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Rain is on the way!

Posted: November 29th, 2014, 2:41 pm
by RobertH
This just in from the National Weather Service:

" MODELS HAVE CONVERGED ON TUE AND TUE NIGHT AS BEING THE MAIN EVENT
FOR OUR FORECAST AREA. THE STORM WILL BE TAPPING INTO A SOLID AREA
OF MOISTURE WITH PWATS IN EXCESS OF 2" WELL TO OUR SOUTH. REFORECAST
ANALOGS SHOW INTEGRATED WATER VAPOR ANOMALIES WILL BE 5-6 STANDARD
DEVIATONS ABOVE NORMAL WITH THIS EVENT, PEAKING TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY
EVENING S OF PT CONCEPTION. GOOD SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL BRING
SIGNIFICANT OROGRAPHICS INTO EFFECT AS WELL. SO ALL SIGNS POINT TO A
SIGNIFICANT RAIN EVENT WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS S OF PT CONCEPTION.
1-2" FOR COASTAL/VALLEY AREAS AND 2-5" IN THE FOOTHILLS/MOUNTAINS.
AREAS NORTH OF PT CONCEPTION WILL BE ON THE LOWER END OF THOSE
NUMBERS."

Looks like the first good rain for SoCal this season.

Robert

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: November 29th, 2014, 3:20 pm
by AndrewZ
yup, things are looking pretty good.

Image

hopefully this is the beginning of a fairly wet winter...

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: November 30th, 2014, 10:06 am
by MarcLinsalata
:beer:

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 1st, 2014, 4:54 pm
by SurfinHerp
I'm excited about the prospects of a good rainstorm. Seems like it will be a rather warm storm too.


Does anyone think it will be worthwhile to go road-cruising for amphibians tomorrow night?


I'm thinking about cruising in northern SD County from about 7-10 PM.


Jeff

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 1st, 2014, 8:00 pm
by RobertH
If we were in SD County, we'd walk for Arroyo Toads tomorrow or even Wednesday night. 8-)

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 2nd, 2014, 2:22 pm
by hellihooks
I don't believe Arroyo's start emerging till late Jan, although may be different down in SD (where you can basically herp all year :crazyeyes: ) But yeah... amphibs have been a lively topic last few days, with SB Klaubs being especially targeted, what with this 'warm' rain. I went to check conditions yesterday, but the rain hadn't made it that far East... :?

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 2nd, 2014, 7:34 pm
by Owen
hellihooks wrote:I don't believe Arroyo's start emerging till late Jan, although may be different down in SD (where you can basically herp all year :crazyeyes: ) But yeah... amphibs have been a lively topic last few days, with SB Klaubs being especially targeted, what with this 'warm' rain. I went to check conditions yesterday, but the rain hadn't made it that far East... :?
Looks like you got rain today... go get 'em:

Image

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 2nd, 2014, 9:46 pm
by mattg
got alot of rain down here today it was awesome! cruised a couple manders and toads real quick on my way home this evening. the amphibians are out and about! :thumb: :thumb:

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 3rd, 2014, 1:30 am
by RobertH
I don't believe Arroyo's start emerging till late Jan
That may be true generally, or in the high desert where you are. But at least San Diego County is different. If you check the database you will see that Arroyo Toads, and lots of them, were found there by Taylor Henry on rainy, seasonably cold night in November a few years back. I also read that they will generally reemerge with the first fall rains, if only for a few nights. So, if you go to the right place, you can find them. For us, the nearest right place (In LA County) is just too far for a mid-week excursion.

Robert

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 3rd, 2014, 5:39 am
by hellihooks
Interesting...Such a warm rain... Deep Creek just might be worth checking out. Myke Clarkson posted on FB that he saw 6 species of amphibian rd cruisen last night, but hasn't posted particulars... :shock:

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 3rd, 2014, 9:32 am
by RobertH
Yes, you should definitely give Deep Creek a shot tonight. In particular because the Arroyos did not make a good showing there during the dry summer and early fall, they may well be out right now.
6 species of amphibian rd cruisen
That doesn't count :lol:

Robert

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 3rd, 2014, 9:10 pm
by SurfinHerp
At least one Arroyo was out last night in northwestern SD County...


Image

Road cruising totally counts! It's definitely not easy spotting herps on the road at night in the rain.


Jeff

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 3rd, 2014, 10:02 pm
by gopher
Everyone is looking for phibs! I took the time to look for legless and ended up with 3! :mrgreen:

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 4th, 2014, 7:44 am
by RobertH
OK, OK, we'll let Arroyo Toads count ;)

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 4th, 2014, 7:51 am
by hellihooks
gopher wrote:Everyone is looking for phibs! I took the time to look for legless and ended up with 3! :mrgreen:
Good Job... :thumb: I woke up in the middle of the night (from a dream, I guess) to the certain realization that I could probably find a Regal Ringneck, if I got out to a certain spot today... Man! I wish my 30 mpg Escort was up n running... :( :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 4th, 2014, 11:07 am
by RobertH
Yes, nice going with the Legless Lizards. Do you have any pictures or were they running too fast? :lol:

Robert

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 4th, 2014, 11:26 am
by hellihooks
Several of us are going to go try for Regals tomorrow...Whooo Hooo. Who'd a thunk such great herping opportunities would arise this late in the year... :D

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 4th, 2014, 6:18 pm
by LouB747
The most venomous of the Ringnecks? Be careful! Jealous. Wish I could get out there and have a look. May have to settle for a coastal version.

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 4th, 2014, 10:28 pm
by gopher
RobertH wrote:Yes, nice going with the Legless Lizards. Do you have any pictures or were they running too fast? :lol:

Robert
Well one almost got away as it buried under a rock and almost escaped in a root system. The second one was discovered due to tracks in the soil this one was fun as it required myself to dig 5 inches into the soil to unearth it. :mrgreen:
Pictures on the way!
hellihooks wrote: Good Job... :thumb: I woke up in the middle of the night (from a dream, I guess) to the certain realization that I could probably find a Regal Ringneck, if I got out to a certain spot today... Man! I wish my 30 mpg Escort was up n running... :( :lol: :lol: :lol:
Thanks. Wow waking up to realize you missed a good chance of herping...that is a nightmare lol. Good luck tomorrow! fingers crossed.


Edit: Here is a pic
ImageSouthern California Legless Lizard - Anniella stebbinsi by Gopher Greg, on Flickr

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 5th, 2014, 6:25 am
by RobertH
Cool, thanks for the pic. 8-)

Re: Rain is on the way!

Posted: December 5th, 2014, 1:05 pm
by gopher
SurfinHerp wrote:At least one Arroyo was out last night in northwestern SD County...


Image

Road cruising totally counts! It's definitely not easy spotting herps on the road at night in the rain.


Jeff
Nice work on that arroyo toad! I second the difficulty of spotting herps on the rain. Finding a toadlet during a downpour sucks :lol: