# California Storm Watch - Stay Safe \[early Feb, 2024\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 4, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083 "2024-02-04T02:37:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/21 "2024-02-04T07:56:10Z")
Moderate rain as of not quite midnight PST in Sacramento (had to take out garbage a few minutes ago). ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/22 "2024-02-04T11:52:56Z")
Twenty miles south of San Jose here. It’s 3:50 a.m. now and it has been _pissing_ down hard nonstop since 2 a.m. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/23 "2024-02-04T15:35:36Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Looks like the central part of the state is getting hammered right now. Stay safe, guys. Nothing noteworthy yet in San Luis Obispo. The rain overnight wasn’t very heavy and has actually stopped at the moment, replaced by some high winds (which we’re kinda used to here.). ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/24 "2024-02-04T15:39:42Z")
Not bad here yet, but KCRA (most accurate TV weather, IMO) thinks the big wind should be here this afternoon. That’s my big worry after hours of rain, since a bit over a year ago, we had a series of these atmospheric rivers that had at one point about 1/3 of the city without power due to downed trees. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/25 "2024-02-04T15:45:30Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Nothing noteworthy yet in San Luis Obispo. I didn’t realize you were a neighbor. I was just up there for a show at the Fremont. It’s not even windy in Santa Barbara. I’ll be watching your updates closely. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/26 "2024-02-04T15:54:57Z")
Over by the mission we had a significant problem with that last storm. It overwhelmed out gutters and that spillover created a several inch deep river that probably got into our crawl space. I sandbagged the hell out of the area Friday and then spent Saturday morning pressurizing our system of buried downspout drainage. The drain exits from a hole in the curb near the street storm drain. It was extremely satisfying when finally this several foot long turd of dirt and plant matter excreted itself into the street. That had to have helped. I flew out of SBA last night. I was supposed to leave late this morning, but I moved my flight in case there was airport flooding like the last big storm. Well, that and the forecast 50mph winds. So I’m monitoring remotely. Good luck to all my neighbors! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/27 "2024-02-04T17:20:01Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > > This is not the dumbfuckery mentioned in the OP. I am noting that even with extreme measures it may not be enough. Most cities will never come close to such efforts. > > It’s not in any way. I was thinking along the lines of “nine inches of rain in a week. lol. We get that much in a hour in Florida” I live in “flat as a billiard table” metro southeast Florida. When we get severe rain, we get massive flooding too. > **[2023 Fort Lauderdale floods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Fort_Lauderdale_floods)** > > A historic flash flood event occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the surrounding areas on April 12, 2023. The Fort Lauderdale area reported 25.6 inches (650 mm) of rain within approximately 12 hours. 21.42 in (544 mm) of rain fell in nearby Dania Beach. Other affected areas, such as Hollywood and South Miami, recorded at least 9 in (230 mm) of rain. Fort Lauderdale mayor Dean Trantalis issued a state of emergency due to the flooding. > > The flooding rainfall in eastern Broward County, Flor... Where you are (and I grew up near there and still have family there), the rain and mud comes coursing down the hillsides and fills the cities on its way to the sea. Where I am now, the rain falls and just sits there. The land is dead flat, so there’s no flow. And the sea is only a couple feet below local land level, so there’s no real head to provide any velocity that way. The flood water is as happy to meander away from the ocean as it is towards it. My overall thrust being, there’s no good answer when Nature decides to prove a point. And each our communities has built inadequate defenses designed for a much smaller population and much less severely episodic weather. Good luck friends! ---
**Author:** ![Twoflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twoflower/32/22_2.png) [@Twoflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Twoflower)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/28 "2024-02-04T17:44:21Z")
Howling winds but no rain up here in Southern Oregon. We must be just on the edge of this one. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/29 "2024-02-04T17:54:24Z")
No rain and only light breezes, but threatening skies here in the South Bay. Wunderground tells me that we’re at 50% chance of rain, rising to 100% bt 1 PM, so I expect to look out and see rain before lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/30 "2024-02-04T18:03:11Z")
Hope all goes well for all of you in my old stomping grounds of coastal California. I have friends in the region who are keeping me apprised. I’m sorry you’re all going to go through this. Fingers crossed for minimal damage and worry. Here in the Coast Range of Oregon, we’re currently getting brisk, cold winds from the southeast (unusual), but nothing to bark about. Rain is forecast for the entire week – but no storm warnings. After our recent ice storm and being stuck in my house for 10 days due to it, I’m glad we’re not in the crosshairs of this storm. I’m sorry you all are. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/31 "2024-02-04T18:03:31Z")
The winds are really whipping up now on the central coast but not the driving rain I was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/32 "2024-02-04T18:04:34Z")
Gorgeous day here in SoCal. Scattered clouds…for about another 4 hours. Then we get hammered. 6" predicted in the next 72 hours. The El Dorado burn scar is pretty well grown over, but there are a couple of canyon villages up in the San Gorgonio wilderness that are likely to get buried. They sandbagged and diked the shit out of Mill Creek, but it’s still going to flood **hard**. Stay dry, peeps. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/33 "2024-02-04T18:37:47Z")
Wind’s picking up a bit in Sacramento (the highest winds are expected in the afternoon). 3/4" of rain in the last 24 hours. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/34 "2024-02-04T18:41:28Z")
It has been raining hard off and on since 2 a.m. here. The winds picked up about 6 a.m. or so and it has been blowing hard with occasional 40 mph gusts since then. We took a drive to a couple of places to look at the water levels of a couple of key creeks, and they’re all full and gushing. I looked at our weather app, and we’ve had 1.35 inches of rain in the last 12 hours. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/35 "2024-02-04T18:51:08Z")
Steady rain and windy this morning in San Jose, but nothing too severe. The worst storm activity here was on Friday afternoon, thunderstorm intensity with some hail. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/36 "2024-02-04T19:16:47Z")
East of Sacramento here. The breeze has picked up noticably in the last hour or so, after a still and drizzly morning. The rain has tapered off, for now. With all the burn scars over the last few years it’s concerning to all that live near them. At least the Sierra from south to mid-range is expecting a pounding, which may help us catch-up to the averages for this time of year - as mentioned it’s been a mild season in the high country. My daughter lives in Ventura County which appears to be in the crosshairs - we’ll be checking in with her in a little while. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/37 "2024-02-04T20:12:20Z")
Ok well now it’s coming down in Santa Barbara. It’s a steady rain but not a monster downpour. The worst of it is supposed to hit in two or three hours. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/38 "2024-02-04T20:19:11Z")
Gawd. I bet this system is on it’s way to Colorado. This weekend, 2 feet of snow up at elevation in Colorado. Plow truck chained up on all 4 with a 10,000 lb winch on the back… stuck. Got it out. Had to winch from two different places. When that truck gets stuck, you KNOW you are gonna have a bad day. Plowed twice. Yesterday and today. Nearly got truck stuck again today. Just ripped of the side step on it though (fine don’t need it). ---
**Author:** ![bobsmom101](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobsmom101/32/2867_2.png) [@bobsmom101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobsmom101)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/39 "2024-02-04T20:29:33Z")
Quiet here in Rocklin/Roseville – TOO quiet, almost eye of hurricane calm. Winds are forecasted to be 30 mph in an hour or two, very rare around here. Also thunderstorms. I sure hope we don’t lose power; I don’t want to have to go out and try to start the generator. I have 3 100 ft redwoods in the back yard. I hope they stay put! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083/40 "2024-02-04T20:35:44Z")
Oh man. Good luck. We took out some huge pine trees that where threatening out house last summer. That would be a very bad way to wake up. But you sure are awake fast. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/california-storm-watch-stay-safe-early-feb-2024/997083.md?page=3)