Christmas Eve 2025: We had gone to bed early last night because we were planning on one last drive to Hanford before we pull out of here next week.
I woke slightly to Holland sliding into bed at 5:45 AM, saying "Don't bother getting up - it's raining too hard to go anywhere." So, I closed my eyes again 🛌💤 & snuggled comfortably into the additional warmth.
I staggered sleepy-eyed into the kitchen for coffee around 6 AM … and was rudely woken all the way up when I found myself staring at a standing water puddle 👀 on the back room floor. I called to Holland (because he is way taller than I am) hoping maybe his eyes could see what mine couldn't. We were both stumped 💧🧐🤦🏻♀️ The ceiling was dry. There was no pipe leak. Eyes following the water trail, it appears to be running down the doorframe between bunkroom & bathroom - not sure how that can be: but that is what is. So, I opened the bottom cabinet in the bunkroom near the doorframe, and saw there was water along the backside; so, I pulled everything out of there - mopped up the little trail of water, and shooed Holland back to bed (he'd only just crawled under the blankets mere minutes ago), telling him I'd wick it up with a towel and keep an eye on the floor area to try and pinpoint what's happening. There's nothing that can be done anyway until the deluge stops - and worry just creates a headache; it won't solve anything.
And it's a memory we'd rather wasn't in the making 😑
I sipped my mug of coffee, scanned the "flood alerts!", and watched the rain fall outside Independence's windows, until the mug was drained:
I had planned on packing up the house today (as much as possible that doesn't pertain to day-to-day necessities) in preparation for next week's traveling towards sunshine … but with that concerning leak in the back room, I think I'll wait until we see how the water runs & where the accumulation takes place other than the floor - so far, there is no water or dampness showing in the upper cabinet, but I want to be sure before I stash my yarn cache in there.
Contemplating the yarn situation got me to thinking about another project … so, I got busy on that while Holland rested his body & shut his thoughts off for a bit:
Reading storm reports flashing across my newsfeed … I'm not sure when we can actually pick up and go; it all sounds sketchy travel-wise.
With the storm moving on towards where we were hoping the sunshine would be; we may just have to stay put a while longer.
Mother Nature is really careening out of control, this year:
{{Dangerous Storm To Flood California, Threatening Lives And Property Before Christmas
~Story by Alex Sosnowski
A strengthening storm off the West Coast will create yet another atmospheric river to pump copious amounts of rain from the Pacific Ocean to much of California through Christmas Day, potentially creating life-threatening flooding and mudslides.
Heavy rain will create a significant risk to lives and property in some areas. Feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada may not only close some roads but could also leave people stranded.
Multiple inches of rain will pour down over a few hours, on the mountainsides and in urban areas of California. Those in the coastal regions of Southern California will receive multiple months' worth of rain in a span of one to three days.
"The downtown Los Angeles area is projected to receive 4-8 inches of rain through this week along which is two to three times the entire December historical average rainfall of 2.48 inches," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.
Some of the heaviest rain will unfold while people are asleep.
"The heaviest rain for Los Angeles is likely to fall from late Tuesday night through Wednesday," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. "Driving around L.A. during the height of the storm, especially Wednesday morning, could be especially dangerous."
Rainfall rates during this time could reach 2 inches per hour, which can overwhelm storm drains and cause streets to turn into ponds and rivers. The historical average rainfall for all of December for Downtown Los Angeles is 2.48 inches.
Some of the west- and southwest-facing mountain slopes of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California will receive up to a foot of rain, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 16 inches, leading to tremendous and rapid runoff.
The heavy rain expected across Northern, Central and Southern California for much of this week could turn small streams into dangerous rivers, send fast-moving water across roads and even wash out some highways. As the ground becomes soaked, the risk of mudslides will increase significantly.
"The fast-moving runoff can pick up rocks, mud, ash and debris, quickly turning into a debris flow that can race down hill with little warning, taking out homes, vehicles and roads along the way," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
Debris flows may be most common in recent wildfire burn scar locations, including the January Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
Downpours will reach the high and low deserts in California and part of the Great Basin in the southwestern United States. There will be a risk of flash urban flooding in Las Vegas from Wednesday to Friday.
Heavy snow to create dangerous travel in Sierra Nevada
"Feet of snow will pile up on the Sierra Nevada this week with many of the ridges and peaks in the region picking up 8-12 inches of snow and some places perhaps picking up 15 feet," Rayno said.
Snow will reach lower elevations in the Sierra Nevada this week, dropping to the mountain passes by Wednesday night, and may drop to 5,000 feet for Christmas.
"At Donner Pass, California, along the heavily-traveled Interstate 80, from 2 to 4 feet of snow is forecast, beginning in earnest Wednesday night and continuing through Christmas Day and into Friday," Roys said.
Some roads, including Interstate 80, may be closed temporarily.
The snow will be a boon for the ski resorts and a future source of water during spring runoff, but with prolonged and heavy snowfall, some people traveling to and from the resorts may become stranded.
Airline delays anticipated
"Air travel through major hubs, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, California, could face delays due to strong winds, reduced visibility and runway flooding," Roys said.
Substantial flight delays and cancellations are possible.
High winds could cut power
Wind gusts of 40-60 mph are another threat from this storm, which can break tree limbs and lead to power outages.
Some of the strongest wind gusts of 60-80 mph will occur in the Sierra Nevada, the northern coast of California and around Mount Shasta. The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 130 mph is most likely in the mountains.
With this potent system, some local thunderstorm activity can't be ruled out, with the potential for hail and possibly a couple of tornadoes or waterspouts.
Still damp to end the week
Later in the week, from Friday to Saturday, the intensity of the storm will begin to ease, but chilly air will be in place and moisture will linger.
Christmas salutations were sent across the airwaves while supper was cooking - and 8 of the 10 greetings were immediately returned; the rest are no doubt either with family, or dealing with severe weather fallout, in their immediate areas of far-flung States: we have been watching the weather reports & praying our friends and family members - wherever they are - will escape the severities hitting that State hard.
So far, everyone we know and love, tell us they are safe from Mother Nature's 2025 temper tantrums.
As for us; right now, we are pretty much land-locked, The notations below, is the route Holland was planning for us come Monday, to avoid driving through LA's story mess … and it appears that the Tehachapi & Mojave choice is risky too, right now.
This is what Caltrans is reporting today:
What you need to know: Westbound State Route 58 is fully closed from Exit 172 near Mojave to Cameron Canyon Road east of Tehachapi due to flash flooding and debris on the roadway
EASTERN KERN COUNTY — Westbound State Route 58 is fully closed from Exit 172 near Mojave to Cameron Canyon Road east of Tehachapi due to flooding and debris on the roadway. There is no estimated reopening time. Caltrans crews will assess potential damage once conditions allow.
TRAFFIC IMPACT: In addition to the closures already noted, Exit 165 north of Mojave is also closed. No direct westbound route to Tehachapi is available from Mojave.
It's a mess, everywhere.
There was no more water puddles in-house throughout the Day - this is a mystery.
Roadways could be cleared up by Monday.
All things right now, are a wait and see situation.
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