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Tonight: Scattered rain and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. West wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Flash flood watch in effect

From the National Weather Service:

FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FOR THE STATION AND MORRIS BURN AREAS FROM 3 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE STATION AND MORRIS BURN AREAS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

* FROM 3 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING

* MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE WATCH AREA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. RAINFALL INTENSITIES COULD REACH THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH PER HOUR... ESPECIALLY ON AND BELOW SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST FACING SLOPES. RAINFALL AT THESE RATES WOULD LIKELY BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE BURN AREAS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

RESIDENTS IN OR BELOW THE STATION AND MORRIS BURN AREAS ARE URGED TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. PERSONS IN THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS.

Frost advisory Wed. morning -- SUBFREEZING?

This morning, we couldn't slide open the doors to our van -- they were frozen shut -- that's never happened before.  Tonight'll be worse!  Cover your tender plants and put your animals indoors.  From the National Weather Service:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM PST WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL TO BETWEEN 30 AND 32 DEGREES ACROSS A WIDESPREAD AREA LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... &&

Instruction:
A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT AFFECTED AREAS CAN EXPECT AT LEAST  TWO HOURS OF SUBFREEZING TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 28 AND 32 DEGREES... WITH POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO CROPS AND TENDER VEGETATION. MEASURES  SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT SENSITIVE CROPS AND VULNERABLE ANIMALS SHOULD BE KEPT INDOORS IN A BARN OR SIMILAR STRUCTURE.

Area:  LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN GABRIEL VALLEY-INCLUDING THE CITIES OF... PASADENA... SAN GABRIEL... POMONA

Dust in the wind

Well, if you haven't guessed yet, we're looking at high winds tonight, and they seem to be kicking up lots of dust and ash from the burned areas.  We've gotten some forecasts from Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita, and the San Fernando Valley, but nothing yet about what we can expect here in the San Gabriel Valley.  Lock everything down and prepare for high wind (and roll up your windows, too!)

Batten the hatches

It's all about the weather today -- rain, winds, possibility of hail, possibility of mudslides in the burn areas around Sierra Madre, and our scanner is working overtime on accident reports on the 210 and 134  The Twitter feed from CHP says there's an injury accident blocking lanes at Sierra Madre Blvd., and injury accidents on the 134 in Glendale at the 2, the 5,  and Pacific.  Sounds like a good day to stay home!

National Weather Service report after the jump

Major winter storm coming Sunday

The National Weather Service is waxing apocalyptic for tomorrow and Monday, after the jump:

Weekend winter weather warning ... and we mean warning!

National Weather Service is raising the alarms. The bullet: expect heavy rains this weekend, starting tomorrow afternoon, possibility of flash flooding, mudslides in the burn areas, snow as low as 3,000 ft., and up to 5 inches (yes, you heard us correctly) of rain in our area.  Details as only the government can give it after the jump:

Our ace weather guy Bill Westphal sends us this fabulous picture of today's snowfall and this note:

I took this shot from on top of the AT&T Building on North Lake Ave.  Mount Wilson in the center.  Mount Harvard to the right.  And the 972' tall CBS Guyed Mast on the left.

Interesting to note that all antennae are covered in snow or ice.  The CBS antenna on the left has alternating red and white sections but is completely white in this photo.  It's hard to make out, but even the guy wires were white and very visible.

We're not done with this weather yet.  Cool Temperatures and Gusty Winds are developing tonight and there is a chance of more rain later in the week.

Enjoy the weather.

The rain ain't over yet ...

... or so says weatherguy Bill Westphal in this morning's message:

Rainfall amounts at the Altadena WeatherCam from this last series of Storms:
0.94" Thursday 2/5
2.87" Friday 2/6
0.00"Saturday 2/7
0.16" Sunday 2/8
 0.35" Monday 2/9
4.32" Total as of 7:00 am this morning which brings my season total to 12.44 inches. National Weather Service says there is more on the way. This approaching Storm is colder and snow levels will drop to 3000 feet. Echo Mountain is at 3500 feet. NWS Radar shows the storm should reach us in several hours.

Over two and a half inches ...

... of rain today, says the Westphal Weathercam.  And now, thunder!

Flash flood warning

My, how the weather's changed in just a day: National Weather Service warns of roadway flooding:

FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA 725 PM PST THU FEB 5 2009

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... EASTERN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY IN EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA.

* UNTIL 845 PM PST

* AT 715 PM PST...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG AND NEARLY STATIONARY STORMS ACROSS THE EASTERN SAN GABRIEL VALLEY. RAINFALL RATES UP TO ONE INCH PER HOUR CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS THE WARNING AREA...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT AND DANGEROUS ROADWAY FLOODING.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO WEST COVINA... DIAMOND BAR...ROWLAND HEIGHTS...LA HABRA HEIGHTS...AND BALDWIN PARK. INTERSTATES 10 AND 210...AS WELL AS HIGHWAY 60 WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS STRONG LINE OF STORMS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

Whopper weather on the way

Hard to believe with the 80 degree temps and almost-cloudless sky today -- but the National Weather Service says expect a big 'un tomorrow afternoon:

A BROAD UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC  WILL APPROACH THE WEST COAST THROUGH THURSDAY. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO PUSH INTO THE CENTRAL COAST EARLY THURSDAY MORNING...WITH RAIN REACHING LOS ANGELES COUNTY LATE THURSDAY MORNING OR THURSDAY  AFTERNOON. RAIN WILL TURN TO SHOWERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST THURSDAY  EVENING... BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT ACROSS LOS ANGELES COUNTY. AS COLDER AIR ALOFT WITH THE UPPER LOW PUSHES INTO THE REGION BEHIND THE SYSTEMS COLD FRONT...INCREASING INSTABILITY COULD CAUSE A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAINFALL FROM THIS FRONTAL SYSTEM IS GENERALLY EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES IN COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS...WITH ONE INCH TO ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES IN THE FOOTHILLS AND MOUNTAINS. THE SNOW LEVEL NEAR 7000 FEET EARLY THURSDAY MORNING WILL LOWER TO AROUND 6000 FEET BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. WITH THESE TYPE OF SNOW LEVELS...SNOW ACCUMULATION IS NOT INITIALLY EXPECTED ACROSS  THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR. HOWEVER... ACCUMULATING SNOW IS POSSIBLE ABOVE 6000 FEET...AND WINTRY DRIVING CONDITIONS SHOULD BE EXPECTED IN HIGHER TERRAIN. THE NEXT IMPULSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL APPROACH THE CALIFORNIA COAST ON FRIDAY. THERE IS EXPECTED TO BE A BREAK IN THE STEADY RAIN THURSDAY NIGHT...BUT ENOUGH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS PRESENT TO MAINTAIN SCATTERED SHOWER ACTIVITY. RAIN WILL LIKELY INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY ON FRIDAY THEN CONTINUE INTO FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE TURNING TO SHOWERS AGAIN LATE.  DEPENDING UPON ITS TRACK... THE SECOND IMPULSE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING HEAVIER PRECIPITATION THAN THE FIRST SYSTEM. ADDITIONAL  FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOW CONCERNS WILL EXIST FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS. THIS SECONDARY COLD UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL LIKELY LINGER NEAR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THROUGH SATURDAY. DURING THIS TIME...LOWER SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED...WITH SNOW POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE INTERSTATE 5 CORRIDOR NEAR THE GRAPEVINE. THE FINER DETAILS WITH THE SECOND IMPULSE STILL REMAIN SOMEWHAT UNCLEAR. HOWEVER...THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH OF RAINFALL IN THE COASTAL AND VALLEY AREAS AND UP TO AN ADDITIONAL TWO TO TWO AND ONE HALF INCHES OF RAINFALL IN THE MORE FAVORABLE MOUNTAIN LOCATIONS. SOUTH FACING MOUNTAIN SLOPES ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE HIGHEST RAINFALL TOTALS FOR THE STORM SYSTEM. DUE TO THE COLD AND UNSTABLE NATURE OF THESE WEATHER SYSTEMS...THERE WILL ALSO BE THE POTENTIAL FOR WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY.

Hail -- yes!

About 11:30 Sunday night, with a clap of thunder, the rain turned to hail.  Here's a picture of the sidewalk of Altadenablog World Headquarters right now -- enough pea-size hail that it looks like snowfall.

UPDATE 11:50: Isaac Garcia has added backyard hail pictures.

UPDATE 8:30 1/26: Lots of local blogs mentioning the weather, including Uncle Mel, and Willie the Korn, who also has pictures.

Carol Momsen and Nancy Rothwell sent us some pictures, too,  and more updates, after the jump.

50% chance of rain tomorrow

Yep, the 80 degree days seem to be behind us for awhile, National Weather Service says.

(Hey, we were told the oceans were going to recede ...)

A little dusting

The weathered Bill Westphal (who contributed this morning's look at snow-covered Mt. Wilson) tells us that his home weather station recorded 2.01 inches of precip in the past few stormy days.  We think we can safely say the 90 degree days are finally over.

Let it snow -- for real, this time!

National Weather Service warns that combination rain and snow may fall overnight as low as the 1,500 foot level, which covers the higher, mountainous parts of Altadena. (Get your camera ready to take "remember when this happened?" pictures to amuse your children).  Odds are good for heavy rain, wind, and cold temperatures tonight and tomorrow -- those with livestock and sensitive plants are warned to get 'em inside or keep 'em covered overnight.

(Pictured: Mt. Wilson Towercam at 3:30 this afternoon)

It's coming!

Just in time for the holiday -- 70% chance of rain tonight. As we write this, 10 AM, it doesn't look like it, but just wait ....

Rain tomorrow?!?!?

Oh, weather in the Twilight Zone, where it can be over 100 degrees, and three days later -- rain!  National Weather Service is reporting a 40% chance of rain tomorrow, probably less than a quarter inch -- but ya know, that'll be great!

Flash flood warning (again)

Better to be safe than sorry, we guess.  National Weather Service has posted this for tonight:

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS...THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...LOS ANGELES COUNTY MOUNTAINS EXCLUDING THE SANTA MONICA RANGE...LOS ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS...AND THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY.

* THROUGH 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING

* SLOW MOVING THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS WILL BRING THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING AND MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS TO THE REGION.

* THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING OF CANYONS...ARROYOS AND LOW LYING AREAS ALONG WITH MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND BELOW RECENT BURN AREAS WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

Flash flood and thunderstorm warning (!?!?!?!)

Hard to believe, as it's 83 degrees out at six PM with no cloud in the sky, but hear it from the National Weather Service:

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA 440 PM PDT SAT JUL 12 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 545 PM PDT

* AT 429 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 12 MILES EAST OF PEARBLOSSOM...OR ABOUT 25 MILES NORTH OF UPLAND...AND MOVING WEST AT 6 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... PEARBLOSSOM BY 545 PM PDT...

THIS STORM WILL AFFECT TRAVELERS AND COMMUNITIES ALONG HIGHWAY 138. IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS IMMEDIATELY! LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.

And this:
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA INCLUDING THE EASTERN ANTELOPE VALLEY AND EASTERN SAN GABRIELS...

* UNTIL 600 PM PDT

* AT 423 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT WILL LIKELY PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING ACROSS EAST CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY...AFFECTING EXTREME EASTERN ANTELOPE VALLEY ALONG HIGHWAYS 18 AND 138...AS WELL AS THE EASTERN SAN GABRIELS...INCLUDING THE COMMUNITIES OF BIG PINES...FALLING SPRINGS AND MOUNT BALDY. THESE STORMS WERE DRIFTING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTHWEST AND WILL LIKELY PRODUCE RAINFALL INTENSITIES OF ONE INCH PER HOUR.

IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY. RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF FLOOD WATERS. ONLY A FEW INCHES OF RAPIDLY FLOWING WATER CAN QUICKLY CARRY AWAY YOUR VEHICLE.

County offers places to stay cool

As the temperature reaches the 100+ area, remember that LA County has established cooling centers to take the edge off the heat.

The nearest cooling centers are the Altadena Senior Center, 560 E. Mariposa, 798-4971, Mon.-Fri., 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, and the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E. Holly St., 795-4331,  Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30, and Sat. 8:30 AM-3 PM. (Call ahead of time to make sure they're still open on a given day).  Otherwise, call 211.

Sgt. Yolanda Palomo of the Altadena Sheriff's Station has also sent the following advice for keeping cool:

 

If you plan to be outdoors, please take precautions to protect yourself from the sun and heat.

• Put on plenty of sun block and wear a wide brimmed hat or carry an umbrella.  

• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing.

• Drink water often, don’t wait until you are thirsty.

• Avoid unnecessary exertion.

• If you experience dizziness, fatigue, faintness, headaches, muscle cramps and increased thirst you need to relax in a cooler, shaded place and drink water or a sports drink. 

• More severe symptoms (such as disorientation, pale and clammy skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and/or fast and shallow breathing)  may indicate heat exhaustion or impending heat stroke.  Seek immediate medical attention.  

• If you are traveling on vacation or running errands around town, NEVER leave a senior, child or pet in a closed car or any vehicle since temperatures can quickly rise to life-threatening levels.

• If you know seniors who live alone or people whose immune and/or respiratory systems are not working properly, check on them regularly to make sure they are staying cool.  

• Offer assistance to “shut-ins” in your neighborhood.  Check on them frequently during hot weather.

Altadena Senior Center is a cooling center

From Supv. Antonovich's office: if you just can't take the heat, the Altadena Senior Center,   560 East Mariposa Street in Altadena; (626) 798-4971 is open as a cooling center 8AM-5PM Mon. thru Fri., and PSN reports it will be open from 8:30-3 today.

The heat just ain't goin' away ...

National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Saturday. Stay cool!

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT SATURDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS CONTINUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR THE VALLEYS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES...AND THE SANTA MONICA RANGE. THIS WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT SATURDAY.

HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED 100 DEGREES AGAIN ON SATURDAY WITH MOST MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FORECAST TO RANGE FROM 100 TO 111 OVER THE VALLEY AND FOOTHILL AREAS. TEMPERATURES THIS WARM WILL BRING HEAT INDICES TO AROUND 105 DEGREES ON SATURDAY. IN ADDITION...OVERNIGHT LOWS TONIGHT WILL LINGER IN THE MID 80 DEGREE RANGE. THE WARMEST AREAS WILL BE THE FOOTHILL LOCATIONS OF THE COASTAL VALLEYS INCLUDING OJAI... FILLMORE...SANTA CLARITA...AND THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THESE HOT TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR- CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUNSHINE...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR ANIMALS IN PARKED VEHICLES EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED...DEATH WILL LIKELY RESULT.

Excessive heat warning today

National Weather Service is reiterating its excessive heat warning for Friday (up to 113 degrees?  Eeek!) pretty much from 11 AM until dark.

We continue to note the touching concern at the end of these notices, now regarding one's children and pets:

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS CONTINUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING FOR VALLEYS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTY...AND THE SANTA MONICA RANGE. THIS WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM PDT FRIDAY.

HIGH TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY ARE EXPECTED TO TOP OUT BETWEEN 106 AND 113 DEGREES...WITH HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 DEGREES.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR ANIMALS IN PARKED VEHICLES EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED...DEATH WILL LIKELY RESULT.

Red flag warning ...

It's hot, doncha know, and the Weather Service says so:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT SATURDAY.

THERE IS EXPECTED TO BE LONG DURATIONS OF SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES EACH DAY
THROUGH SATURDAY IN THE FOOTHILLS... WITH TEMPERATURES CLIMBING AS HIGH AS
112 DEGREES TODAY AND FRIDAY.

IN ADDITION... THERE WILL BE VERY POOR OVERNIGHT RECOVERIES...REMAINING
BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PERCENT IN MANY LOCATIONS.

Instruction: A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY.

A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...HOT TEMPERATURES...AND RAPIDLY
LOWERING FUEL MOISTURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

PLEASE ADVISE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OR FIRE CREWS IN THE FIELD OF THIS
RED FLAG WARNING.

Area: VENTURA COUNTY INTERIOR VALLEYS-VENTURA COUNTY COASTAL VALLEYS-LOS
ANGELES COUNTY VALLEYS-

Affected Counties or parts of: Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Los
Angeles

The browning of Altadena

Now that we're officially in a drought and water rationing is being waved like a red flag, we thought we'd share this note from Mr. Weather Altadena himself, Bill Westphal:

Interesting article in the Pasadena Star News today.  Seems the County is going to seed the clouds again in the hopes of increasing rainfall. Read the article here:

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_9535981

They have been using the same company off and on for many years.  North American Water Consultants actually began in Altadena according to the article.  I'm curious why it's going to take them so long to start (2010). 

I seem to recall many years ago where the seeding actually caused more rain than expected.

Maybe Bob Kuhn from the Three Valleys Municipal Water District is right and we should invest a little more in improving ways to capture the water or flood control?

Rainfall Seasons generally run from July 1 through June 30.  At least that's the way the National Weather Service does it.  So I decided to do it that way also.

I took a look at the figures from my Weather Station in Altadena.  I've been collecting data since March 2003.  Detailed readings are available at:

http://www.westphalfamily.com/wxdata.html

Here are the total rainfall amounts for the complete seasons I have so far:

2003-2004       14.72"

2004-2005       56.66"

2005-2006       22.37"

2006-2007       6.52"

2007-2008       24.65" (Year to date)

The 2006-2007 Season was really light but the rest don't seem that bad.  Rain in June is pretty scarce so we're probably done for this season.  But I have my fingers crossed.

 

Bill Westphal

bill@westphalfamily.com
Altadena WeatherCam

http://www.westphalfamily.com/wxdata2.html

Flash flood warning for Altadena

From the National Weather Service:

FLASH FLOOD WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OXNARD CA 216 PM PDT THU MAY 22 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OXNARD HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR... CENTRAL LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA...

* UNTIL 345 PM PDT

* AT 212 PM PDT...DOPPLER RADARS INDICATED INTENSE RAINFALL FROM A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN THE VICINITY OF THE CITIES OF AZUZA AND EL MONTE. RADAR RAINFALL RATES ARE IN EXCESS OF ONE INCH PER HOUR.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO AZUSA AND EL MONTE.

EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS...URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS SAFELY.

Residents feel powerless, palm tree snaps, TV reporters can't spell

KABC reports that 1,400 residents of Altadena and La Canada had their power knocked out by today's high winds.  Clyde and Yvonne Jennings reported that the top of their palm tree snapped right off.

(Note: this story is instructive as to the average intelligence of the TV news reporter:  revel in creative language such as: "Mother Nature was in a fowl [sic] mood overnight" and "Residents were not able to access [that is, assess] the damage in their yards until daybreak."  These people have jobs, print reporters lose 'em.  Go figure.]

Hail and farewell

A selection of weird weather these past few days -- as we write, it's windy beyond belief.  And of course, it's been warm, and cold and generally bizarre.

Stonehill News has video of the weekend's brief hailstorm, for your amusement.

Rain gone away -- for now!

You wouldn't know we were in a drought, judging from the past few days.  Bill Westphal, Altadena's weather eye, gives us the following readings from his home station:

Rainfall for the past 7 days is as follows:

 

23	January	1.06
24	January	1.42
25	January	1.46
26	January	0.71
27	January	2.24
28	January	0.79
	TOTAL	7.68

 

Thats an average of 1.28" per day for the 7 day period.  If you count the 8" of rain earlier in the month, we've averaged  .56" per day so far for January.

 

Total Rainfall so far for this season (July - June) at my station has been 21.34"

Forecast for the rest of the week is clear or partly cloudy, and no precip in view. 

Flash flood watch tonight

With the promise of heavy rains tonight and possibly through the week, we look forward to the National Weather Service delivering a flash flood watch to the area, to wit:

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR THE BURN AREAS...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* THE BURN AREAS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

* FROM 1 PM PST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WITH POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE RAINFALL RATES OF ONE HALF INCH TO ONE INCH PER HOUR ACROSS THE AREA THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH THE HEAVIEST RATES EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTH FACING MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS. THIS COULD LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND BELOW THE RECENT BURN AREAS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

PERSONS LIVING IN OR BELOW THE WATCH AREA SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND FOLLOW DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS IF HEAVY FLOWS OF WATER OR MUD AND DEBRIS ARE OBSERVED. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

So let's be careful out there!

Severe wind warning now in effect

Well, our peaceful weather day is over, and it's time to batten the hatches ...  National Weather Service says:

..HIGH WIND WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PST THURSDAY...

THE HIGH WIND WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PST THURSDAY. THE WIND ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

AREAS OF NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH THROUGH THIS EVENING...PEAKING TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING WITH DAMAGING GUSTS TO AROUND 65 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY...INCLUDING PORTER RANCH...CHATSWORTH AND GRANADA HILLS. THESE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN THURSDAY AFTERNOON...BUT MAY REMAIN ABOVE ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH SATURDAY.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Wind advisory upgraded

Just got word from National Weather Service that we've been upgraded from "high wind advisory" to "high wind warning."  So what's new?

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

So, again, batten the hatches.  Altho' there's still not a breeze outside as we write this!

High wind advisory today

From the National Weather Service:

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST THIS EVENING... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM PST THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOS ANGELES/OXNARD HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 3 PM PST THURSDAY. THE HIGH WIND WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM PST THIS EVENING.

NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TODAY... WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH POSSIBLE BY NOON. EVEN STRONGER WINDS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING...WITH WIND GUSTS EXCEEDING 65 MPH. THE STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY... INCLUDING PORTER RANCH...CHATSWORTH AND GRANADA HILLS.

So prepare to batten the hatches, but it seems pretty calm this morning.