Archive for Hazardous Weather Outlook

Closed for Labor Day

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The Pine Cove Water District office will be closed on Monday, September 5th in honor of Labor Day.  We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, September 6th at 9 a.m.  If you have a water emergency, there will be someone on call.  You can call the office and listen to the recorded message or call 951-294-8282, which is our emergency number.  Remember, this number is for true water emergencies only.  Please wait until Tuesday to call about an other water issues.  Our normal business hours will continue Tuesday through Friday, from 9 am until 4 pm.
Happy Labor Day!!!

Labor Day: What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.

More information can be found at https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

Celebrate Safely

The American Red Cross regularly puts out safety precautions and as this coming weekend is going to be another hot one, there are additional precautions to consider.

  • Stay hydrated with water
  • If traveling; check on road conditions, buckle up, slow down, and don’t drink and drive
  • Designate a driver who won’t drink or plan on staying where you are celebrating
  • Carry a Disaster Supply Kit
  • Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low
  • Check with weather alerts before doing any BBQing
  • Grills should only be used outdoors
  • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays
  • Have outdoor activities and games at a time when it’s not so hot
  • Apply sunscreen before you head out in the sun and reapply as necessary
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Posted in: Around the District, Community, From the Office, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Holidays, Pine Cove Water District, Upcoming Events, Weather, Weekend

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Leaks and Frozen Pipes

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Temperatures are going to drop again this weekend. If you are leaving your mountain home, be sure to turn off the customer valve and empty all the drains. Leave a faucet open just a crack to make sure there is room for any excess water to come out rather than freeze and bust your pipes. You may want to look into insulating your pipes if they are not already.

We do not forgive water bills for leaks or busted pipes. Any water that runs through the meter will be charged accordingly.

If you don’t know where your customer shut off valve is at the street, please call during normal business hours to waive a service fee and we’ll guide you. If you call after hours, there will be a fee starting at $15. An emergency leak or busted pipe call after hours could incur a fee starting at $50.

If you notice any leaks, call us immediately. Upon confirmation of the leak you could receive a $25 gift card to a restaurant in town.

Regular Office Hours 9am – 4pm 951-659-2675
After Hours Emergency Line 951-294-8282

Oh my, a frozen pipe leak!

Don’t let this be you!

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Posted in: Around the District, Customer Infomation, Customer Valve, Emergencies, From the Office, Frozen Pipes, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Pine Cove Water District, Snow, Water Bills, Weather, Weekend, Winter

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Advice for snow-play visitors

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~as posted in the Idyllwild Town Crier Dec. 23, 2021 – Page A3

The U.S. Forest Service closed the Humber Park Trailhead parking lot last week to vehicles due to last week’s winter storm. “Once the parking lot road becomes iced over, many cars slide or get stuck in its steeper sections. Staff will monitor and reopen when/if conditions become safe again,” according to the San Bernardino National Forest’s (SBNF) Twitter post.

California Highway Patrol Officer Graham Aanestad had five vehicles towed for blocking Humber Park between last Saturday and Sunday.
SBNF also issued a snow-play advisory on its website considering last week’s snow and the coming week’s predictions.

SBNF expects large crowds over the holiday weekend because of snow. It asks visitors to:
• Research a destination. A few snow-play areas require Adventure Passes to park. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/recreation/?cid=STELPRDB5181410&width=full to search for a designation.

• Check weather and snow conditions and plan accordingly. Avoid driving during a snowstorm. Snow plows will be working and visibility might be low. Visit weather.gov for weather conditions and forecast. Check the Caltrans; http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov for road conditions/traffic, including chain controls, road closures and more. Ensure you understand chain control requirements and how to install them (practice before coming).

• Plan for safety and comfort. Make sure you start your trip with a full tank of gas. Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll return; check in when you get back. Pack water, high-energy meals, and snacks — and pack more than you think you’ll need. Dress in layers of warm, waterproof clothing, including extra layers. Don’t rely solely on GPS-based maps.

• Park in safe, legal spots. Never block traffic or driveways, even to install snow chains. Play on open public lands only. Choose a hill that does not send sledders into roadways.

• Be sure to hydrate and eat frequently throughout the day. Pay attention to weather conditions and be prepared to leave quickly if conditions change or worsen. Keep an eye on the gas gauge; fill up if low.

• Leave no trace. Pack out all trash, leftover food and waste. Remember to display your recreation pass.

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Posted in: Community, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Holidays, Snow, Weather, Winter

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US Forest Services in Riverside County

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Just a quick update that I received from Jon King and his San Jacinto Trail Report. Want to see the full report? Click here and give him a follow.

Full fire restrictions are in place on Forest Service lands, as described here. All campfires anywhere in the San Jacinto mountains, including at all USFS campgrounds and yellow post sites, are now prohibited. The total fire ban has finally been extended to Riverside County lands starting 23rd August, including for example the Hurkey Creek campground (thanks to Dan Roberts for updates on the county situation).

The U.S. Forest Service ranger station in Idyllwild remains closed due to USFS coronavirus protocols. Apparently it is unlikely to reopen before October, but possibly much later. Hiking and camping permits are nevertheless required for USFS lands, and should be available at the kiosk outside the ranger station. The State Park ranger station reopened about six months ago.

WEATHER A few days of temperatures around (or even below!) seasonal for the first time in two months came to an end early this week. Daytime high temperatures will again be above average for August starting Wednesday 25th, with overnight low temperatures in particular being well above seasonal, before cooling again to about average in the first couple of days of September. As mentioned above, monsoonal rains are a possibility from 29th August to at least 2nd September. Fire risk remains severe.

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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Drought, Fire, Fire Danger, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Rain, Storms, Weather

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First Snow on the hill

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Welcome to winter!
We’ve had our first snowfall and man was it a doozy.

One of the main things I see that causes me pause is people driving around with snow / ice on the top of their vehicles. Although not illegal in California it could be potentially dangerous.
While you might think that clearing the snow /ice is just for your visibility, there is quite a hazard to leaving snow on the top.

Leaving snow on top of your vehicle could result in bits falling forward onto the windshield causing low visibility but it can also fall backwards onto cars and pedestrians behind you causing “ice missiles”, in which sheets or blocks of snow and ice fly off roofs or windshields of cars and trucks, endangering those in vehicles behind them. Ice missiles can distract drivers and cause them to swerve into other cars. And they can crack windshields, and sometimes cause injuries — even deaths.

How To Remove Snow From The Roof Of Your Car

Aside from parking your car under a covered awning or inside a garage, you’ve basically got 2 options:

  1. Keep the snow & ice from building on your car’s windshield and roof in the first place using a windshield snow cover.
  2. Remove the snow & ice from your windshield and car roof before you drive using a long-handled snow brush or snow broom that is lightweight and safe to use on vehicles.

My friend thinks placing a heavy-duty tarp over the roof of your car that you simply tug off in the morning (pulling all the snow off your vehicle in the process) is also a great idea. I agree! They happen to make something similar: a car top roof cover & windshield cover.

Information taken from https://weather.thefuntimesguide.com/snow-broom-for-car/

Stay safe friends!

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Posted in: Community, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Snow, Winter

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STUFF YOUR BROKER DIDN’T TELL YOU ABOUT MOUNTAIN LIFE

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The Pine Cove Water District does not forgive water bills. Please remember to shut off your customer valve before leaving the mountain. If you’ve already left and forgot, give us a call and we will send someone out to shut off for a $15 fee during regular business hours. $15 is better than paying for busted pipes!

The following write up was taken directly from Idyllwild Snow on Facebook.

Welcome to your mountain home! You’re excited to leave the city behind and embark on your new permanent mountain vacation. Here’s what to expect when living among the peaks.

SURVIVING WINTER
You visited for a couple of weeks each year, so you probably don’t know this: Winter—serious, blizzard-having, school-canceling, live-animals-freezing-solid, Donner-Party winter—starts on Halloween and ends on Memorial Day. It’s fun at first. Then it’s not.

Chances are very high that your Escalade’s windshield will get cracked by mid-December. Most mountain communities use chunks of gravel instead of salt to grit icy roads. Don’t bother getting it repaired. It’s a badge of honor that marks you as a local. The cowboy hat will give you away, though.
Snowplow drivers don’t care. Your Expedition will not be able to get over the 14-foot-high snow drift they leave at the end of your driveway. Your snowblower will be useless. Pace yourself while shoveling it and try not to fall off the top. Don’t dump the snow back in the street. This just makes the plow drivers angry.

Snow drifts are beautiful until they block your furnace exhaust pipe. Don’t be that (potentially dead) guy.

Assume all water, dark patches, or suspicious shadows on the road are black ice.

“Mud season” is mid-March through mid-May and is the reason many people don’t make it through a full year of mountain living.

AVOIDING NATURE
All that nature you craved as a city-dweller will eat you if given the chance, especially the mountain lions. You don’t need to go looking for it: Nature will visit you in your backyard, and, if you leave a door unlocked, your kitchen.

At night, those reflective round circles by the side of the road are the eyes of deer or some other animal waiting to leap into your vehicle’s path. When you see an “animal crossing” sign on the road, believe it.

BREATHING
At 7,000 feet, the air has 16% effective oxygen content, compared with 21% at sea level, which makes your new home great for developing aerobic fitness—eventually. But first, you’ll have a couple months when you’ll have to stop halfway through chewing a piece of steak to catch your breath.
Due to the extremely low humidity, your skin will visibly age five years for every year you live in the mountains. Even your eyeballs will dry out. Drink more water than you thought possible. Invest in effective skin care.
On the plus side, your hair will dry very quickly when you get out of the shower, and mildewed towels and stale crackers will be a thing of the past.
Lack of oxygen means the sun is incredibly strong. You’ll sunburn in the time it takes to walk from your estate to your mailbox. Wear sunscreen all the time. Even at night.

RUNNING ERRANDS
Here, there is no “popping out” to the hardware store. Everything you want to do is at least an hour’s drive away and involves traversing at least one mountain pass or major river crossing.

Roads are frequently and suddenly closed for landslides, blizzards, washed-out bridges, avalanches, migrating herds, and really bad car accidents (see black ice/animals, above), so always have a Plan B route home. Plan B may involve a kayak.

Keep tire chains in the car, even in summer. Pack your trunk like you might spend the night, possibly two, in your vehicle. You eventually will.

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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Frozen Pipes, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Winter

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Another hot weekend ahead

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Have you seen the weather reports for this coming weekend? It’s going to be a hot one.
I’m seeing reports of 85-90 degrees in the Mountains, 104-103 Inland, and up to 117 in the Desert.

When to be concerned about heat illness
If you’re unable to keep yourself cool, you may develop the symptoms of heat exhaustion, which, if left untreated, can turn into heatstroke — a serious medical emergency that can lead to organ damage or death without immediate attention.

When temperatures are high, such as during a heat wave, you may also want to check in more frequently on young children under the age of four, as well as older people above the age of 65, because they are more susceptible to heat-related illness.

Where is our Monsoon?!?!?
According to The Weather Channel (weather.com);
The monsoon in the Southwest has been generally inactive so far this year, which has led to an expansion of drought and record heat in the region.

The upper-level setup has not been ideal for ample rainfall to drench the Southwest or for heat relief to arrive this season, which lasts from June 15 through Sept. 30.

The monsoon usually brings relief from the scorching summer heat. However, with a generally absent monsoon, excessive heat can persist.

Several daily record highs and record warm lows are anticipated later this week and into the weekend from western Texas into Southern California.

What can you do to keep cool?
Last week, we wrote about 10 ways to beat the heat according to Lifehacker.com; here are some more ideas for the upcoming hot weekend.

5 best ways to stay cool according to Insider.com:

1. Keep out sunlight. Close the curtains or blinds, use shutters, shades, or awnings, apply high-reflectivity window film.

2. Utilize fans properly. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms so be sure to turn them off when you leave the room. Window fans or portable fans are best used when the air outside is cooler than the air inside.

3. Drink lots of water. Your body needs water to effectively deal with hot temperatures. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty! Getting bored with water? Add frozen berries, grapes, or melon chunks to sparkling water to switch things up.

4. Use cold washcloths. The Mayo Clinic recommends placing a cold, damp cloth on your pulse points – such as the back of your neck, under your armpits, on your wrists, or groin.

5. Eat cool foods and avoid alcohol. Put your quaran-tini down and drink something with no alcohol since too much alcohol can cause your body to actually lose water. Food suggestions include salads, watermelon, mint, and ironically enough – hot peppers.

I hope these suggestions help. Stay cool Idyllwild.

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Preparing for an Emergency or Evacuation

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PRE-EVACUATION PREPARATION STEPS

Recent natural disasters can inspire awareness and the importance of emergency preparedness. In our neighborhood the threat of a wildfire is real and one could start at any moment. Fire can move fast and unpredictably. Preparing for an evacuation should begin before there is any danger. Everyone should have individual and family evacuation plans in place. Emergency planning may be different for every family but there are common necessities and planning should include all members of the family. If your household is under voluntary or potential evacuations, begin to prepare your home and get ready to leave.

 Assemble an emergency supply kit

 
Having supplies for each member of your household is an important step for evacuation preparation. Cal Fire recommends having a three-day supply non-perishable food and three gallons of water per person. Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses, a seven-day supply of medications and copies of important documents are also important to pack

  1. Place papers in sealed, waterproof plastic

  2. Store in a durable, sealed box. (A portable,fireproof and waterproof box or waterproof backpack is recommended.)

  3. Store box/backpack at home in a secure, easily accessible location.

    If you must evacuate:

    • Grab box and take with you.
    • Keep the box with you at all times.
    • Do not leave box unattended in your car.

What to include in your Grab & Go box

  • Copies of important documents: Birth Certificates, Drivers licenses, passports, House Deeds and Titles, Birth, death, adoption, and marriage certificates,Wills and/or trust documents and other irreplaceable document.

  • First two pages of previous year’s federal and state income tax returns

  • Cash or traveler’s checks for several days living expenses.

  • Back-up copies of computerized financial records

  • Emergency phone numbers

  • Employee-benefit documents.

  • Copies of important health record and prescriptions: Copies of health, dental, and/or prescription insurance cards or numbers.

  • Copies of children’s immunization records.

  • Copies of auto, flood, renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policies (at least policy numbers).

  • Home inventory. (document and take pictures of properties and possessions)

  • Any sentimental  jewelry or photos (flash drive or CD is best)

 Inside the House

  • Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.

  • Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.

  • Remove lightweight curtains.

  • Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.

  • Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.

  • Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.

  • Shut off the air conditioning.

Outside

  • Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool.

  • Turn off propane tanks.

  • Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.

  • Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house.

  • Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure.

  • Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.

  • Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.

  • Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.

  • Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.

  • Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.

  • Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.

  • Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.

Animals

  • Locate your pets and keep them nearby.

  • Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early.

In the event of emergency Remember safety first. If you are well prepared in advance the evacuation process can be less stressful and scary.

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Storm Approaching!

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There is a small storm coming our way.  No significant snow fall accumulation is expected, but temperatures will be dropping.  Here is the forecast:

This afternoon, sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

  • Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight.  Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
  • Wednesday A 50 percent chance of showers.  Cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
  • Wednesday night A chance of rain and snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
  • Thursday A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
  • Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

So, not a big event, but any chance of moisture is a good thing.  Looks like it is going to be cold and windy though, so be prepared for that.  By Friday, we will be back up in the 50’s.

Old Man Winter

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