altadenablog

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.

After the deluge

Altadena's weather maven Bill Westphal sends us this record of the weekend's rainfall:

4.06 " Friday
1.54" Saturday
2.32" Sunday
0. 08" Monday
8.00" even for the four days.

Less than expected according to the forecasts, but it was still a significant amount of rain and we here in Altadena did not see any serious problems.  I have only heard about the small mudslide in the Chaney Trail area.

The news is reporting that we are above normal for "Los Angeles."  That's good news.  I've had 13.62" here since the beginning of the "season" (July 01).

 

With rains come flood watch

Here we go again: chances of rain Friday are estimated at 60%, and National Weather Service has started a flash flood watch: 

..FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS...

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

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE RECENT BURN AREAS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN   SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA.

* FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING

* RAINFALL RATES BETWEEN ONE HALF AND ONE INCH PER HOUR WILL BE POSSIBLE AT TIMES DURING THE STORM...WITH THE HIGHEST RATES EXPECTED ON SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST FACING MOUNTAIN AND FOOTHILL LOCATIONS. THESE ANTICIPATED RAINFALL RATES WILL POSE A THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN 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.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIVE 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 DIRECTIONS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OFFICIALS. EVACUATIONS SHOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WAITING FOR INSTRUCTIONS IF HEAVY FLOWS OF WATER OR MUD ARE OBSERVED.

Get ready for the rain!

We've had predictions of high winds and heavy rains for weeks now -- they might as well have predicted we'd find weapons of mass destruction, too.  But the three rainstorms heading our way this weekend sound like the real thing.  Our weather maven Bill Westphal says that up to 10 inches is predicted for the south-facing mountains, with the heaviest fall Friday night into Saturday morning.  Gear up!

Flash flood watch remains in effect

National Weather Service isn't pussy-footin' around: big rain tonight and tomorrow.

FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* THE BURN AREAS OF SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA

* THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON

* RAINFALL INTENSITIES UP TO A HALF INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE    DURING THE PEAK OF THE EVENT.

* THE INTENSITY OF THE RAINFALL MAY BE GREAT ENOUGH TO CAUSE MUD   AND DEBRIS FLOW IN AND NEAR THE BURN AREAS.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE BURN AREAS MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING AND MUD AND DEBRIS FLOWS IN AND NEAR THE BURN AREAS. 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 ARE OBSERVED.