May has given us more rain than usual and here in Pine Cove we even had a little snow yesterday. The new weather station has recorded almost 2 inches of of precipitation so far this month. For this weeks storm alone 1.42 inches have been measured. There is the possibility of snow this week according to several weather forecasts. It has been many years since we have have had snow in late May. A freeze could greatly impact many gardens that have been recently been planted.
Pine Cove Water District has an updated weather station now live on our website. The new weather station shows the current temperature and the high and love of the day. It also displays current wind direction and mph, humidity percentage, daily rain total with seasonal accumulation and barometric pressure. We are very excited to offer this new system to our customers and we hope you enjoy having current and accurate weather readings for right here in Pine Cove. Click Here!
The intense storm that brought great damage to our mountain roads and highways on Valentine’s Day and left the community and tourist with only one rout option off the mountain. Today, We are so excited to see that Caltrans announced an update on the accessibility via State Route 74 from Hemet.
Starting this Easter weekend, Saturday April 20th the SR-74 from Hemet to Mountain Center will be reopening with limited access.Pilot car escort access on the SR-74 is will be available Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st between the hours of 6 a.m. and midnight in both directions. These hours of operation for the pilot car will only be for this coming holiday weekend and another limited schedule will be in effect starting Monday April 22.
As of Monday April 22nd, driving the SR-74 (Mountain Center to Hemet) will be available with limited access by pilot car seven days a week. The Pilot car access will only be available from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and then 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily. This will be the continuing work and pilot car schedule until additional work is completed which will eventually open full access with flagging on the SR-74 until the completion of the project.
Be advised that with the limited access opening of SR-74 there are some Conditions that must be followed during the escort process. Per Caltrans announcement:
Down bound motorists (coming from Mountain Center) on SR-74 for the 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. escort must be in line by 7:45 a.m. or they will not be permitted in the escort process.
The speed limit will be 25 miles per hour during the escort.
Motorists will not be permitted to stop or pull over during the escort.
Motorists will not be permitted to pass other vehicles during the escort.
The construction zone on SR 74 between Mountain Center and Borco will be a “DOUBLE FINE ZONE”.
Sections of SR-74 will have uneven, unpaved roadbed with narrow passage. Be advised that dirt, sand, rock and mud will exist on the SR-74. Low profile vehicles are not recommended.
No drone, video or photos will be permitted while you are using the escorts.
Motorists must follow all commands given by the pilot workers, contractor employees, flaggers, Caltrans crews and the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The escorts can be canceled at any time due to safety concerns for the traveling public such as slope issues, rock fall, roadbed concerns and motorists not following traffic laws or escort provisions.
Travelers will experience delays for the limited access on SR-74. All agencies involved in this massive project are committed to keeping the public safe while traveling on SR-74. The contractor will continue to work 24/7 on SR-74 to continue to expedite repairs in preparation for full access.
SR-243 is open to motorists from Idyllwild to Lake Fulmor. SR 243 remains closed from Banning to Idyllwild until further notice to the public.
Pine Cove residents woke up this morning to cold temperatures, frozen windshields, icy roads and a little bit of snow! A dusting of snow this morning was enough to give our mountain that gorgeous winter shimmer. 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.
Here is a photo from our webcam…. The snow has melted from the trees here but as you can see its still covering the high country! What a beautiful day in Pine Cove!
It is important to make sure your home is ready for the coming winter months. Winter heating costs can double if your windows are poorly insulated, your plumbing breaks, or if the heating system is out-of-date. Making proper precautions to ensure your home is prepared for winter can save you time, money and a lot of unnecessary hassle.
To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your vacant home. 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.
Unplug appliances such as microwaves and toasters to prevent faulty switches.
Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing. Running water, even at a trickle, helps prevent pipes from freezing.
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 — as soon as they’ve accumulated a quarter of an inch of creosote.
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. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
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 that your will be gone for a prolonged period of time and 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 for an extended period of time.
Sunday and Monday brought some heat to the hill, but as of yesterday, it has cooled off beautifully! Day time temps are in the high 60’s or low 70’s and night time temps are in the 50’s. This is the most pleasant of weather. Sleeping is wonderful as well with the cooler evenings. No need for fans or air conditioners up here folks! It doesn’t get better than this here in Pine Cove. Now if we would get some rain, all would be perfect with the world.
Hold on to your hats! We are under a high wind warning until 4 p.m. this afternoon. There is also a red flag warning until 8 p.m. tonight.
* WINDS…AREAS OF EAST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH…WITH GUSTS UP TO 65
MPH. ISOLATED GUSTS UP TO 85 MPH ON WIND PRONE SLOPES.
WIND…AREAS OF EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH…WITH
GUSTS TO 65 MPH. ISOLATED GUSTS TO 85 MPH. WINDS STRONGEST ALONG
THE COASTAL MOUNTAIN SLOPES AND IN THE INLAND VALLEYS.
Hopefully, there will be no ill effects from all this wind. Batten down your hatches and hope for the best!
Hope you made it through the storm ok. I wasn’t too bad. On the cool side, but not much rain or snow came out of it unfortunately. Looks like we are back to sunny skies for the next week or so. Enjoy!
Detailed Forecast
This Afternoon Sunny, with a high near 53. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 62. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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.
Well, believe it or not, they are predicting that we could possibly get 2 to 4 inches of snow tomorrow! I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the forecast, but there it was. A snowflake graphic was posted on Tuesday’s forecast. Naturally, I just planted my tomatoes yesterday and I cannot bring them into the house now, so I will be outside tonight covering everything with plastic or buckets. Such is the life of a gardener.
See the forecast for yourself. Luckily we will be back up to warm temps by the end of the week and hopefully then our tomatoes will be safe! If it stays warm enough, we will just get rain instead of snow. Cross you fingers!
Detailed Forecast
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight A chance of rain showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday Snow showers likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a west wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Tuesday Night A chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm, then a chance of snow showers. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 56.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 64.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 70.
Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 52.
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