Tuesday December 21, 2010 10:17 PM PST

Vehicles in restricted parking areas will be TOWED at midnight due to poss. unsafe mudflow LaCrescenta Montrose

Due to the impending storm, if you have cars parked in the posted restricted parking areas, please remove them from the street before midnight, Tues, Dec. 21., or they will be towed.

It is very important that the streets be cleared of vehicles so that they are not possibly swept away and damaged, or damage other property.  Also so emergency equipment can pass through the area whenever possible and continue our dedicated and coordinated effort to protect lives and property.

Thank you for your cooperation.
Captain David Silversparre
Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
818-248-3464
www.lasd.org

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has released the following information and forecast.

For the Altadena burn areas:

RAINFALL Between 4:00 am Tuesday and 4:00 am Wednesday, rainfall is predicted to be 2.6 inches.

FLOODING, MUD & DEBRIS FLOWS Because of the possibility that the burn areas may already have reached saturation, the potential for flooding, mud and debris flows in and below the burn areas is greater.

It has been recommended that emergency response entities monitor certain areas of La Crescenta, La Canada/Flintridge, East Sierra Madre, and Altadena where the potential for mud and debris flows is greater.  Streambeds and water courses will be subject to mud and debris flows.

ROAD CLOSURES Road closures in the Angeles National Forest remain in effect.   The Chaney Trail gate remains closed.

EVACUATIONS The Millard Canyon Campground remains under an evacuation order by Angeles National Forest.

Additional information will be provided when available.

As of 4:00 am this morning, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has released the following information about the current storm event.

For the La Canada/Flintridge and Altadena burn areas:

RAINFALL – The County has revised their prediction about the amount of rainfall anticipated between 4:00 am this morning and 4:00 am Sunday. The amount of rainfall now predicted is 2.2 inches As a result of the change in the rainfall forecast, the flooding, mud and debris flow forecasts have also been revised. At this time, no significant flooding, mud or debris flows are predicted for the Altadena burn areas, but because there could be periods of heavy rain, please continue to exercise caution and stay alert to the conditions around you, especially in those areas already known to be impacted during storm events.

ROAD CLOSURES – The road closures announced in the last update remain in effect. One additional closure of note in Altadena is the closure of the gate on Chaney Trail near the National Forest boundary.

ANGELES FOREST HY FROM ANGELES CREST HY TO ALISO CYN RD – Beginning Sunday, December 19

MT WILSON RED BOX RD FROM VIDEO RD TO ANGELES CREST HY – Beginning at 2:00 am, Sunday, December 19 Other public roads in the Angeles National Forest may be subject to closure due to mudflow/debris deposition at numerous locations below the burned hillsides.

EVACUATIONS – CLOSURES The Millard Canyon Campground was ordered closed by the Angeles National Forest. If you want to see the current forecasts issues by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, here is the link: http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/forecast/file/mud4cast.pdf If you have questions, please let me know. As always, stay safe!

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has released the following information about anticipated rainfall and potential for flooding, mud and debris flows and road closures:

For La Canada/Flintridge and the Altadena burn areas:

Rainfall amount expected between 4:00 am this morning and 4:00 am tomorrow morning – 0.2 inches

Potential for flooding in the burn areas or mud and debris flows – None anticipated

Road closures – No new road closures are anticipated

Additional or updated information will be provided as available.

The “mud forecast” information provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works is online here:

http://dpw.lacounty.gov/wrd/forecast/file/mud4cast.pdf

Greetings,

It’s said around here that if you live above Altadena Drive, you’re in a different weather zone.

It’s often true. We may get hail or even snow while those below may get rain, or not. On Friday a crazy weather system hit Southern California and here in Altadena, we did get hail, lightning strikes (one hit a local fireman riding his bike at Lake and Loma Alta–he’s ok). And the rain came fast and heavy. Here’s a shot from my front door, the weather apparently signaling the arrival of fall. I’m ready.

The last six months for me have been as close to hell as I’d like to be, which is why I haven’t been posting. With the rain comes renewal, growth, a deep sigh of relief. I feel it to my bones.

Greetings! Here are the rest of the shots from yesterday morning. Also a few shots of the dump trucks and equipment being used to clear things out.  No rain for a while so people should have a chance to recover. With all this snow and rain the hills should be very green very soon. And the wildflowers should be gorgeous this year.

I’ll be in Tejon Pass Saturday getting serious winter shots. Ok, not as serious as what’s happening in Philly and mid-Atlantic. Our nephew is there going to school, but not these days! California boy snowed in.  More Arboretum shots starting tomorrow.

Abundantly yours…

Been a wild winter here. More pix tomorrow of today’s snow and the trucks/equipment being used to clear the storm drains and debris. Looks like the weather is warming up over the next week into an Indian Summer.

Caught these crazy birds out in the rain Saturday. Neither rain nor sleet are keeping these peacocks from roaming. You can occassionally see them near Glenrose and Loma Alta. And you can hear them for blocks.

Here’s some more from AltadenaAboveitAll’s outing.

That’s what my pals Bob Reid and Greg Downs who live on Canyon Crest said this morning as the water in the arroyo let loose, topping the sides of the banks and propelling rocks and boulders down the canyon.

Caught in the mudflow was Rueben Ruiz and Brandon Leon and his dad, each in different trucks. Ruiz, heading down the canyon, suffered the worst. His truck completely spinned sideways, into the Leon’s truck, mud covering his roof. Ruiz had to climb out of the passenger window, getting covered in mud himself.

“I have a house up at the top that I am restoring. I was on my way down and got caught. Had to climb out that window. I can laugh now.”

Take a look at the pix. What a mess. Even Univision TV showed up to document the event.

Posting one now, more later and some over on AltadenaDailyPhoto.com

Saturday morning on Chaney Trail

Everybody came out of their shells today to enjoy the first sunshine in nearly a week. Us SoCalifornians just aren’t equipped for such entrapment. You could feel the itchiness in the air. “Is it Spring yet?” people were hoping as they burst from their caves.  The parrots were out, the doves, the woodpeckers–all flying about at a frantic, joyful pace singing aloud, as they, too, have been quieted by the recent rain. Alas, it’s not yet spring, but flowers are beginning to bloom and today is good imitation of a spring day. Tomorrow, a dollop of sunflower.

The teasing this weather is doing is beyond words. Pal Karen Bugge at Altadena Hiker likened this relentless wet to that of a lover’s sloppiness you grow tired of after one wild night. Amen, sister. This morning there was a glimmer of sun, some hope that the drenching would cease. And then there it was again, all soggy and cold and lacking any consideration.

But for a moment when the beautiful new snow brightened the day.

Driving up Fair Oaks and what do I see while the sky is pouring on us?

My friends bob and Greg on Canyon Crest tell me the water has washed out the hairpin turn and the road is closed.

Here are their pix.

Bill Westphal says we’ve had nearly 2-1/2 inches of water since midnight.