What's going on in California tonight? The weather channel is freaking out

[jdj]

It looks like some big cloud off the coast but they act like everyone should already know what is going on out there. Is it that tropical cyclone coming onshore?

[GreenPoet64]

1. I'm in the Inland Empire . . .

It's rainy and cloudy . . but no cyclone. Do you have a link or a story or a photo? (Am wondering what is headed this way!)

[mitchtv]

45. waterspout in Huntington Bch

tornato in Temecula
It's its real wet in Palm springs
I've never seen the mountains green out here

[jdj]

48. is this how I get people to respond to my threads?

talk about the weather?

allrighty then.

[SoCalDem]

2. Nope just a series of "stuck" low pressure zones

that are determined to ruin my ceilings some more.. We finally have the money together to replace our roof, and now it won;t stop raining long enough to get it done :(

and after THIS low.. there's another one waiting to take its place:(

[RBHam]

3. In California, they fear the worst and expect it...

Trained that way...earthquakes, floods, race riots...

[Synnical]

9. Florida

Trained for a hurricane a year, not four in three months. People still don't have roofs here, and the mold is setting in so much that homes are uninhabitable. Blue Tarps are still everywhere - and the tarps are deteriorating. FEMA is checking out soon. Roofers have more work than they can accomplish.

Just some news from FLA.

[barb162]

12. read that with great interest. SO are the "mold" homes being

demolished or what? Funny how no one outside of Florida hears this.

[FlaGranny]

23. Most moldy homes

will have to be stripped to the bare wood or concrete block, as the case may be, treated for mold, then have the insulation replaced and the drywall. Not to mention the carpets. Mobile homes with roof damage are just being totalled and dragged to the junk heap. The paneling and flooring in them completely rot when they stay wet. There are still some uninhabitable mobile homes where I live. There are many new roofs, and some roofs still waiting to be repaired. You can still see the blue tarps in most areas around here. All this, and we were on the "good" side of two eyewalls.

Edit: P.S. We haven't had any measurable rain in two months. Of course, we're in the middle of our dry season and soon will have to start to worry about fires.

[barb162]

25. Believe ot or not, I have heard twice in the last two days about the

fire potential in the north half of Florida, but zero about this problem you are mentioning about peoples' homes. Where are these people living? In hotels? To me this is a very major story, because this is months now these people can't get back in their neighborhoods, their houses, etc. And I wonder why it isn't being reported around the country

[FlaGranny]

26. I don't watch much local news, but

spoke to one person who lost their home and is living with friends, and I've seen several reports on local news about others in the same boat. In my mobile home park, many of the people are snowbirds and have homes up north too, so it's not bad for them. The mother of my neighbor across the street has been living with them and also renting from others, when she could, since the hurricanes. She lost her home. Her new mobile home was just delivered yesterday and set-up begins Monday. This is just what I'm familiar with. I'm sure there are many, many stories like this, and probably many more on the west coast of Florida.

[Sugarbleus]

16. I"m still very sorry for Floridas hell this year....

I can just imagine the MOLD..... eewwwww It's rather humid down that way I suspect?

So FEMA is saying buh bye? Just ducky. Good luck from rainy, sunny, downpour, sunny, snowstorm, hailing, sunny.......california :hi:

[mitchtv]

47. Lots of fuel for the fires

this summer.

[Sugarbleus]

49. That's another thing... I don't remember

Florida having so many fires as there have been in just the last few years. Am I correct in that--is Florida normally a fire prone state?? Perhaps hurricanes with the drenching rain/water is what kept Floriday "green" in times past?

My jaws dropped as I watched the last few fires down there via TV..Couldn't believe it.

[K8-EEE]

4. It Rained HARD, Hail & Lightening For About Half An Hour

I know that sounds like nothing but we are not prepared for it, drainage wise especially -- the streets are like rivers and the water from my porch is sort of seeping in, argh!

I'm in N. Hollywood....

[Cleita]

5. More rain.

Besides a lot of happy weeds that are outgrowing my plants, there is a feeling of spring. Some of the trees are budding, but I do know that we get this April freeze that sort of ruins it, but never mind many flower anyway.

[Sugarbleus]

18. I can't WAAAAAAAAAAIT for Spring.... a break in the

RAIN made the weeds grow, trees bloom, AND it brought pollen up. Been sneezing our faces off around here. LOL

NOW, we have to watch out for mosquitos (west nile has arrived)--gotta go dump all the standing water around the yard.

Plus, I just heard a report on TV the other day (Monterey/SF bay Area) that we should NOT feed the birds!!?? It said something about a weird virus the birds were carrying that could be transmitted to humans. WTH !@#&**&^%?

[troubleinwinter]

24. About the birds...

I'm in Santa Rosa (north of SF), and about 6 months ago, a person from the County Agricultural Dept. came to the door and said that if we see a dead or sick bird, NOT to touch it, but to call the Ag Dept. to pick it up. Something about this bird virus. I have a pet bird, and asked if I should be concerned, he said, no, it's a wild bird thing at this point.

I was shocked that the Ag Dept. sent someone to the door, this is a very big town.

They are quite concerned about whatever this disease is. He said that there was an outbreak some decades ago in Calif., and flocks of agricultural poultry (100s of thousands of birds) had to be destroyed. This county has a lot of ag. poultry.

So, everybody, ... don't touch a sick or dead bird. Call AG, they want to track it, test it and dispose of it.

[Sugarbleus]

30. I know your area.. Was the report the same as the one I saw in

that it said 'whatever the birds have, can cross over to humans'?

I remember the news telling us last year that west nile kills birds also and not to touch them either. Are we talking about TWO different things or the same thing? :scared:

In any case, I am sorry for the industry up there. I am equally sorry I am asked NOT to feed the wild birds. I love them and put all sorts of feed out, usually. They help keep some bugs out of my garden while giving me joy.

Last year, after west nile arrived, our county released a horde of beautiful dragon flies to eat the mosquitos...I think they needed a LOT more; people got sick any way.

Best, SB

[troubleinwinter]

38. The AG Dept. was watching for Newcastle disease.

The 2002 discovery of exotic Newcastle disease in Southern California forced government officials to order the killing of more than 3 million chickens.

An outbreak in Southern California in 1971 led to the loss of 12 million poultry.

It is airborn, and highly contageous amongst birds, not humans.

.....

Newcastle is NOT what the warning are about, in No. CA regarding the feeding of birds!! That warning is about Salmonellosis, which is spread by the birds' droppings.

They are asking people to stop feeding birds for a month, so the birds will spread out, rather than congregating closely to lett the desease of Salmonellosis can dissipate.

Please read this article!

If someone is putting out feed that goldfinches and pine siskins eat (chopped-up sunflower meats and thistle or Nyjer seed), they should discontinue the feeding temporarily, he said. But if they are providing other types of feed, such as whole sunflower seeds, which goldfinches and pine siskins normally don't eat, it shouldn't be necessary to stop feeding, he said. And people can continue feeding hummingbirds.

The most important thing is to clean feeders (and also birdbaths) often, he said. He cleans his own at least twice a week. If people are using cloth "sock" feeders, like Dottie Faucett's, it's really necessary to wash them often to prevent bacterial contamination.

Frequent cleaning becomes even more important in damp weather, he said.

Metal or plastic feeders are better than cloth or wooden ones, because they are easier to keep clean, according to Fish and Game.

Cleaning up bird droppings under the feeders, as thoroughly as possible, is also important.

While it's rare for people to catch salmonellosis from birds, it is possible. So, Fish and Game recommends washing your hands well after touching a bird feeder. Gloves should be worn if you handle a dead bird.

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/Stories/0,1413,136~32730~2721528,00.html

[Sugarbleus]

39. Thank you SO much...this is very informative...

Great, now I know what to do. This is wonderful.

[troubleinwinter]

40. Yes, it's good info, huh? ...

It shows that we only need stop feeding certain types of birds for a month (for their benefit) and some ways to actually keep feeding them in a manner that is safe for them.

Salmonella has always been a concern with pet birds. Sensilble cleanliness (with droppings) is the solution. It has been known to be a problem with those little pet turtles, too.

[Sugarbleus]

41. I love to watch the wild birds nest and do their thing... I especially

love hummingbirds. The article said I needn't worry about Hummingbirds(?)

I live in a residential area; I don't have hordes of birds flocking here..more like what anyone would see in their own backyards. Yet, I have been putting out peanuts for jays and millet for general bird fare. A few whole sunflower seeds too. The birds come and go...had a couple nesting doves/pigeons too but they moved on. Too many cats around here.

I was going to construct a birdbath but I'll forego that for now. I'll be mindful of the droppings and just cut back feeding in general...

Again, I thank you for the heads up article. Helps a lot.

[troubleinwinter]

43. Funny you mention the jays...

I put out peanuts in the shell for the jays.

My husband has to clean out the rain-downspouts often, as the jays stash their peanuts in them!

I get oddball sprouts in potted plants and at the bases of trees... upon digging them out, they turn out to be stashed peanuts.

As for cats, we have one, but a billion times to one, the birds are much smarter and quicker than cats. Cats seldom get a bird. They get mice and lizards occasionally, but nearly never, a bird. They 'stalk' em, but the birds are just too smart and fast. Best to hang feeders, rather than feed birds on the ground, though.

[Sugarbleus]

44. It sounds like you are a "birder"...I just LOVE wildbirds...

I have a friend who actually followed through in that she made it a point to learn which bird was which. I almost joined the audobon society. There is the cutest little shop in town that sells all things bird and squirrel related. Gawd, it's all I can do to NOT spend the family fortune in there.

They are so helpful in terms of loaning/renting tapes on birds and directing people to varios bird watching events. My friend and her friends like to take little weekend get aways to visit the wetlands for mini tours.

I am mostly a backyard birder (novice). And I know what you mean about those jays and peanuts LOL LOL. What I learned about jays I got from that shop I mentioned. The lady told me jays (and some others) also like grape jelly...you just have to keep it from getting stale, wet or ant infested. No mean trick, mind you. ;) I asked the birdshop owner how do I keep the jays from hogging all the feed from the small birds; that's when she clued me into raw in-shell peanuts etc. She said I should put the peanuts in another part of the yard so they will not be bothering the smaller birds. Cool...

But, like you, we find peanuts IN E V E R Y T H I N G..it's really pretty funny.

I don't have a proper wildbird feeder set up yet; I don't like the hanging things because they spread seed all over the place, tip etc. if larger birds glom onto them (then sprout where I don't want them to). I've been putting the seed into a terra cotta saucer on the low eaves of our shed and put peanuts into an old basket to hang in the trees for the jays. What I want to do is build a platform feeder on a rigid pole. The bird shop has a gizmo I can buy to attach a platform to rods I can purchase at the hardware store...and it's cheaper to do it myself.

Those pesky doves like to "nest" near the feed on the roof...those are the little buggers that the cats go after as the doves are rather stubborn in terms of "leaving". NO birds have been caught by any cats yet. The neighborhood cats are good at going after the pesky moles we have and there are MANY, the cats have their paws full with that so don't spend as much time climbing trees to snatch hatchlings...that's a plus.

I adore hummingbirds too. I just bought the cutest set of recycled blue glass hanging feeders. It looks so nice nestled in the garden. The hummers get familiar with you, as I'm sure you know. They are funny in that they come back and flutter in my window as if to say: "Hey, where's the nectar, my feeder is empty!"

Happy birding :hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Was watching WGN last night and the weatherman showed something very

big and bad forming off the Southern coast of California in the Pacific and said that it was going to hit...and would affect CA, Nevada, NM and the SW area of the country.

WGN is in Chicago. My son lives there, so I always snoop into their weather and news since I get WGN on my cable lineup.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

7. flood warnings in LA, & it's headed down to San Diego,

it's supposed to be rockin & rollin tonight - We'll be fine, but T.J. really gets worked over.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi AnotherMother4Peace!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[autorank]

8. It's John Carpenter's "The Fog" materializing. Watch it Arnie!

[Ladyhawk]

10. I noticed that some ravens had flown down from the high country.

I haven't watched a weather report, but I noticed the ravens and wondered if a bad, cold storm was approaching.

:shrug:

[Cleita]

13. Ravens?

They are part of where I live. We know each other by name. (Kidding). Along with the hawks, buzzards and the rest of my neighbors, why is this a problem?

[Ladyhawk]

15. It's not a problem, but they usually stay in the high country.

I've only seen them down this low a few times in this county. Once was in the middle of summer, so it may or may not mean anything.

:shrug:

I just wondered if they knew a storm was blowing in and decided to vacate the high country for awhile. Of course, they live at all different elevations elsewhere, but seem to prefer the high country here.

Ravens are smart and impressive birds, so I couldn't help but notice them. I slowed down to watch them strut across a parking lot. I think the people in the car behind me got angry. :)

[idiosyncratic]

11. A roof collapsed on a building after a microburst dropped a ton of rain

Probably more than a ton. It turned out the drains for the flat roof were clogged.

It isn't raining here in the hills east of San Diego . . . yet . . . but this has been one wet winter so far.

I'm sure glad I had the roofer fix my leaks after the first rains last fall . . . :)

[REP]

14. Expecting Thunder, Lightning and Hail in the SF Bay Area

They've been warning us about that all day. A little thunder and lightning here and people freak out (thunderstorms are rare here).

[mordarlar]

21. Really? thunderstorms?

[catzies]

29. Yup. Woke up to thunder at 6:30 am - a real California rarity

Power went off & off several times before making up its mind to stay on.

Coastal Ventura County here. La Conchita is on my way to work in Carpinteria. :(

[Sugarbleus]

17. One hell of a rainy season this year.

Folks in the south land got it the worst I think. Blizzards closed mountain passes over the Sierras last month...Daughter had to go over in a "whiteout" via caravan led by highway patrol

I'm in SF bay area. We get it, then it goes to LA area. Sometimes it works the other way around. I HATE WINTER.

In this area, we got days upon days of pouring rain, then mudslides and flooding. Then the system goes south and they get swamped too.

In Northland, we had a few days recently where it cleared up for a few days. Whippeeeeeee................then, "IT" came back. We were suppose to get the hail from the Bay area, but I guess it couldn't make it over the coastal range...just got the dripping RAIN!!!!!!

Mud all over the place. I live at the Beach so it stays damp longer; we too get the mold and moss growing on everything. There's barely time to start to dry out and then it rains some more. I can't wait for spring; itching to work in the yard....UNLESS it brings the FOG:hangover: I'd never make it in the state of Washington or on the coast of Oregon. I love the sun.

*End of weather report* :hi:

[warrior1]

20. well

We had a brief rest from the rain, but looks like we are getting more. I'm in Sacramento. Good news for some is they've shored up the levees and some people can cancel their required flood insurance.

[Sugarbleus]

28. Those levees can do some aweful damage I see...

The "Rain" (arrgh) did hit last night again. I left my bedroom window open sooooooooooo my room was soaked this morning. I'm so over it. lol

Good luck to you all up in Sacto.

[artemisia1]

35. Hello Sacramento!

I'm in Sacramenot and heard the same things about our levees. This rain is reminding me of '86, '95, and '97. How about you?

[dbt]

22. Fortunately, there's no such thing as Chemtrails!

Lucky break we all caught there, 'cause if those white jets really were spraying Goddess-knows-what into the sky 24/7 the way a handful of tinfoil-hatters would have you believe, there's no telling what it might do to the weather!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[The Sheik]

27. 12:15 PM PST and its raining a lite amount.

[kineneb]

31. Report from Lake Co.

Lots of rain for last several days. Quite heavy cloudbursts yesterday and today. Its winter in CA...it is raining. After May we won't see rain until Oct. or Nov. Two seasons- wet & dry. Welcome to the West. Clear Lake is nice and full and there are lots of happy water birds.

Nothin' new, fire, floods, earthquakes. At least I don't have to shovel snow here.

[spooked]

32. Check out this storm report...looks like tornado warnings

http://www.wunderground.com/stormreport.asp

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Rapcw]

34. Here in the Eastern Bay Area, lots of rain today.

Some occasional hard downpours here and there, and faint rain pretty much all day.

[Vektor]

36. Well, it's raining,

but otherwise, we're a-OK!

[rucky]

37. meanwhile, in the Pacific Northwest...

sunny and 60 today.

strange, but I'm not going to ask too many questions

:)

[Democrat Dragon]

42. It has been raining hard with thunderstorms in Los Angeles

yes it does rain in LA. The weather over there now is just like the weather in San Jose during winter.

[Liberty Belle]

46. Tornado in Fallbrook/Temecula damaged dozens of homes.

Mostly fallen trees, roof tiles blown off, but still a funnel cloud in California is very unusual.