Browsing all posts in Jim Castillo’s.

Ventura Co. Tornado Thursday, January 21st- Confirmed

El Nino 2010 !!! Southern California Severe Weather 01/22, by John Hallen.
At approximately 12:20 pm on Thursday, the 21st of January 2010, a small EF-0 tornado touched down on the east side of Ventura, California. The damage path was nearly 1.5 miles in length, and 200 ft. wide at times. Large trees were blown over or snapped above the ground, Asphalt shingles were blown off roofs, garage doors were dented, a car tipped on its side against a tree. Winds in a EF-0 tornado range from 65 to 85 miles per hour. The strongest tornados(mostly in the midwest) are EF-5 with winds ranging from 200 to 234 mph.
Below are rain totals, in inches, from the week of January 17th, 2010 10am to January 22nd, 2010 4am PST.  Los Angeles County is the lower right county with over 7″ of rain in some foothills and Ventura County is the next county up with over 8″ in spots.

Rain Totals in Inches/Southern CA Jan. 17th to Jan. 22nd, 2010

Tornado Warnings & Flooding/Wind Damage in & around Phoenix AZ 01/21/10

Tree Down Near Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix/Tornado Warning at the time

Desert Ridge Mall or Marketplace in Phoenix(Was Not Damaged)

Tornado Warnings, (any touch downs?)  went up just North and East of Phoenix Near Scottsdale AZ and Gilbert AZ on the evening of January 21st, 2010.  There are numerous reports of trees down and damage.  Flooding is a major problem with many water rescues happened on the evening of the 21st. Crews are searching for a missing boy swept away in flood waters.

2 small tents Collapsed at Russo-Steele Auction in North Scottsdale in high winds Thursday evening. One person suffered a minor injury and people were evacuated from the larger tent, police said.

The storm has already forced the closure of schools, major interstates and a ski resort, and grounded flights at Sky Harbor, one of the nation’s busiest airports.

The National Weather Service has to survey the damage Friday January 22nd and look for signs of tornado damage or straight line wind damage. They will be looking to see if the downed trees show any signs of  twisting.  In the picture above, of the tree down in the parking lot, it looks like it may have been twisted.   In the mean time there are big flooding issues across La Paz, Maricopa, and southern Gila counties.   Creek levels were still rising on the morning of the 22nd, especially the Tonto, Salt River, and the San Carlos Creek.  Showers and Thunderstorms are still in the forecast on Friday the 22nd of January.  Law enforcement officials said that flooding was still occurring through Friday afternoon January 22nd around Campaign Wash in the Roosevelt area, Pinal Creek was flooding the road crossings in the globe area and both Tonto Creek and Pinal Creek were flooding at all road crossings.
The Video Above: a monster storm system dumping buckets of rain in the Prescott, Arizona area. Flooding throughout the state January 21st, 2010.
The video below: The Wind and Rain 1/21/2010 hitting Tempe, AZ

The Video Below: We can’t forget that the mountains got hit very hard with several feet of snow, check out Flagstaff! A Winter Storm Warning Continues into Saturday January 23rd, 2010.  The Snow Level will drop to near 3,000 ft by Saturday morning and Arizona mountains can expect:  3,500ft to 4,000 ft. where they could see an inch.  4,000 to 5,000 ft. 2-4″, 5,000 to 7,000 ft 4-6″, and above 7,000 ft 6-10″.

Surf is Way High in San Francisco, Here’s Video of a Wave crashing over a car !

San Francisco’s Surf is still up January 21st, 2010. The High Surf Warning was downgraded to a High Surf Advisory at 2:23pm on the 21st. A large NW swell continues along the coastal waters up to 16 feet with a dominate period of 14 seconds. Swell of this size will produce large breaking waves and strong rip currents within the surf zone into Friday morning the 22nd of January.

Video Below:  Tuesday January 19th, 2010/Storm RIPS through Sonoma County causing trees to fall into 2 homes along the beautiful Russian River.

Update on the Record Lowest Barometric Pressure @ LAX 01/21/2010

New Update @ 1:21 pm the barometric pressure @ LAX fell to 29.07 inches of mercury or 980.0 MB

Old Report @ 8:20 am Pacific standard time on January 21st, 2010 the barometric pressure at Los Angeles International Airport fell to 29.20inches of mercury or 988.8 MB -millibars.  This breaks the previous record reading of 29.25″ or 990.6 MB. set January 17th 1988. Pressure data records at LAX date back to 1931:)

LAX Los Angeles International Airport

Phoenix & Tucson -flooding/Heavy Mtn. Snow/Strong Winds 01/21/10

Phoenix and Tucson have also been dealing with flash flooding and the S. CA storm moves east.  Heavy rain and mountain snow is expected across Arizona along with high wind gusts.   Believe it or not, a blizzard warning has been posted above 7,000 ft. in SE Arizona until Friday morning on January 21st.  including the higher elevations around Tucson.  Also, a TORNADO WATCH has been issued until 10 pm.

@ 1:41 pm Thursday JAN 21st, 2010-National Weather Service Meteorologist detected WIDESPREAD FLASH FLOODING in Central Gila Co. in E. Central AZ and East Central Maricopa County in S. Central AZ.   Flooding is expected along US HWY 60 between Apache Junction and Globe as well as Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake.   Never Drive your vehicle into areas where water is covering the roadway.  Just one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road.  Also, Agua Fria river above Rock Springs is under a flood warning until late Friday night on the 22nd.  Record Flooding is forecast. Flood Stage is 16 ft./// stage at 2pm Thursday the 21st was 15.6 ft.//// Forecast is for  30.7 ft by 7am Friday/// 9.8 ft. Sat/// 7.2 ft. by Sunday

Great Coverage at CBS 5 in Phoenix: Watch Here

Watch it LIVE as it happens Here CBS News Feed: Click Here

Snow Shuts Down I-5-Grapevine in S. CA & Flooding/Mudslides 01/21

Snow on I-5/Grapevine Shuts Down & Flooding/Mudslides All Over

The strongest of a series of 4 storms this week has been pushing into Southern California Thursday January 21st, 2010.   The 4th storm of the week is bringing more heavy rain Thursday, also heavy mountain snow, snow to I-5 -Grapevine,  strong gusty winds and some severe thunderstorms to S. CA.    Coastal Flood Warnings are in effect, High Surf Warnings, Flash Flood Warnings, Winter Storms Warnings for heavy snow in the mountains 1 to 2 more feet above 5,500ft and 6-12″ above 4,000 ft with gusty wind, Gale Warnings for the beaches, and some severe thunderstorm warnings.   This is the last storm of the week.  Sunnier weather is forecast for the weekend. Los Angeles on Saturday, a morning shower, then clearing 46/54/// Sunday: Mostly Sunny 44/57 /// Monday: 47/63 Partly Sunny.

Here’s a mudslide capurted on video in Southern California this week in the “burn areas”. The areas that had fires over the summer and the extreme runoff from the flash flooding this week.

Below: Southern California fire August 28th, 2009///La Canada Flintridge Station Fire 24hours compressed into 6 amazing minutes! This is one of the burn areas that are seeing mudslides!

Freezing Rain Advisory for Chicago 1/21

Freezing Rain from Iowa to Indiana

If you have plans to fly into O’Hare Airport or Midway Airport, deicing will be needed today the 20th into Thursday  the 21st.  I used to work on the ramp for America West Airlines at O’Hare  Yes, I wore a burgundy jump suit and had a blast driving the tugs/carts and talking to the pilots on the headsets while pushing back the plane.

Last check, the temperature was 32, the freezing mark in Chicago, with moisture moving into the city.  A Freezing Rain Advisory started at 3pm and goes until 6 am on Thursday the 21st of January.  Ice accumulations of around one tenth on an inch is the forecast, the evening commute will likely be slick. Be alert when driving or walking

What’s causing the Freezing Rain ?  Well, high pressure will remain parked over SE Canada, this high will feed the cold low level air in on pretty strong easterly winds.  Low pressure over Northern Missouri will pump in the moist air and that moisture will override the cold air at the surface producing the freezing rain event.

Comparing TV Extended Forecasts in Seattle-Week 3

Since Monday the 4th of January, 2010 I have been comparing official low temperatures and high temperatures to the 4 television stations in the Seattle market.   I simply look at the highs & the lows & match them with the Official Reading.  Here are the weekly results.

Tuesday’s Official reading on the 19th for Seattle 48/60 .01″ of Rain//// Q-13 43/53 sun & showers  -5  low -7 High= -12////  KIRO: 41/49 Breezy/sun/showers -7 low -11 high= -18 for Tuesday //// KING: 41/50 sun/showers -7 low, -10 High=-17 ////  KOMO: 43/50 showers, limited sun -5 low, -10 high= -15

Wednesday’s Official reading on the 20th for Seattle 42/57 Trace of Rain///Q-13 41/49 -1 low,-8 high= -9///KIRO 39/48 -3 low, -9 high= -12 ///KING 40/49 -2 low, -8 high= -10///KOMO 43/53 -1 low,-4 high= -5

Thursday’s Official reading on the 21st for Seattle 45/56  Trace of Rain///Q-13 39/50 -6 low, -6 high= -12///KIRO 39/48 Dry -6 low, -8 high= -14 ///KING 40/48 -5 low,-8 high= -13/// KOMO 43/50 -2 low,-6 high= -8

Friday the 22nd Official Reading for Seattle 40/48 NO RAIN///Q-13 38/49 sun&showers -2 low,-1 high= -3, KIRO 38/47 Dry -2 low, -1 high= -3  ///KING 38/47 -2 low, -1 for the high= -3  /// KOMO 41/51 Dry -1 low, -3 high = -4        Saturday the 23rd Official Reading for Seattle 40/49 .09″…. I stopped at Friday because I didn’t have KING or  KIRO’s Saturday Forecast

TOTALS: 3rd Week Comparison Results from Tuesday the 19th through Thursday the 22nd of Jan:  1st) KOMO -32,  2nd) Q-13  -36,  3rd) KING  -43,  4th) KIRO  -47

FIRST WEEK 01/04/10  1st)  Q-13 with -17 points  2nd) KOMO -23,  3rd)  KING, -24  4th)  KIRO -26.

2ND WEEK  1st)KIRO -30, 2nd)Q-13 -31,  3rd)KOMO -32 4th) KING -38.

I will take Monday’s extended 01/18/10 and compare it for the week ahead Good Luck !

Waterspouts & Weak Tornadoes In Southern CA

Areas of Southern California were placed under tornado warnings on Tuesday January 19th, 2010, including Long Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Laguna Beach and San Diego.

Shortly before noon on Tuesday, rotation was indicated on radar near Catalina Island. This developed into a large mesocyclone in 15 min. to a half hour. 4 waterspouts were spotted and as the thunderstorm cell moved onshore near Long Beach there were reports of a tornado touchdown causing damage, one was in Costa Mesa and another in Sunset Beach.  One very excited guy caught the roof being peeled off of a building.  The video is below and pardon his french.

Radar Snap Shot with Rotation West of Long Beach-Rare S. CA Mesocyclone

More weak tornadoes are possible on Wednesday and Thursday.

Below is video of Meteorologist Dallas Raines at his best January 19th, 2010.  I used to do the weather on KCBS in Los Angeles 2001-2002 before getting an bigger offer in New York City.  By the way this severe weather outbreak is rare for Southern CA.  Blame it on the storm track and El Nino.  More severe weather is likely Wednesday and Thursday.

Below is one of the tornadoes captured on video as it weakens, even a woman in the video is questioning where it is a tornado, it was a tornado in Orange County and it was in it’s weakening phase January 19th, 2010.
Below is video and photos of the storm damage on the 19th and the storm in progress including the high surf in S. CA.

Storms Continues on the West Coast 01/19/10

Thursday 10 AM Low off the NW Coast/Low in S. CA/Low in Gulf of Alaska

Lightning in California on Tuesday January 19th

Bert in Long Beach, CA sent this to me/ His patio is getting drenched !

As I was talking to a friend in Long Beach about a strong thunderstorm cell moving into his area, a TORNADO WARNING was issued at 12:36 pm for south central Los Angeles County including the city of LONG BEACH!

The storm cell is moving fast-NE @ 35 mph!

The TORNADO WARNING is now in effect for Huntington Beach until 1:30 pm  as the cell moves fast. The TORNADO WARNING continues until 2 pm for Anaheim(Walt Disney Land), Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Laguna all the way to San Diego.

More strong thunderstorms with damaging winds, very heavy rainfall, lightning, hail, and isolated tornadoes or waterspouts are likely Wednesday into Thursday.