Southwest folks affected by the hurricane

MountaineerTom

LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
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I’ve been out of town all last week and hadn’t kept up with what all was going on. I seen this morning about Hurricane Hilary hitting the SW.

As someone who has been through many east coast hurricanes, I advise you not to take it lightly. They can be devastating. I live roughly 100 miles from the coast and thought Hurricane Hugo was going to be no big deal back in 1989. I was dead wrong. It destroyed this place. Several other over the years have done a lot of damage but nothing like Hugo and TS Joaquin in 2015 (I think). Major, major flooding.

Do what you can do to be prepared. Have water, flashlight/lanterns, batteries, some food, etc.

I‘m concerned about flash flooding in that area.
 
Central deserts getting hit hard now. East coast is used to getting large amounts of rain. 1” for us is like 4” for you guys. Up to 5” predicted for my area. Local trails were closed up until June due to spring rain/snowmelt. Hope we do not have a repeat of that. I have everything gassed up and generators ready if needed. Wind is going to be the wildcard for us.
Bring it on Bitch.
 
I seen on report on the weather channel of possibly 12” of rain in the mountains. I didn’t catch which mountains or area though. I know that can’t be good.
 
I seen on report on the weather channel of possibly 12” of rain in the mountains. I didn’t catch which mountains or area though. I know that can’t be good.

Anybody that lives in a canyon or gorge better pack up and get out. My family has a cabin in the area affected by two major floods of the Big Thompson river. It takes a shockingly small amount of rain to be a big deal when it falls on the right spot.
 
This will be a big test for the Seven Oaks dam here in the San Bernardino mts which I can see out my shop doors if we get 12”. The biggest issue for me is that the bulk of the rain will come overnight here. On the bright side I will be able to drive my truck and TJ through some deep water and flush out some of the mud caked underneath.
 
This will be a big test for the Seven Oaks dam here in the San Bernardino mts which I can see out my shop doors if we get 12”. The biggest issue for me is that the bulk of the rain will come overnight here. On the bright side I will be able to drive my truck and TJ through some deep water and flush out some of the mud caked underneath.

What’s the status of the dam? Full?
 
What’s the status of the dam? Full?

No they can not retain water in it. It’s only for flood control. I do not know if that is because of earthquakes. It was probably cheaper and less regulatory to build it that way. The water shed is large enough that 12” of mountain rain will test it. Our biggest issue is the large burn area left after the knuckle heads started a fire for their gender reveal fiasco. Burnt almost 23K acres back in 2020. Most of that runoff will not flow into the dam but flow just a mile from my house and shop down Mill Creek.
 
I am the only dumbass who gets sent to socal for work and a freaking hurricane comes. I just asked the hotel clerk if they are giving away free beer tomorrow since I won't be able to leave the hotel due to all the rain and water in the roads.

The two aircraft that we have in the hangar are too long and the tails stick out. I told them to tether the aircraft down, bolt 4x4s to the ground over the door tracks so the doors can't close (which would damage the aircraft ), and prepare to get wet.
 
I am the only dumbass who gets sent to socal for work and a freaking hurricane comes. I just asked the hotel clerk if they are giving away free beer tomorrow since I won't be able to leave the hotel due to all the rain and water in the roads.

The two aircraft that we have in the hangar are too long and the tails stick out. I told them to tether the aircraft down, bolt 4x4s to the ground over the door tracks so the doors can't close (which would damage the aircraft ), and prepare to get wet.

Stay safe and enjoy the weather.
 
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I am the only dumbass who gets sent to socal for work and a freaking hurricane comes. I just asked the hotel clerk if they are giving away free beer tomorrow since I won't be able to leave the hotel due to all the rain and water in the roads.

The two aircraft that we have in the hangar are too long and the tails stick out. I told them to tether the aircraft down, bolt 4x4s to the ground over the door tracks so the doors can't close (which would damage the aircraft ), and prepare to get wet.

Hurricane party! Ready for a crawfish boil?
 
So long as the water doesn't come with lightning then idgaf. If it has lightning like off season precipitation usually does then the fires are a worry not some wind and water. (Sorry socal,idgaf about your mudslides)
 
Hurricane party! Ready for a crawfish boil?

We had one Friday if that helps.

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Coastal Oceanside, N San Diego County, have only had moderate rain starting last night. No high winds or drenching down pours. Did get a flash flood alert last night for a small area in the desert much farther East. Don't know if anything came of it. Looks like a tempest in a teapot made for the news purveyors 'doom is here scenario.'

Had pretty active lightning inland to the east yesterday afternoon before the rain started. Fortunately no fires came from it,
 
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So long as the water doesn't come with lightning then idgaf. If it has lightning like off season precipitation usually does then the fires are a worry not some wind and water. (Sorry socal,idgaf about your mudslides)

It's more than some wind and water. When you get double, triple or more rain in a day or two vs what you may get in a whole year, it's a problem. The worst I've personally been through was 2015. Somewhere around 16 hours of heavy down pouring rain and sustained high winds. 19 inches of rain during that time. More in some of the surrounding areas.

In twenty years of living in my house, this was the only time I've had any kind of standing water on my street. We were very fortunate and only had a couple small roof leaks. Others around had it a lot worse. We don't have mountains in our area to cause rushing flash floods, it was more of a somewhat slow, steady rise of water.

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We've had off and on rain in the Coachella Valley since last night. Probably .25" so far, maybe a tad more. A little windy, but nothing we aren't already used to here in the desert. The heavy stuff is supposed to start in the next couple hours and sounds like it will be here to stay until tomorrow morning sometime.