What’s the weather like up there?
We hear this question a lot!
Did you know that we have links to weather station data and highway cameras on our webpage?
Be in the know – click here for weather station data and here for the highway cameras
Archive for Storms
The rain has come
The rains and storms have begun. Is your home ready?
CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department and San Bernardino County Fire have put out information about sandbag and sand availability through the fire departments, as well as best use practices. (Click on the links for more information)
As a Pine Cove resident, we offer a limited amount of FREE unfilled sand bags from our office as well.
Additional safety information from Idyllwild Fire Protection District on Facebook includes road safety information.
Stay safe out there if you have to go out.
Extreme Winter Weather Precautions!
The weather station is predicting some inclement weather coming up soon. Here are some reminders of important steps you can take to protect yourself, your pet (if applicable) and your dwelling during very cold, icy and snowy conditions. These steps will help you be prepared for any extreme freeze in your area and help you stay safe and warm.
Pitch In:
When cold weather and extreme snow storms hit, it is important for everyone to pitch in and be a community. Things you can do to help include: If you are clearing snow from your car or around it, please place any snow onto grassy areas. Please don’t place snow onto sidewalks, roadways, fire hydrants or other areas that have already been cleared.
Heat:
Set your heater on at least 60-65 degrees and leave it on until any threat of a freeze is over. If there is an extreme risk of freezing, leave your faucets dripping a very small amount of water – both your hot water and cold water. Leave cabinet doors under any sink area open so warm air can circulate around pipes.
Space Heaters:
We recommend that you not utilize a space heater unless absolutely necessary. But, if you are utilizing one there are important steps you must take. Please read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels carefully.
Some key things to consider include:
Keep it at least three feet away from any other object – including papers, clothing and rugs – and maintain a three-foot radius around the space heaters. Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture or carpet. Be sure to never leave a space heater unattended, and turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep. Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
Ovens & Candles:
Please do not in any instance ever use your oven to provide any heat. While it is ok to cook with the oven door closed, leaving oven doors open, even just a crack, can omit carbon monoxide (CO), which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Never leave lit candles unattended or burning close to any papers, clothing, rugs or curtains.
Other Ways to Stay Warm at Home:
Consider placing rolled up towels at the base of any exterior door – especially any patio doors. This will help keep any slight cold drafts from entering. If needed, grab a blanket and a sweatshirt and head over to the warming center located at the town library. Consider grabbing a hot cup of coffee or tea on your way.
No Frozen Pipes:
Keep faucets running at a slow drip. This will ensure constant water circulation through the pipes and help prevent the water from standing still and freezing. Also, keep your dwelling heated to at least 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature falls below 60 degrees, the pipes may freeze and break, causing a leak that will more than likely affect not only your home, but all those surrounding you.
Braving the Cold:
If you have to go outside, dress in lightweight layers. Using several thinner layers can provide better insulation than one or two thick layers. If possible, the first layer should be long underwear made out of a nonabsorbent material. If you have to be outside for an extended period of time, make sure your feet stay dry. This is key to keeping our bodies warm. To keep feet dry in cold, snowy weather, wear waterproof boots and socks made of fleece, IsoWool or similar type fabrics. In extreme winter conditions, ice accumulation is often inevitable. Please take extra caution when navigating exterior stair wells, sidewalks, parking garage/lots, etc..
Keeping Pets Safe & Warm:
Our pets will need to go outside regardless of weather conditions. So if you are a pet owner, put booties on their paws before taking them outside. Cold air, sleet and snow can give pets chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin. And if their paws aren’t covered, pets can risk exposure to dangerous chemicals from ice-melting agents that they may then lick off of their bare paws. Again, if you don’t have booties available, your socks will do the trick. And be sure to check their paws when they come inside as chunks of ice can get stuck in between their paws.
Don’t Forget Your Ice and Snow-Covered Car:
Keep your gas tank full. Cold temperatures can cause condensation to form on the walls of a nearly empty gas tank. Soon, that water can drip down into the gas. Since water is heavier than gas, it will eventually sink to the bottom of the tank, where it can make its way into the fuel lines and freeze, blocking the flow of gas into your engine and stranding you.
Stay safe and warm this season.
Snow Snow Snow
It’s a beautiful sight to have all of this fresh snow on our beautiful mountain. It’s always recommended to stay home rather than chance the slippery roads. If you do have to leave your house, here are some tips and tricks to assist you.
Remove snow from the top of your vehicle
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.
If you haven’t experienced digging your car out, I highly suggest you give yourself at least an hour to do so. Click here for some tips from WikiHow.
Road and driving safety
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 Caltrans 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.
Well being
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.
With this colder weather, please be careful while driving on the icy roads. As always remember to winterize your home and turn off your water at the customer valve before leaving your mountain home.
Stay safe everyone!
US Forest Services in Riverside County
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.
Flash Flood Watch today and tomorrow!
Taken from the National Weather Service https://www.weather.gov/sgx/
Fall Preparation for Winter Precipitation
When the beautiful fall leaves turn and the air becomes crisp is a good time to think about how to prepare for the coming cold months. It is important to make sure your home is ready for the coming winter. Winter can cause cause costly bills. Heating costs can double if your windows are poorly insulated or if the heating system is out-of-date. Plumbing can break or burst creating extensive damage to your home and high water bills. To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your home even if it will be vacant for long periods of time. Making proper precautions to ensure your home is prepared for winter can save you time, money and a lot of unnecessary hassle.
- Learn how to properly shut off your water valve (in case a pipe bursts) and turn your water off every time you leave your mountain home.
- Insulate pipes with insulation and wrap any exposed pipes.
- Clean your gutters; make sure water can flow freely through your gutters to avoid icicles and ice dams.
- Change your ceiling fans clockwise to force hot air at the ceiling towards the floor.
- Replacing the filters in your forced heating unit improves the efficiency of your unit.
- Window insulation film can help keep heat from escaping out your windows.
- Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
- The simple act of installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, by sealing drafts and reducing air flow
- Placing a rolled towel at the bottom of your exterior door or a draft guard prevents heat from leaking out.
- Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year. Your chimney doesn’t necessarily need to be swept every single year, but it does need an annual inspection. Wood stoves, however, should be swept more often.
- Trim tree branches near your windows, roof, or parking areas before the weight of winter ice and snow can cause them to snap.
- Inspect your home for any openings where animals could use to get inside. Make sure your fireplace flue or damper is closed, as bats, birds and squirrels are known to get inside this way.
- Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment.
- Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
- It is wise to communicate with a trusted friend or neighbor if you plan to be gone for a prolonged period of time and make sure they have your contact information. Taking these steps can help protect your home from theft, water damage, and heating or electrical system issues while you are away.
Early this year we experienced extreme low temperatures and lots of snow. Pine Cove lost of over a million gallons of water in February and March this year. This loss was a result of many leaks around the District and caused by freezing temperatures. PCWD always recommends turning your water off at the street customer valve to prevent any water disasters or leaks. Conserving water whenever possible is important to this District. Pine Covers are very aware and are cautious about conserving water as much as possible. If you aren’t sure how you can reduce your water usage, we have many water conservation tips here on the blog and on our website at pcwd.org that are useful for conserving water both inside the house as well as outside.
Nothing Yet
Well here it is, 10:00 a.m. and there has not been a single drop of moisture yet. No rain and certainly no snow. While it is a brisk 31 degrees and very overcast with the occasional wisp of fog floating by, it is still bone dry. So it is anyone’s guess as to whether or not we will actually see any moisture out of this cold, little storm. We should be back to our normal spring temperatures by the end of the week, so I am hoping we at least get some rain today. But as we all know, we are not in charge. Mother Nature is, so we will see if she favors us with a shower.
Posted in: Rain, Snow, Storms, Weather
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The weekend storm came and went as Old Man Winter gave it one last shot. It was quite chilly out over the weekend, but it seems to be warming up a bit today. The weather station up at the Rocky Point tank site says it is 54 degrees out at 10 a.m., so we are getting back to normal. Hopefully this will be the last cold & snow storm of the season. While moisture is always welcome, it is getting late in the year to have snow and freezing temperatures. Let’s hope for lots of nice rain for the rest of the spring and some summer monsoonal moisture this summer.
Here is the forecast for the coming week. Looks like temperatures are going up but we are going to get some wind.
Detailed Forecast
- Today Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 52. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast 15 to 20 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
- Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 67. Windy, with a northeast wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.
- Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Windy, with a northeast wind 25 to 35 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph.
- Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 63. Windy, with a northeast wind around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph.
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Windy.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 55.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 73.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 70.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 64.
Storm Has Left
A storm moved through Pine Cove late yesterday and left a little covering of snow. Maybe an inch. However, it is still very cold outside. It is currently 38 degrees and there is some ice on the roads. The sun is out and shining and so the ice should start melting off, but it would still be best to be careful if driving around up here this morning. There is black ice on some roads which can take a driver by surprise if they aren’t used to driving in it. We were hoping for more snow than we got, but Mother Nature is in control, not us. It should be back up in the high 50’s by Sunday.
