Heads Up CA Heavy Rain-Snow Headed your way!

CA Reservoir Info

[link to cdec.water.ca.gov (secure)]

Bomb cyclone generated record-challenging waves that towered off of California coast

The bomb cyclone that slammed into Northern California's coast Thanksgiving week generated some of the largest waves recorded by Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) buoys.

On Wednesday, Nov. 27, a CDIP buoy within 30 miles off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California, recorded the significant wave height of 43.1 feet. To put that into perspective, that's about the height of a 4-story building.

The tallest of these waves was 74.4 feet – making for a nearly 7-story wave.. .

[link to www.accuweather.com (secure)]

Severe storm hits Northern California, causing flooding and rock slides

December 8, 2019 / 7:35 PM / CBS News

A severe storm flooded parts of Northern California, including San Francisco, and led to rock slides near Big Sur this weekend. In San Francisco's West Portal neighborhood, torrential rains overwhelmed intersections and waist-deep floodwaters poured into homes, CBS San Francisco reported.

[link to www.cbsnews.com (secure)]

Widespread precipitation is expected Friday into Saturday. Snow levels will be lowering to 4000-5000 feet Saturday. Up to 1 foot of snow is possible. #cawx

Dangerous
🌊
surf ahead, @NWSBayArea
urging caution along the coast/beaches from tomorrow into the start of the weekend. Strong (windy) storms in the NE Pacific & Gulf of Alaska the source for soon-to-be big waves our way #CAwx

[link to twitter.com (secure)]

Thousands of 'penis-fish' are washed onto a California beach after storm pulled them from their underwater burrows

Biologist found thousands of fat innkeeper worms on the shore of Drakes Beach in California
He suggests a recent storm pulled them out of their homes made of sand and carried them to the shore
The marine creatures live in U-shaped burrows that it eventually leaves with other animals
It lives to be about 25 years old and feeds on plankton, bacteria and other small particles on the ocean

[link to www.dailymail.co.uk (secure)]

Recent rains have mostly washed California’s drought away

Recent rains have saturated California and reduced the portion of the state deemed to be abnormally dry to just 3.6%, according to the Drought Monitor released Thursday.

One week ago, the Drought Monitor showed 85.3% of the state as abnormally dry. Now, 96.4% of the state is drought free.

The data in the report released Thursday are as of Tuesday, so there is a slight lag between when the data are compiled and when they’re released. . .

[link to www.latimes.com (secure)]

and they R KEEPING THESE RES. FAT WITH WATER TOO!

Ca drought map
[link to droughtmonitor.unl.edu (secure)]

next storm should wipe out the abnormally dry area as more rain/snow on the way

[link to weather.rap.ucar.edu]

[link to coolwx.com]

Quiet pattern in the Northwest to be disrupted by atmospheric river next week

. . .
A shift in the jet stream will bring some showers along the coast and as far inland as the Cascades from northern Washington to California on Wednesday.
“The jet stream will pull tropical moisture from near near Hawaii into the Northwest, with the heaviest rain aimed at Oregon and possibly extreme Northern California,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brian Thompson.
This will set up an effect that meteorologists often refer to as an atmospheric river.
A storm will move in Wednesday night and Thursday, spreading rain and mountain snow from west to east across Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
The persistence of moisture streaming in from the Pacific Ocean will increase the threat for flooding across the region.
Widespread rainfall amounts of 1-3 inches will be possible from the western slopes of the Cascades to the coast through Friday night.
“There is the potential for over 6 inches of rain along the southern Oregon coast from late Wednesday into the start of the weekend,” Thompson said.
[link to www.accuweather.com (secure)]

New Scale categorizes power of crucial atmospheric flows
Friday, Dec. 13, 2019


How the new scale ranks ARs
The scale developed by Ralph and the weather service’s Jonathan Rutz, ranks atmospheric rivers from 1 to 5 based on the duration of water vapor transport over an area, which their research showed is what causes the greatest impacts.

An atmospheric river is given a category if water vapor lingers in an area for less than 24 hours, and it’s upgraded if it lingers for more than 48 hours. Unlike other storm scales, this one builds in time as a factor. The table below breaks down categories 1 through 5.

[link to cronkitenews.azpbs.org (secure)]

more storms on the way,
[link to weather.rap.ucar.edu]

NOAA Satellites
@NOAASatellites
· 6h
#GOESWest is watching an #AtmosphericRiver of moisture streaming into the #PacificNorthwest that will bring heavy #rain to coastal areas and some #snow to higher terrain by the #CascadeMountains throughout this weekend.

[link to twitter.com (secure)]

Flooding Hits Freeways, Streets As Heavy Rain Continues To Soak Southern California

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Heavy, steady rainfall overnight is causing flooding on freeways and streets all over Los Angeles and making for harrowing driving conditions.



The Sepulveda Basin, near where the 101 and 405 Freeway intersect, was shut down early Monday due to widespread flooding. The low-lying streets around the basin often flood during heavy rainfall.

One man had to be rescued from the rushing L.A. River overnight. The man was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

All lanes of the southbound 110 Freeway at Carson Street in Torrance were briefly shut down just before 5 a.m. because of flooding in lanes. Traffic was diverted onto Carson Street before the freeway was fully reopened about 10 minutes later.. .
[link to losangeles.cbslocal.com (secure)]

WEATHER
SoCal storm: Heavy snow, rain pound region, prompting flooding, road closures

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A major storm slammed the Southland Thursday, shutting down the Grapevine and Cajon Pass while creating serious flooding and chaos on the roadways.

Scattered light rain and showers fell in the Los Angeles area by late Christmas afternoon, but the brunt of the storm hit about 9 p.m. Wednesday and was expected to continue through mid-morning or early afternoon Thursday. A winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

The California Highway Patrol said the 5 Freeway through the Grapevine and the 15 Freeway through the Cajon Pass were shut down in both directions after the heavy snow left multiple vehicles trapped.

[link to abc7.com (secure)]

December 26, 2019 3:24AM
SANTA BARBARA (KABC) -- The National Weather Service briefly issued and then canceled a tornado warning for parts of Santa Barbara County for Wednesday at least until 10:30 p.m.

The service also issued and then canceled a tornado warning for central Orange County shortly after midnight. The warning applied to areas including Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Irvine.
[link to abc7.com (secure)]

If you're in the area, cycle your earthquake preps, fresh water you'd like to drink, etc. Low pressure is connected with quakes. Just read about a study this week.

SAN DIEGO — The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for parts of San Diego County.

The advisory is in effect until 10:15 a.m. Thursday in parts of the region.

Some locations that will likely experience flooding include Alpine, Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, National City, Poway, Ramona, and Vista, according to the NWS.

[link to localrecordsoffices.com (secure)]

[link to coolwx.com]

More storms on way next 7-10 days

KINDA SERIOUS..

Look at this. The 00z ECMWF develops a warm core surface low pressure system near Hawaii. It gets advected by a cold mid-latitude trough towards California.

This type of scenario could bring substantial, record rainfall to CA and will be watched. #cawx
[link to twitter.com (secure)]

NWS Los Angeles
@NWSLosAngeles
· 15m
Storm coming Thursday and Thursday night. Significant roadway impacts expected. I-5 Grapevine could have snow delays or closures. Bring chains, food and blankets if you must travel in the mountains. Wet urban roads will cause delays for evening commute. #BeSafe #Cawx #LARain

[link to twitter.com (secure)]

notice the purple indicating heavy snow

almost all reservoirs near or above historical average, should go up after next round of storms

NWS Sacramento
@NWSSacramento
·
47m
‼️
Heads up! Mountain showers continue this morning before a strong winter storm will impact #NorCal tomorrow night - early Friday.

🚧
Significant mountain travel impacts expected with this storm. Be prepared for whiteout conditions, chain controls & road closures! #CAwx

[link to twitter.com (secure)]