I don't know what's causing it, but while the temperatures have been mild-ish for December and January, the humidity here along the coast has been very high. Right now, we're experiencing a week of 100% humidity (overcast, sometimes foggy, but little rain). That's not the usual case for winters here.
https://blog.weather.us/fire-weather-in-the-west-lake-effect-in-the-east-as-high-pressure-dominates/
Aren't we, in the Midwest and NE, supposed to get a polar vortex next week?
>>A fairly unusual lack of rain to date in parts of Southern California
It is so dry and warm, the cedar pollen here is off the charts. Big clouds of it. I have both Austin Air filters running on high plus the forced-air system circulating air through its filter (which is roughly a PM2.5) and, coupled with antihistamines, gives some relief but its still unpleasant. Basically I am sheltering in place and not stepping outside unless I have to (which is a shame because it is otherwise gorgeous weather). Much worse than all except a couple days during the fires.
This is only the second time in 18 winters this has happened. Normally if it rains every couple of weeks it attenuates this significantly. The last time it was like this (2018), I drove to work and back and otherwise spent the day indoors. When I got home my wife took one look at me and said: "You look like you got in a bar fight. And lost."
I'm a bit worried about the coming fire season.
I'm *always* worried about the coming fire season.
In drought years they tell us over and over that it's tinder dry and things could explode at any second.
In big snow years we get a couple of extra months to relax and then they start telling us that large amounts of moisture led to very rapid growth and fuel loads are extremely high and things could explode at any second.
To live in most of California is to spend roughly much of the year worrying about burning down
It has been extremely dry here in the Central US this year and we've been having horrible windstorms.
For the last couple of days, we had 30mph winds with gusts of 50 to 60.
Been a bit warmer than normal here. Quite a bit of rain but not much snow other than one decent storm a couple weeks back. Temps have been 40-45 rather than 25-35 we normally see.
Last Wednesday we had a big windstorm blow through here. Thousands of huge pine trees down around the city. We were without power for a couple days but some people are just now getting power back. One of the parks here had well over 100 trees blown over.
January 15: Colorado Dust Storm Was Visible From Space
https://www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/science/colorado-dust-storm-visible-from-space
The next community over and few more south of us are forecasting Public Safety Power Shutdowns for tomorrow. This is when they shut down power for a day or two because fire danger is so high that they afraid a line failure in high winds would lead to a catastrophic fire.
This is the first time I ever remember one outside of the July-October window we usually worry about.
We are currently under a Shelter in Place order due to downed trees and downed power lines. All roads are closed. The park is closed.
The weather service says this in the advisory attached to the current forecast
Quote
...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...In the Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills, sustained
northeast winds 35 to 45 mph, with gusts near 80 mph expected.
* WHERE...Sierra Nevada and adjacent foothills from Fresno
County northward.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM PST this evening.
* IMPACTS...Damaging wind gusts will blow down trees and power
lines. Power outages are expected. Travel will be perilous,
particularly for high profile vehicles.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Avoid forested areas as damaging wind gusts
will blow down trees and block roadways. Stay clear of power
lines.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around
trees and branches. If possible, remain in the lower levels of
your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if
you must drive.
As my wife said, the Shelter in Place order just makes us want to go outside and see what's happening... which we weren't otherwise planning
Friend of my wife's in the next town over posted pictures on FB emphasizing that she hasn't even left her little area, but the van they were sleeping in was hit last night and her car was destroyed. She said she hasn't seen a car or house in her area that was not impacted and posted photos of more than one house basically split in half.
This photo is the... I don't know what you call it, the gallery cover? The composite image on FB that you click through to see the gallery
UPDATE, 1:32pm. Apparently everyone must by going out to get their FB/IG photos because the park and the county alert systems just sent out this alert:
Quote
Wawona and Yosemite West Residents: REMAIN SHELTERED IN PLACE.
Continued hazardous wind conditions, downed power lines, downed and
weakened trees make it unsafe to be outside. There will be no access in
or out of these communities for at least the next 24-48 hours.
> more than one house basically split in half.
The trees in that composite appear to be all, or nearly all, pines. And that's a problem. I know of houses here that were chopped into 5 pieces --like an egg in an egg slicer-- by pines during hurricanes.
Stay safe ergo.
Ha ha! Pines are the *good* ones around here. Mostly were scared of firs. Just as big as pines, heavier and way more likely to fail.
>>Stay safe ergo
Oh, we're fine. Thanks for the sentiment though. We are very sheltered from the wind. Terrible for solar energy, but good for high-wind events. And we're not going wandering around... we'll take our look when the winds die down. One of my fundamental rules is not to die for a photo (truly, that was one of the heuristics I had in my "famous" Staying Alive ranger presentation: "Ask yourself, would I be doing this if I didn't have a camera?"
Map: 8 wildfires burning in California after day of high winds
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/20/map-8-wildfires-burning-in-california-after-day-of-high-winds/
>>8 wildfires burning
Yeah... not so worried about that anymore. They're forecasting 3-5 feet of snow for our area over the next week. Up to 3 feet Tuesday night to Wednesday night. Should be a wild few days.
Yosemite: National Park remains closed at least until Tuesday after wind storm
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/01/23/yosemite-national-park-remains-closed-least-until-tuesday-after-wind-storm/6687026002/
Well, at least we were already mostly closed due to Covid.
Our road still has no scheduled public opening, but they are letting residents drive it already, but there is a hard closure (gates swing and locked) from 9pm to 6am.