And the rains came

[dawsonbob]

Well, after almost six months, it’s finally raining in San Diego. Our normal annual rainfall is around 9 to 10 inches, but so far we’ve only had less than two one hundredths of an inch — until today. Today we will get one to three inches (with more to follow for the rest of the week).

Why do I bring this up? Well, as badly as we need the rain — and we do — we’re simply not prepared to handle it. There will be widespread flooding (don’t laugh: this is a lot of rain for us), and auto accidents are occurring at the rate of about thirty per hour so far this morning. It’s also cold, with snow expected in the mountains. As usual, someone will probably skid off the road in one of our more remote locations, and be totally unprepared to deal with the situation. Hey, this is San Diego, right: what could go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong? Every year our first Big Rain turns into a survival situation for someone. If you tell these folks that they should have an emergency kit in their cars, they’ll laugh at you. You know, the old “it can’t happen to me, not here in paradise” syndrome.

I know that one to three inches of rain, and a little snow, is nothing in many parts of the country but, around here, it can be a disaster. It’s ironic that we spend most of the year praying to the rain gods for a little wet stuff but, when we get it, we can’t take it. Around here a few inches of rain can turn into a survival situation for some people.

Personally, I’m happy: I like the rain. But I can almost guarantee that on the news tonight or tomorrow, we’ll be hearing about someone who barely survived... or someone who didn’t.

Just wanted to share.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

It is ironic that it takes "intelligent" humans so much practice to deal with essentially simple situations. Around here, that kind of weather is so routine, people just go out without worrying about it. But we die in the summer's heat.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

yeah, it rained here last night and this morning and that was it... we were supposed to be getting 4 straight days of rain or something..

 

[Bushman5]

-4 celcuis here. cold crisp dry and sunny.

I really hope my radiatior didn;t crack.....i still have summer fluids in it. (water+ redline waterwetter)

 

[dawsonbob]

It is ironic that it takes "intelligent" humans so much practice to deal with essentially simple situations. Around here, that kind of weather is so routine, people just go out without worrying about it. But we die in the summer's heat.

It is ironic. What's normal for one section of the country is a life threatening situation for another. The problem around here is that we don't have the infrastructure to handle it. Since "large" amounts of rain are so rare, we've never built flood control channels to deal with it. Mission Valley, which is now considered prime real estate, is actually the flood plain for the San Diego river, and every time it rains, half the valley floods.

San Diegans can't drive in the rain or snow either. We have month after month when oil and rubber accumulate on the surfaces of our roads. Then, when we have some rain, it floats to the surface and acts like a lubricant. Will people slow down and be more careful driving when this happens? Nope, they won't. If they're lucky it only results in a fender-bender, but if it happens in one of our more remote locations, well, it can be a survival situation. You have to remember that San Diego county is larger than some Eastern states, so we do have some pretty remote locations. Good luck to all who drive out there.

 

[dawsonbob]

yeah, it rained here last night and this morning and that was it... we were supposed to be getting 4 straight days of rain or something..

Yeah, we're supposed to get about the same. Rain today, tonight and Tuesday, then a break on Wednesday, then more Thursday and Friday. We'll see: Mother Nature has teased us before.

 

[dawsonbob]

-4 celcuis here. cold crisp dry and sunny.

I really hope my radiatior didn;t crack.....i still have summer fluids in it. (water+ redline waterwetter)

About 58 degrees fahrenheit (14.44C) here.

I thought a radiator was something to cool your car.

 

[bubinga]

I commute north on the 163 to the 15 and it was horrible. Idiots going too fast for conditions they think can handle but they can't. If it ever snows here we're doomed.

 

[Bushman5]

About 58 degrees fahrenheit (14.44C) here.

I thought a radiator was something to cool your car.

yup. Problem is if left outside overnight, and if the temps hit 0 celcuis or lower, and if the fluids in the rad are not wintererized, they can freeze, expand and crack the rad. Had it happen to me twice, even with antifreeze mix. Up north they run 100% pure antifreeze, NO water. Even in Vancouver i've had a rad crack, running the recomenneded 50/50 antifreeze/water mix.

 

[dawsonbob]

I commute north on the 163 to the 15 and it was horrible. Idiots going too fast for conditions they think can handle but they can't. If it ever snows here we're doomed.

I saw pictures of that commute on the news. This is one time that I'm glad the truck is broken: I don't have to go out there in that mess.

It did snow here once, back in '67 or '68. I was back here from Vietnam to attend a school, so I took a little leave. I went to visit my dad, who lived on Sunset Cliffs, and it snowed all the way down to the water. It was crazy. I was coming from a place where it was pretty hot at the time, into SNOW in San Diego.

I don't think we'll get any today, though.

 

[dawsonbob]

yup. Problem is if left outside overnight, and if the temps hit 0 celcuis or lower, and if the fluids in the rad are not wintererized, they can freeze, expand and crack the rad. Had it happen to me twice, even with antifreeze mix. Up north they run 100% pure antifreeze, NO water. Even in Vancouver i've had a rad crack, running the recomenneded 50/50 antifreeze/water mix.

Bushy, I can't imagine living anywhere where it's that cold. Oh, I have visited places like that, but never for a whole winter. I guess we're spoiled down here. People here start complaining when it gets below seventy. My hat's off to you, dealing with that.

 

[JCavSD]

I grew up in Northern CA so was accustomed to cold and rain, and muddy dirt roads. I've lived in San Diego County for the last 20 years. Seems like about 1/3 of San Diegans actually get how to drive in the rain. Another 1/3 panic out and drive way way way slower than they need to. The remaining 1/3 drive as if it's dry, and end up rear ending the 1/3 that's in a slow moving panic. Perfect balance! Or something.

 

[lumpymike1]

I drive from Chula Vista to Del Mar to Linda Vista almost every morning. Took almost 2.5 hours and I left early...

Glad for the rain though. Makes me look forward to some nice hiking in the Cuyamacas when it is all green.

 

[dawsonbob]

I drive from Chula Vista to Del Mar to Linda Vista almost every morning. Took almost 2.5 hours and I left early...

Glad for the rain though. Makes me look forward to some nice hiking in the Cuyamacas when it is all green.

The hard stuff hasn't even hit yet. By the time you're going home, it should really be coming down.

Yeah, if we get a little more rain later in the year, Cuyamaca and Mt. Laguna should be sweet.

 

[lumpymike1]

By the time you are going home I will be working a Xmas tree lot in this stuff for the boy scouts.

Sigh.

Layers and poncho.

 

[dawsonbob]

By the time you are going home I will be working a Xmas tree lot in this stuff for the boy scouts.

Sigh.

Layers and poncho.

Fortunately, I work from home when I work, but I'm semi-retired now, so I don't have to go out in this stuff.

Good on you for helping the boy scouts. Try to stay warm and dry.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

[youtube]uJ4P7v8OEgs[/youtube]

 

[Mistwalker]

Don't feel bad Bob...I live in a rain forest where it rains all the time and yet still every time it rains the sirens start soon after. I remember the year we got an inch of snow in Tampa I believe there was something like 400 accidents reported by 9:30 am.

I think seeking the correct synchronicity with capitalism leads to a major lack of synchronicity with nature for most people....

I would say I'm glad you got some rain...but now I'm unsure

.

 

[dawsonbob]

Don't feel bad Bob...I live in a rain forest where it rains all the time and yet still every time it rains the sirens start soon after. I remember the year we got an inch of snow in Tampa I believe there was something like 400 accidents reported by 9:30 am.

I think seeking the correct synchronicity with capitalism leads to a major lack of synchronicity with nature for most people....

I would say I'm glad you got some rain...but now I'm unsure

.

Oh, I love the rain, and we really really need it. It's the side effects that get to us. San Diego is actually classified as desert, so we don't get much rain. All our water has to be imported from either up North or from the Colorado river. We love it when we do get rain, but it sure messes everything up.

If we had the rain you get, this place would be a jungle.

 

[dawsonbob]

[youtube]uJ4P7v8OEgs[/youtube]

How fitting. Good one, Esav. I've always liked that song.