At 3:58 this morning, the National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement warning of the potential for heavy rain in the coming week. The statement reads in part:
…STORMY WEATHER WITH HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PERIOD FROM TUESDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY…
A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WEATHER PATTERN APPEARS TO BE SHAPING UP AS EARLY AS TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK. AS THE START OF THIS PATTERN CHANGE IS STILL FOUR DAYS AWAY…THERE IS SOME FORECAST UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE STRENGTH AND TIMING OF THIS STORM SYSTEM. HOWEVER…THERE IS INCREASING CONFIDENCE THAT A PERIOD OF WARMER…VERY WET AND WINDY WEATHER WILL DEVELOP. IF THIS OCCURS THERE WOULD BE A THREAT OF URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOODING…AS WELL AS MUD SLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOWS OVER BURN SCARRED AREAS FROM
THIS PAST SUMMER’S FIRES. PERSONS IN MONTEREY AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTIES WHO ARE NEAR THE BURN AREAS SHOULD PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS DEVELOPING SITUATION SINCE IT APPEARS THAT HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE IN BOTH AREAS. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAVY RAINFALL POTENTIAL…WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST AND HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECAST…STATEMENTS AND WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AS WE APPROACH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIOD.
Friday Evening Update
The National Weather Service is already beginning to back off on the prediction of a “very wet” storm in the coming week. They’re still calling for a storm – it’s just looking less likely to become a major rain event. So knock on wood and keep your fingers crossed and maybe we’ll make it through the holidays without a flood.
Xasáuan Today 