11:20AM August 15 Update
The Lightning Tracker indicates that the most active parts of the storm are now offshore and weakening.
August 15, 10:45AM
Over 2,500 lightening strikes have been reported in Santa Barbara & San Luis Obispo Counties this morning with only light rain. Multiple fires have been started (including one on the north side of Hwy. 101 at Cuesta Grade). The storm is reported to be moving north …
Here’s hoping it runs out of steam or moves out to sea before it reaches the unburned portions of the south coast.
From the National Weather Service:
AT 915 AM...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED THE STRONGEST STORM JUST SOUTH OF CAMBRIA...AFFECTING HIGHWAYS 1 AND 46. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING RAINFALL UP TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH...AS WELL AS DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. WHILE THIS IMPULSE OF STORMS IS EXPECTED TO MOVE OFF THE COAST BY AFTERNOON...THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS LATER THIS AFTERNOON.
Fortunately, it passed gently through today, around 1 pm, here on the South Coast, with but a sprinkle, and only the rare rumbling of thunder, way off shore. I watched with slight trepidation the radar tracking of this storm as it moved northward through SLO toward the South Coast, and was relieved when it went on its way. Afternoon reports show most of the fires were caught early and small. Three are burning in the Southern sections of LPNF, the greatest being only 80 acres at 4 pm, with firefighters on the ground, and more on the way.
We only got heavy drizzle up here in Pacific Grove/Monterey. Thankful for any moisture we can get down at the Sur & out in Ventana. :)