5:30 AM and 28 degrees out. It dropped below freezing about 9 PM last night. That's a long time for all the plants that were starting to bloom just a couple of weeks ago. The mountain lilac (ceanothus) had already started putting out buds and tender growth. Our bees have been foraging on the rosemary blossoms.
Wouldn't it be great if the temperature zapped the Oak Borer? We've lost another big Coastal Live Oak to them, and have several others thinning out. Maybe the borer will move back to a warmer clime. Can't think of a better New Year's gift.
- Posted by Kim via iPhone
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
FROM THE CAMERA OF GREGG GRIMALDO...
Gregg takes some great photos and sent these for posting: Thank you!
Thought I would share these photos with you and everyone that I took on Thursday. Water pics are from Rattlesnake Canyon, at the end of Daum Rd. Hawk is from my backyard,enjoy, I have!
Merry Christmas!
Gregg Grimaldo
Friday, December 24, 2010
OH FRABJOUS DAY.... THE SUN RETURNS! (shhhh... rain expected Saturday)
Can you hear the singing?
Here comes the sun... Here comes the sun...
It's all right (dah doo-dah... dah doo-dah... dah doo-dah....)
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| SUN... SUN... SUN... HERE IT COMES! |
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| GOPHERS! |
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| THIRSTY ROCKS |
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| WEEDS! |
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
DRY CREEK on HONEY SPRINGS? .... NOT TODAY (VIDEO at 3:00!)
While out and about this morning I stopped the car to take a look at the creek drainage alongside Honey Springs Rd. at the Welcome Sign. Sobering how much water is flowing and how strong it is....
ROAD CONDITIONS? - OTAY LAKES - HWY 94
9:47 AM The CHP incident log reports the County closed Otay Lakes Road at Thousand Trails. Flooding was one-foot deep moving across the roadway. We watched cars head west onto OTL Rd from Hwy 94, and there were no "returns", but use caution. No reports on conditions at the Gliderport dip.
1:00 PM Sharon G sent this: I just returned from the Post Office and the dip on 94 has quite a bit of water going through it. It's passable, but watch for vehicles coming too fast from the opposite direction - the spray can go over your vehicle.
UPDATE: The CHP incident report at 11:27 states that a unit is on scene.
1:00 PM Sharon G sent this: I just returned from the Post Office and the dip on 94 has quite a bit of water going through it. It's passable, but watch for vehicles coming too fast from the opposite direction - the spray can go over your vehicle.
UPDATE: The CHP incident report at 11:27 states that a unit is on scene.
WEDNESDAY MORNING....
Took a drive down Deerhorn Valley Rd and Honey Springs about 8:30 am this morning. All was in surprisingly good shape. Water is crossing the road at the Deerhorn Dip, but both dips on Honey Springs are clear. I drove down the grade to Hwy 94. There were rocks, sand, and mud on the surface at the curves --- be careful and slow down to avoid skidding. At Hwy 94 I looked at the where the Jamul and Dulzura Creeks merge, and although there was a good amount of water flowing, it had not gone over the banks. Otay Lakes Rd. was open to judge by the numbers of cars turning, and no returns.
Here are some photos of our usual trouble spots this morning about 8:30 AM. More rain is coming throughout the day, but it looks like we can start drying out tomorrow.
If you have any updates on the conditions in and around Deerhorn, please leave a comment here or on our Facebook Page (http://facebook.com/deerhornvalley) If you're commuting, the County DPW has done a great job posting road closures as they occur on their Emergency Page:
Here are some photos of our usual trouble spots this morning about 8:30 AM. More rain is coming throughout the day, but it looks like we can start drying out tomorrow.
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| The dip at the lower end of Deerhorn Valley Rd. about 8:30 this morning. |
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| The creek running under Elena Lane. Usually dry. |
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| Honey Springs Road at the upper Dip. |
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| Honey Springs Road at the lower dip |
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| Mud, sand, and rock along Honey Springs. |
If you have any updates on the conditions in and around Deerhorn, please leave a comment here or on our Facebook Page (http://facebook.com/deerhornvalley) If you're commuting, the County DPW has done a great job posting road closures as they occur on their Emergency Page:
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
COUNTY EMERGENCY URGES STORM PRECAUTIONS
FROM THE SD COUNTY WEBSITE: PUBLIC URGED TO TAKE STORM PRECAUTIONS
Heavy rain, strong winds and the possibility of isolated thunderstorms are in the forecast tomorrow, prompting emergency officials to ask residents to be prepared and cautious.
Below are some tips to keep you safe as the storm approaches:
- Monitor local television and radio stations for flood warnings. The county is currently under a flood watch until tomorrow afternoon.
- Get the latest forecast details from the National Weather Service at www.nws.gov/sandiego.
- Know how to shut off electricity at the fuse panel and gas at the meter.
- Avoid downed power lines and broken glass.
- Never cross a flooded road, and do not attempt to go around a road closure sign.
- Get information about County of San Diego road closures at http://sdcdpw.org/emergency.
- Get free sandbags for your property from the County Department of Public Works and CAL FIRE at the DULZURA FIRE STATION #30: 17304 HWY 94
For additional information, visit www.ReadySanDiego.org or call 211.
BIG RAIN HEADING STRAIGHT FOR US IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES
Very large band of heavy rain making a beeline for South County from Mexico. ETA about 12:15.
SD County DPW reports Central Ave. in Bonita closed between Bonita Rd and Sweetwater with boulders falling down bank. This is the same rain band headed toward Deerhorn. Avoid roads if at all possible. Suggest taking Skyline TT to avoid the slide areas on upper Honey Springs. Those rocks above are going to be unstable.
Emergency vehicles are responding to an incident (unknown type) on Honey Springs Rd. If you have any details, please let us know: 468-6218. I'm monitoring Sheriff's radio but have picked up no details.
SD County DPW reports Central Ave. in Bonita closed between Bonita Rd and Sweetwater with boulders falling down bank. This is the same rain band headed toward Deerhorn. Avoid roads if at all possible. Suggest taking Skyline TT to avoid the slide areas on upper Honey Springs. Those rocks above are going to be unstable.
Emergency vehicles are responding to an incident (unknown type) on Honey Springs Rd. If you have any details, please let us know: 468-6218. I'm monitoring Sheriff's radio but have picked up no details.
HEAVIEST RAINS STILL TO COME...
National Weather Service warns that runoff from burned areas and debris flows threaten our hills. The entire County is under Flash Flood Watch and Flood Warning until tomorrow, with the heaviest rains expected this evening into Wednesday morning.
The County DPW has activated its Emergency Page. This is the best effort I've seen so far at tracking road closures and traffic hazards. The more information we can access, the better. http://sdcdpw.org/emergency They have been updating all night as roads in the north county begin to close. You can report any storm-related problem to DPW: 888-846-0800.
If a problem affects our local area please let us (DVCA/Antler - Kim&Rob) know at 619-468-3218 or email us theantler@deerhornvalley.net We can send an Antler e-Alert to the 200 or so on our list.
Here are our local usual trouble spots in heavy rain:
Otay Lakes Road: Thousand Trails and the Gliderport Dips
Deerhorn Valley Road Dip
Honey Springs Rd: Upper and Lower Dips
94 at the Daley Ranch Dip
You can monitor the CHP Incidents too. As I write this, I see 73 crash reports since 5 AM. Yikes. Their incident page is http://cad.chp.ca.gov/ Just click "San Diego" in the upper left corning.
Stay safe, and stay in touch.
Monday, December 20, 2010
FLASH FLOOD WATCH: Monday-Wednesday
Another heads-up for us from the National Weather Service...
...A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from noon today through Wednesday afternoon for all of San Diego County, including our deserts. …A large Pacific plume of moisture is expected to bring heavy rains and the potential for areas of serious flooding.
…Rainfall rates near or greater than one inch per hour are possible at times...especially in the mountains.
…Mud and debris flows area also possible...especially below steep terrain and areas with little to no vegetation.
…Runoff coming out of the mountains will fill and could overflow streams on the desert slopes of the mountains...thus the deserts are included in this flash flood watch.
…Strong thunderstorms could accompany a cold front on Wednesday. With the rainfall already received...this additional significant rainfall will continue the threat of mud and debris flows... Particularly in and around 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. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued.
STORM TOTAL NOON MONDAY: 1.34 in.
YEAR TO DATE: 5.64 in.
(Elena Lane & Deerhorn Valley Rd.)
REMEMBERING LAST JANUARY'S RAINS...
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| HONEY SPRINGS RD.... UPPER DIP |
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| DON'T TRY THIS... |
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| WATER MOVES ROCKS & BOULDERS... AND CARS. |
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Famous last words: "How I wish we had covered the woodpile sooner!" |
-posted by Kim H
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Special Weather Statement -- RAIN...RAIN...RAIN
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| Mount Elena in the rain.... |
The plume of moisture from the pacific will continue to bring moderate rain to Orange County and the Inland Empire...and light rain to San Diego County today. Strong upslope flow will result in large amounts of precipitation in the San Bernardino County Mountains.
Though rainfall will be fairly steady...hourly rainfall rates are not expected to be intense enough to cause flash flooding today. Shower activity is expected to decrease on Monday.
The moisture plume will be directly over Southern California Tuesday and Wednesday...so the entire region could have heavy rainfall with areas of urban or flash flooding then.
YEAR TO DATE: 4.56 inches
STORM TOTAL SO FAR: 0.26
You can monitor the local forecast and alerts at the link above which is set for Deerhorn Valley area and altitude.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Dead Buck on Honey Springs... Heads-up
The plasterer got here about an hour ago and said there was a dead buck on the side of the road on Honey Springs --about a half mile up the road from the rest stop/parking. That's the second one I've heard of in a very short time. I'd hate to hit one of them on the way down, and it grieves me that we've lost two of them. -PD
Ed.Note: We are just beginning to see the post-fire return of larger wildlife. The coyotes are busy, and we had a daytime visit from a bobcat last week. We've seen several deer in the area. So I guess it's a heads-up to us all to keep our eyes open, especially on the fast roads like Honey Springs and Skyline. -KH
Ed.Note: We are just beginning to see the post-fire return of larger wildlife. The coyotes are busy, and we had a daytime visit from a bobcat last week. We've seen several deer in the area. So I guess it's a heads-up to us all to keep our eyes open, especially on the fast roads like Honey Springs and Skyline. -KH
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