Palomar Mountain News

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/25/arctic-storm-bringing-rain-snow-record-cold/?sciquest

From: PMVFD

Subject: [PMVFD] Winter Weather Warning in effect

There is a considerable amount of snow accumulated up on Palomar Mountain, with snow continuing to fall. Up to 8 or 9 inches in some areas.

Road conditions are treacherous with visibility at almost zero. Please use caution and stay off the roads if at all possible.
The Community Center has cancelled all scheduled event for today, however it remains OPEN in case of emergency.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?site=sgx&smap=1&textField1=33.32278&textField2=-116.87778
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
230 AM PST SAT FEB 26 2011
...HEAVY SNOWFALL IN THE MOUNTAINS AND UPPER DESERTS INTO THIS
EVENING...

.A COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE INLAND ACROSS SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA
TODAY BRINGING HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS TO THE MOUNTAINS. SNOW
LEVELS STARTING OUT NEAR 4500 FEET WILL LOWER TO 2000 TO 2500 FEET
THIS EVENING.
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM PST SUNDAY
ABOVE 3500 FEET...

A WINTER STORM WARNING ABOVE 3500 FEET REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL
3 AM PST SUNDAY.

* ELEVATION: ABOVE 3500 FEET.

* SNOW LEVELS: LOWERING TO 2000 TO 2500 FEET SATURDAY THROUGH
  SATURDAY NIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 6 TO 12 INCHES ABOVE 3500 FEET WITH LOCAL
  AMOUNTS OF 12 TO 18 INCHES AT ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET.

* TIMING: LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. GREATEST AMOUNTS
  THIS MORNING WITH SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUING THROUGH TONIGHT.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: BOULEVARD...CUYAMACA...DESCANSO...JULIAN...
   MOUNT LAGUNA...PINE VALLEY...RANCHITA

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 2O TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH.

* VISIBILITY: NEAR ZERO AT TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW...BLOWING SNOW... AND
  DENSE FOG.

* IMPACTS: A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE
  WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.
  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE
  TRAVEL DANGEROUS. SNOWFALL WILL IMPACT TRAVEL ON INTERSTATE
  8 THROUGH THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. THIS WEATHER COULD BE
DEADLY FOR UNPREPARED CAMPERS OR HIKERS.

 
—

Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department
21610 Crestline Road
Palomar Mountain, CA, 92060

 When I got home last night, our driveway was plowed clean.  It now has a good eight inches with drifts to about two feet.  My husband parked his plow up at our ‘Round House’ property.  (It is much easier to plow down hill!)  He hiked up this morning, fed Buddy-the-horse, and is plowing our driveway now. Kym called from the Fire Station so it is next on his list.  

I  just might love snow more than anyone else but I will tell you that I was glad to see our forecast this morning for today’s snow was cut in half.  A couple feet of snow in one weekend is pleanty for Palomar!

From: Tracey Chesney  

 Most TV viewers on Palomar have a satellite dish. When we have this much snow, we often lose reception so you see ladders and a broom next to the roof where the dish is mounted.  When reception is lost, people put on their jacket and mittens, leave the comfort of their warm cabin, go out in the storm, climb up the ladder and brush the snow off the dish with the broom hoping to not slip and fall. Here is a tip for you to avoid that drama: 

Cover your dish with a white plastic trash bag.  Snow doesn’t stick to the plastic so you still get TV reception. 

(TV?!??  Personally I do not know how to turn the thing on and choose to create my own Reality Show!)  I go play in snow now…

Bonnie Phelps reporting from the  BEST place to be on Earth!

Ah yes, the repair guys are often some of our very best friends after a storm.  SDG&E, Sempra, AT&T, the Road Station Crew and all the guys running the plows have worked around the clock in the past.  It might be a good time to check your flashlights or put some candles where you can easily locate them.  It is a little late to run out for a generator but there are other things you can do to simplify your life to enjoy the beauty of the snow to the max.  Thunderstorms are predicted so unplugging appliances can save a lot of grief, why you shouldn’t park under black oaks, and a lot more are right here.  Ok, I’m on my way up the mountain, looking forward to another weekend a mile nearer heaven on Palomar. 

See you ’round the Mountain!

Bonnie 760 742-1742 or some of you are asking for Don  – his line is 760 742-8716

The “biggest snow of the decade” in March 2006,  just may have a new contender!  My husband Don heard on the news today that we may be in for the “biggest storm in 20 to 30 years”!  One thing for sure, we are promised an unusually beautiful view of the flatlands from the Mountain top with a possibility of snow on the palm trees.  I’m on my way to the mountain this afternoon after stocking up to get some great soup simmering – might need a lotta soup since some of us may be there for a while!  Click for the forecast and you will see that we may have several feet of snow on top of what is already on the ground!

Thanks to mountain neighbors who have helped out for a warm fire this weekend for the Burdick Family.  All help is sincerely appreciataed.   Several of you have asked for their contact info:

Terrill and Shawneen Burdick

PO Box 1697 

29919 Valley Center Road

Valley Center, CA 92082

760 594-2795

From: Dutch and Sharon Bergman

Terrill Burdick (our mail deliverer) was in a bad accident on the mountain and is unable to provide firewood for his family. Many of you know Terrill and Shawneen and their children as they went to the mountain school until it closed. They are a wonderful Christian couple who are always helping other people!!  Their phone # is 760-749-4979

Let’s return the love.

Thanks,
Sharon

—–Original Message—–
From: Shawneen Burdick  

As you know, Terrill was in an accident and fractured his 3rd vertebrae..now they are saying he also fractured his 5th.  Unfortunately he will be disabled for an extended period of time.

This is a very difficult time for us and it grieves me to ask …  Forgive me for asking but Terrill keeps asking, do we have enough firewood…and the answer is no we are now in need of firewood, this is the only heat we have and cold weather is on the way.

In His Great Love,

Shawneen