Today's Awesome Sunrise!

For those of you lucky enough to be up at the crack of dawn, you were treated to a spectacular sunrise thanks to the clouds from the incoming storm. I'm lucky enough to have a couple of dogs that insist on going for walks before dawn every morning, and thanks to KSBY's morning news talking about the rain starting, I thought to bring my camera with me.
  Good thing I did because a few minutes after I took these pictures, the rain started and the sky was just gray everywhere. So, for those of you that missed it, here is this mornings sunrise.

  I've upoaded a couple of these to the KSBY website too, so take a look there too and check out all of the great photos there.

Weekend Update

  Well the storm is over...not that we won't see more rain, it just won't be an "event" like we've had for the last week. As my son Tyler and I were noticing yesterday, after a week of being cooped-up indoors, and without direct sunlight on our brief sojourns outdoors, we feel like molepeople! I was squinting when I went out a few minutes ago to take pictures of the creek, even with sunglasses on!
  I'll be glad when the clouds roll back in, as it was really cold last night. Even now (9:35 A.M.) it has only warmed up to 45 degrees! I'm definately looking forward to spring!
  Here are the new pictures of the creek that I took this morning. As you can see, although it isn't back to it's normal "dry gulch" look, there is an incredible difference between how it looks now and how it looked just a couple of days ago.

  So now we can prepare for next weeks rain, which shouldn't be anything like last weeks. There is supposed to be one day of high winds, but I have a feeling that we're done with the dramatic stuff until next year!

An Interlude...

Okay, I know that some of my friends are starting to feel "cabin fever". Well, you are not alone. I too feel like I've been indoors for too long (even though I've been out in the mix!), and could use some sunshine and maybe even a "beach day"! So today I'm not going to talk about the rain...instead I'm including some pictures of things that are warm & sunny...

like my Jasmine on the side of my house! See the blue stuff in the upper right corner? That is called "sky". It is what's on the other side of the wet gray stuff over your head now...

or for example, this sunset in Pismo Beach...do you fell better yet? Well, take heart...this weekend is supposed to include sunshine and some warmer temperatures so it looks like the great storm of '10, for all intents and puposes, is over. At least in my head...

Thursday's Storm Update

  Wednesday was indeed a wild day for weather on the Central Coast! High winds and heavy rainfall made for an event that we do not often see around here. I didn't make it back out to take pictures yesterday, however I did shoot some video of the brief yet intense hailstorm in the afternoon, which I will post on YouTube and link later this afternoon.
  I just came in from checking on Pecho Creek, and took some more photos. As you can see, the creek has risen even higher and is now at the highest level that I myself have seen it at. Fortunately there is still a ways to go before it reaches our street level, but I hope that the people downstream aren't getting flooded. It might be kinda nasty down by Laguna Lake!
  This afternoon is supposed to have more intense winds, thunder storms and of course heavy rainfall. Maybe there will be some more hail...yesterdays was good size. Any bigger and it would have definately caused damage. If you need to go out today, stay safe!

Day 3: In Like A Lion

Day three of the storm has proved to be the most intense so far. The rain started a little before 6:00 at my place, and not with just a few drizzles, but full force and accompanied by ligtning and thunder. KSBY went off the air right as Richard Gearhart was talking about the lightning. There was a big flash, and the picture digitized into little squares, then gave up the ghost completely. Still off the air as of this posting. Who know's, maybe other parts of town are without power now. I still have it obviously, and am grateful! I'll go out when there's more light and take some pictures and probably make another post later, so check back often. Here's a picture of Pecho Creek yesterday afternoon. Notice that the water level is even higher than previous pictures I posted.

The Continuing Saga Of The Storm Of '10

  What an exciting day yesterday was...unless you were one of the thousands without power in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The wind was the strongest that I have seen in my 24 years here on the Central Coast, and the rainfall totals were pretty high considering how fast the system moved through. San Marcos reported 3 1/2", while Vandenberg Air Force Base reported up to 100 MPH winds! Even Pismo Beach reported 60 MPH winds, which is really rare for the area. And today they say has the potential for even stronger winds!

  Pecho Creek, which runs by the end of my street, has risen dramatically, as you can tell by the picture.

Pecho Creek

  I'll post more picture's if I get them later today, but as it is once again coming down pretty hard, I might not go out to take any more shots. So, I hope everyone is somewhere nice and warm, and if you have to go out today please stay safe!

Rain, rain, rain!

Hi, and welcome to Jeff's Central Coast! Yes, it's true...it has taken a HUGE storm to for me to find the time to officially start my blog. While it has taken me a while to start it, I will make every effort to keep it current. You never know what you will find here (thus the adult content rating...just in case), but you can rest assured that one way or another I'll find a way to tie it in to the Central Coast.

  So, for those of you who live here, how you liking the weather? Yes, we have all been hoping to get more rain this year and we have definately got what we asked for. If I'm not mistaken, we have already passed the total rainfall for last year, and maybe even for the last two years combined. That, combined with the intense winds, is making this an exciting event for sure. I do feel sorry for anyone that is stuck out in it though. I'm glad that the local shelters are extending thier hours for those in need. It truly sucks to be out in weather like this, with nowhere to go to warm up and dry off. I know...been there myself.

  I hope you all are able to stay safe, and enjoy the storm from somewhere warm and dry.

  There is a new waterfall at the end of my street! It empties into Pecho Creek, which now has lots of water!