The Sheriff's Dept. and other authorities decided to close Hwy 76 @ Valley Center Road earlier this afternoon again.
CHP is letting Palomar Mountain residents through to come up the East Grade at Henshaw.
Here's the weather info that is basically driving this closure (and the snow advisory that may help open it)...
ORANGE COUNTY COASTAL AREAS-SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS- SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTY VALLEYS-THE INLAND EMPIRE- SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS- RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS- SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS- SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-APPLE AND LUCERNE VALLEYS- COACHELLA VALLEY-SAN DIEGO COUNTY DESERTS- 1020 AM PST SAT DEC 8 2007
...COLD STORM SYSTEM MOVING TOWARD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...
A COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE CALIFORNIA BIGHT TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING BRINGING NUMEROUS SHOWERS. INSTABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS STORM WILL BRING THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL TONIGHT AND SUNDAY...ALONG WITH ISOLATED FUNNEL CLOUDS AND WATERSPOUTS OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL DROP TO AROUND 3000 FEET EARLY SUNDAY...AND MAY DROP EVEN LOWER IN HEAVIER SHOWERS. LIGHT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE DOWN TO THE DESERT FLOOR IN THE HIGH DESERTS.
ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TOTALS WILL BE QUITE VARIABLE DUE TO THE SHOWERY NATURE OF THE PRECIPITATION WITH AMOUNTS GENERALLY ONE HALF AN INCH OR LESS...EXCEPT IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WHERE AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO ONE INCH COULD BE MORE WIDESPREAD WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS BY LATE SUNDAY. LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE IN CONVECTION AND WHERE SHOWERS PERSIST OVER THE SAME AREA. SNOWFALL COULD BE LOCALLY HEAVY IN THE SAN DIEGO MOUNTAINS DEPENDING ON THE TRACK OF THE SURFACE LOW PRESSURE CENTER...BUT GENERALLY SIX INCHES OR LESS IS EXPECTED...WITH THE LOWER AMOUNTS MORE LIKELY FOR THE RIVERSIDE AND SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS.
HEAVY SHOWERS COULD CAUSE LOCAL DEBRIS FLOWS...MUD SLIDES AND FLOODING IN AND BELOW RECENTLY BURNED AREAS...ON STEEP TERRAIN AND IN POORLY DRAINED LOW LYING AREAS. THE COMBINATION OF SNOW...SLICK ROADS AND DENSE FOG WILL MAKE TRAVEL LOCALLY HAZARDOUS IN THE MOUNTAINS.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
HWY 76 REOPENED
The torrential rains that the authorities expected and which caused them to threaten to completely shut down Hwy 76 between Lake Henshaw and Valley Center Road did not materialize, so they reopened Hwy 76 yesterday afternoon. However, they kept open the option of reclosing part of Hwy 76 if heavy rains show up later in the week.
Sheriff's Lt. Sean Gerrity sent me this email in reply to a query from me about the situation:
"If we close again, it will be 76 between Valley Center Road and Lake Henshaw. Palomar Mountain residents and businesses will have access via Hwy 79, to Hwy 76, to East Grade only. The mudslide potential along the closed stretch of Hwy 76, because of the burn areas along the south face of Mt. Palomar, is exceptionally high and hazardous at many points along this stretch of roadway during significant rain and storm events (my favorite mountain is now causing me worries!).
Because of a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and possibly through to tomorrow morning, I'm coming to work on my day off to monitor it. Hopefully, we'll dodge another bullet."
Sheriff's Lt. Sean Gerrity sent me this email in reply to a query from me about the situation:
"If we close again, it will be 76 between Valley Center Road and Lake Henshaw. Palomar Mountain residents and businesses will have access via Hwy 79, to Hwy 76, to East Grade only. The mudslide potential along the closed stretch of Hwy 76, because of the burn areas along the south face of Mt. Palomar, is exceptionally high and hazardous at many points along this stretch of roadway during significant rain and storm events (my favorite mountain is now causing me worries!).
Because of a chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and possibly through to tomorrow morning, I'm coming to work on my day off to monitor it. Hopefully, we'll dodge another bullet."
Thursday, December 6, 2007
MOUNTAIN RESIDENTS IMPRISONED
CalTrans, CHP and the Sheriff's Dept. have made the rather extreme decision to imprison a couple of hundred residents of Palomar Mountain over the weekend based on reports of rain that could bring 1-2 inches of rain.
At 10 a.m. tonight Hwy 76 was closed at Valley Center Road and at Lake Henshaw. This effectively imprisoned anyone who was living on Palomar Mountain and prevented anyone who wasn't on the mountain from being able to get home after 10 p.m. These roadblocks were in effect before much in the way of precipitation had fallen.
The closures were announced to be in effect until Monday.
The fear was that Hwy 76 near Harolds Road might become hazardous again as it was last weekend when a culvert under the road filled with debris and a small lake built up along the road, threatening its structural integrity.
Harder to explain was the closure of Hwy 76 at Lake Henshaw since last week residents were allowed in and out by that exit even when the highway was closed at Harolds Road.
A number of mountain residents told The Roadrunner that this was an overreaction by the authorities before much rain has even fallen.
The National Weather Service was predicting the following for Thursday night and Friday night:
A STORM WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT RAIN STARTING LATE TONIGHT. THE STORM
WILL PRODUCE STRONG WINDS OVERNIGHT...WITH STRONGEST WINDS IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE MOUNTAINS
STARTING FRIDAY.
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR ALL AREAS EXCEPT THE LOWER DESERTS. SEE LAXFFASGX FOR
DETAILS.
HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE COASTS AND
VALLEYS. SEE LAXNPWSGX FOR DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
SEE DAY ONE SECTION FOR DETAILS FOR FRIDAY.
THE STORM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW THROUGH
SUNDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WILL BE POSSIBLE...THOUGH AMOUNTS IN
MOST AREAS WILL BE LESS THAN ONE-HALF INCH. THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL
HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE REGION...AS WELL AS WITH WATERSPOUTS
AT THE COAST."
At 10 a.m. tonight Hwy 76 was closed at Valley Center Road and at Lake Henshaw. This effectively imprisoned anyone who was living on Palomar Mountain and prevented anyone who wasn't on the mountain from being able to get home after 10 p.m. These roadblocks were in effect before much in the way of precipitation had fallen.
The closures were announced to be in effect until Monday.
The fear was that Hwy 76 near Harolds Road might become hazardous again as it was last weekend when a culvert under the road filled with debris and a small lake built up along the road, threatening its structural integrity.
Harder to explain was the closure of Hwy 76 at Lake Henshaw since last week residents were allowed in and out by that exit even when the highway was closed at Harolds Road.
A number of mountain residents told The Roadrunner that this was an overreaction by the authorities before much rain has even fallen.
The National Weather Service was predicting the following for Thursday night and Friday night:
A STORM WILL BRING SIGNIFICANT RAIN STARTING LATE TONIGHT. THE STORM
WILL PRODUCE STRONG WINDS OVERNIGHT...WITH STRONGEST WINDS IN THE
MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE MOUNTAINS
STARTING FRIDAY.
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR ALL AREAS EXCEPT THE LOWER DESERTS. SEE LAXFFASGX FOR
DETAILS.
HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY
EVENING FOR THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS. WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT
FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE COASTS AND
VALLEYS. SEE LAXNPWSGX FOR DETAILS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY
SEE DAY ONE SECTION FOR DETAILS FOR FRIDAY.
THE STORM WILL CONTINUE TO BRING RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW THROUGH
SUNDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS WILL BE POSSIBLE...THOUGH AMOUNTS IN
MOST AREAS WILL BE LESS THAN ONE-HALF INCH. THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL
HAIL WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER THE REGION...AS WELL AS WITH WATERSPOUTS
AT THE COAST."
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Four Locations To Remain Open Longer Due To Upcoming Storm
With heavy rains expected to move into the area, four County erosion control centers will remain open longer Thursday and Friday to provide materials to residents impacted by October’s wildfires.
Centers in Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona and Dulzura will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Property owners can pick up free sand, sandbags, fiber rolls and seed mix.
Erosion centers are located at:
Valley Center County Road Station
28565 Cole Grade Road
Valley Center, CA 92082
Dulzura Fire Department
17304 Highway 94
Dulzura, CA 91917
Ramona County Road Station
116 5th St.
Ramona, CA 92065
Fallbrook Ingold Baseball Fields
2551 Olive Hill Rd.
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Centers in Fallbrook, Valley Center, Ramona and Dulzura will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Property owners can pick up free sand, sandbags, fiber rolls and seed mix.
Erosion centers are located at:
Valley Center County Road Station
28565 Cole Grade Road
Valley Center, CA 92082
Dulzura Fire Department
17304 Highway 94
Dulzura, CA 91917
Ramona County Road Station
116 5th St.
Ramona, CA 92065
Fallbrook Ingold Baseball Fields
2551 Olive Hill Rd.
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Saturday, December 1, 2007
PARTS OF HWY 76 REMAINS CLOSED—MAY BE LONGTERM
Here's an update from Sheriff's Lt. Sean Gerrity:
As of this morning at 5:30 AM Highway 76 is closed between Valley Center Road and the Lake Henshaw Resort to through traffic. However, Palomar Mountain residents and La Jolla Indian Reservation residents can access the areas, off of Highway 76, from the Lake Henshaw Resort closure through to Red Gate road, via Highway 79 ONLY (Note: Nate Harrison Grade Road is currently presumed unsafe and impassible, especially in the burn areas).
The area of Highway 76 between Red Gate Road and Valley Center road was completely flooded with and deeply buried in mud, boulders, trees and other debris from a very large mud slide and flash flood that originated from Portrero Creek where it meets with Highway 76. This area is completely impassible, even with 4-wheel drive vehicles, for up to a mile from Portrero Creek westward. The intersection where Portrero Creek normally runs, via a culvert, deep beneath Highway 76 may also have been dangerously weakened by a large, heavy mudslide, with the potential that this portion of Highway 76 may possibly be in danger of breaking away (this portion of the roadway is built up like a deep "land bridge" above the creek, which normally flows through the culvert "piping" buried about forty to sixty feet beneath the highway surface).
Hopefully CalTrans and its contractors will be able to clear the debris by the end of the day and determine the Portrero Creek culvert location is safe for travel. In the interim, the only access to the west from Palomar Mountain and the La Jolla Reservation is via Highway 76 to Highway 79, either through Ramona or Riverside. To my knowledge, South Grade and East Grade roads are passable, but please be cautious for fallen rocks and other debris, especially around blind curves, while traversing ALL roads in the area.
Sean Gerrity, Lieutenant
San Diego Sheriff's Department
Valley Center/Pauma Sheriff's Substation
As of this morning at 5:30 AM Highway 76 is closed between Valley Center Road and the Lake Henshaw Resort to through traffic. However, Palomar Mountain residents and La Jolla Indian Reservation residents can access the areas, off of Highway 76, from the Lake Henshaw Resort closure through to Red Gate road, via Highway 79 ONLY (Note: Nate Harrison Grade Road is currently presumed unsafe and impassible, especially in the burn areas).
The area of Highway 76 between Red Gate Road and Valley Center road was completely flooded with and deeply buried in mud, boulders, trees and other debris from a very large mud slide and flash flood that originated from Portrero Creek where it meets with Highway 76. This area is completely impassible, even with 4-wheel drive vehicles, for up to a mile from Portrero Creek westward. The intersection where Portrero Creek normally runs, via a culvert, deep beneath Highway 76 may also have been dangerously weakened by a large, heavy mudslide, with the potential that this portion of Highway 76 may possibly be in danger of breaking away (this portion of the roadway is built up like a deep "land bridge" above the creek, which normally flows through the culvert "piping" buried about forty to sixty feet beneath the highway surface).
Hopefully CalTrans and its contractors will be able to clear the debris by the end of the day and determine the Portrero Creek culvert location is safe for travel. In the interim, the only access to the west from Palomar Mountain and the La Jolla Reservation is via Highway 76 to Highway 79, either through Ramona or Riverside. To my knowledge, South Grade and East Grade roads are passable, but please be cautious for fallen rocks and other debris, especially around blind curves, while traversing ALL roads in the area.
Sean Gerrity, Lieutenant
San Diego Sheriff's Department
Valley Center/Pauma Sheriff's Substation
PARTS OF HWY 76 REMAINS CLOSED—MAY BE LONGTERM
Here's an update from Sheriff's Lt. Sean Gerrity:
As of this morning at 5:30 AM Highway 76 is closed between Valley Center Road and the Lake Henshaw Resort to through traffic. However, Palomar Mountain residents and La Jolla Indian Reservation residents can access the areas, off of Highway 76, from the Lake Henshaw Resort closure through to Red Gate road, via Highway 79 ONLY (Note: Nate Harrison Grade Road is currently presumed unsafe and impassible, especially in the burn areas).
The area of Highway 76 between Red Gate Road and Valley Center road was completely flooded with and deeply buried in mud, boulders, trees and other debris from a very large mud slide and flash flood that originated from Portrero Creek where it meets with Highway 76. This area is completely impassible, even with 4-wheel drive vehicles, for up to a mile from Portrero Creek westward. The intersection where Portrero Creek normally runs, via a culvert, deep beneath Highway 76 may also have been dangerously weakened by a large, heavy mudslide, with the potential that this portion of Highway 76 may possibly be in danger of breaking away (this portion of the roadway is built up like a deep "land bridge" above the creek, which normally flows through the culvert "piping" buried about forty to sixty feet beneath the highway surface).
Hopefully CalTrans and its contractors will be able to clear the debris by the end of the day and determine the Portrero Creek culvert location is safe for travel. In the interim, the only access to the west from Palomar Mountain and the La Jolla Reservation is via Highway 76 to Highway 79, either through Ramona or Riverside. To my knowledge, South Grade and East Grade roads are passable, but please be cautious for fallen rocks and other debris, especially around blind curves, while traversing ALL roads in the area.
Sean Gerrity, Lieutenant
San Diego Sheriff's Department
Valley Center/Pauma Sheriff's Substation
As of this morning at 5:30 AM Highway 76 is closed between Valley Center Road and the Lake Henshaw Resort to through traffic. However, Palomar Mountain residents and La Jolla Indian Reservation residents can access the areas, off of Highway 76, from the Lake Henshaw Resort closure through to Red Gate road, via Highway 79 ONLY (Note: Nate Harrison Grade Road is currently presumed unsafe and impassible, especially in the burn areas).
The area of Highway 76 between Red Gate Road and Valley Center road was completely flooded with and deeply buried in mud, boulders, trees and other debris from a very large mud slide and flash flood that originated from Portrero Creek where it meets with Highway 76. This area is completely impassible, even with 4-wheel drive vehicles, for up to a mile from Portrero Creek westward. The intersection where Portrero Creek normally runs, via a culvert, deep beneath Highway 76 may also have been dangerously weakened by a large, heavy mudslide, with the potential that this portion of Highway 76 may possibly be in danger of breaking away (this portion of the roadway is built up like a deep "land bridge" above the creek, which normally flows through the culvert "piping" buried about forty to sixty feet beneath the highway surface).
Hopefully CalTrans and its contractors will be able to clear the debris by the end of the day and determine the Portrero Creek culvert location is safe for travel. In the interim, the only access to the west from Palomar Mountain and the La Jolla Reservation is via Highway 76 to Highway 79, either through Ramona or Riverside. To my knowledge, South Grade and East Grade roads are passable, but please be cautious for fallen rocks and other debris, especially around blind curves, while traversing ALL roads in the area.
Sean Gerrity, Lieutenant
San Diego Sheriff's Department
Valley Center/Pauma Sheriff's Substation
PARTS OF HWY 76 REMAIN CLOSED
This morning it is still hard for residents of Palomar Mountain and others along Hwy 76 to get in and out, due to flooding caused by yesterday's rather torrential rains.
Hwy 76 remains closed at Rincon Ranch Road and Church Road. No vehicles are being allowed in from Hwy 76 & Red Gate to Valley Center Road. There is a "soft" closure at Hwy 76 & Lake Henshaw resort. Residents are being allowed in there.
Hwy 76 remains closed at Rincon Ranch Road and Church Road. No vehicles are being allowed in from Hwy 76 & Red Gate to Valley Center Road. There is a "soft" closure at Hwy 76 & Lake Henshaw resort. Residents are being allowed in there.
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