View Full Version : CA storm coming...
AnnaJW
01-04-2008, 03:25 AM
Wow. It looks like almost everyone is taking a big hit with the weather! :(
We are supposed to get major rain and winds this weekend. I spent a good part of an hour tonight putting my 30-some banana blankets in trash bags to keep them dry. I have heavy weight boxes over my most tender plants. I so hope that my four bunches will make it through the winter. :2141:
asacomm
01-04-2008, 03:52 AM
Hello Anna,
As I posted under the title "An unwlcome New Year's gift!", the strong cold
wave has been staying over here even today since Dec.30, and it hit -3C/abt27F.
Almost all of the leaves of my bananas have been damaged and now dried up.
But quite fortunately their pseudstems seem to be unhurt.
As far as pseudostems and rhizomes are alive, they shall come back again in
the coming spring.
AnnaJW
01-04-2008, 04:09 AM
It's so hard to watch what Winter does to them. :(
But after last year, I know that the majority will come back. :)
dablo93
01-04-2008, 08:25 AM
like the weather you should get, we have that in winter sometimes 1 or 2 weeks without sunny moments :P
STEELVIPER
01-04-2008, 10:11 AM
Going to get about 3 to 5 inches of rain. maybe more. But are lows will be in the lower 50's. So we are ok. would not worry about the wind. Bananas love water, so we will be getting plenty of it.
SOCALROCKER
01-04-2008, 11:45 AM
Hey guy's it has been so windy here these 3 days of constant wind that I am so happy they are gone.Now the rain is coming and I just brought in all my potted plants into protection from the storm that is coming our way.I hope you all take care and save all of your bananas and other tropical fruits and other plants.Tonight the storm is gonna be here they say lets see how strong of a punch the weather forcasters are predicting.Here where I live in
Simi Valley, California the weather forcast are below check it out....:)
Tonight 100% chance of precipitation Rain Showers
Rain...heavy at times. Lows in the upper 40s. South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to around 45 mph.
Showers Saturday 90% chance of precipitation Rain Showers ...breezy. Highs in the upper 50s. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts. Breezy. Highs in the upper 50s. Southeast winds increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph
Rain Sunday 60% chance of precipitation
Mostly cloudy with showers likely. Highs in the mid 50s. Southwest winds around 15 mph in the afternoon.
Monday
Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s.
Have a great weekend my SoCal Neighbors keep dry and save your plants !
SOCALROCKER :bananas_g
microfarmer
01-04-2008, 12:23 PM
Wow. It looks like almost everyone is taking a big hit with the weather! :(
We are supposed to get major rain and winds this weekend. I spent a good part of an hour tonight putting my 30-some banana blankets in trash bags to keep them dry. I have heavy weight boxes over my most tender plants. I so hope that my four bunches will make it through the winter. :2141:
I got some high winds today that're still going on. 66 mph recorded so far at Sacramento Intl airport (22 miles away.) They were strong enough to buckle my roof supports on my patio cover and allow the wind to get under the panels and start them flapping. I lost 3 panels already. (I got them before they flew into my neighbor's yard), and 2 more are 1/2 off. The winds will last til noon... ):^(
Add in 3-6 inches of rain...mostly falling horizontally...
A good day to stay inside. :nanadrink:
momoese
01-04-2008, 12:28 PM
No rain here yet, but the forecast says 100% chance of heavy rain.
mskitty38583
01-04-2008, 12:58 PM
santa annas?
harveyc
01-04-2008, 01:34 PM
I got some high winds today that're still going on. 66 mph recorded so far at Sacramento Intl airport (22 miles away.) They were strong enough to buckle my roof supports on my patio cover and allow the wind to get under the panels and start them flapping. I lost 3 panels already. (I got them before they flew into my neighbor's yard), and 2 more are 1/2 off. The winds will last til noon... ):^(
Add in 3-6 inches of rain...mostly falling horizontally...
A good day to stay inside. :nanadrink:
Microfarmer, I'm rethinking my design on my upcoming greenhouse. My temporary shelter is still standing...the frame at least! Our winds started last night late, maybe 11pm if I recall, and got worse throughout the night. We've been without power for about 4 hours and there is no estimate as to when it will be restored. I'm sure there are bigger problems in the mountains. With all the tree trimming the utility companies do I'm always surprised when there are still these power outages. I've got my computer battery back-up plugged into a generator (I guess I'm a bonafide banana fiend! LOL) and wish I had set my house up to plug the whole house into my larger generator...something I've put off for a long time. It's 60F inside the house right now and 46F outside and we will continue to drop without power. I just hope we get power by the end of the day! God protect those utility workers.
microfarmer
01-04-2008, 02:44 PM
Microfarmer, I'm rethinking my design on my upcoming greenhouse. My temporary shelter is still standing...the frame at least! Our winds started last night late, maybe 11pm if I recall, and got worse throughout the night. We've been without power for about 4 hours and there is no estimate as to when it will be restored. I'm sure there are bigger problems in the mountains. With all the tree trimming the utility companies do I'm always surprised when there are still these power outages. I've got my computer battery back-up plugged into a generator (I guess I'm a bonafide banana fiend! LOL) and wish I had set my house up to plug the whole house into my larger generator...something I've put off for a long time. It's 60F inside the house right now and 46F outside and we will continue to drop without power. I just hope we get power by the end of the day! God protect those utility workers.
The wind is still blowing like mad here and some ponding in my back yard. My patio roof is in tatters. I'll be rebuilding it with more support and thicker roof steel. If the supports didn't buckle, I think it would have been ok.
I just gotta hang on for another hour...
My greenhouse will have plywood for the north wall and 1/2 ply and 1/2 windows on the east and west walls, and a glazed door on the east wall. with the south wall all glazed with recycled sliding patio doors.
I was just about to post about a greenhouse design you might find interesting.
http://www.suntuf.com/images/projects/Greenhouse%20Project%205.pdf
The tv said all PG&E and SMUD work crews are all called in to work. Vacations and days off all have been cancelled.
Take care.
harveyc
01-04-2008, 02:50 PM
Thanks for the greenhouse design. As much as I would like to use polycarbonate, I'm reluctant because I don't want the hassles of getting a building permit. I called the county building department the other day and they told me if it had rigid material ("like fiberglass") it would require a permit (I think it would be exempt if I made it 120 square feet or smaller, but I am thinking more like 600 SF). I saw the Superpoly (http://www.gardendome.com/greenhouse_cover/poly_tarp.html) that someone else posted here a while back but am now wondering if it would hold up in winds like this. My 20' x 30' "shed" was covered with tarps tied down really good last night but is a joke this morning! I guess if I had supports closer and had them nailed down to the rafters and walls with laths it would have done okay.... :(
bencelest
01-04-2008, 04:51 PM
Every hour on TV :Flash flood warning in:
Salinas, Seaside, castroville, Santa Cruz,Monterey County
first time that I know of since 1984.
We are now undergoing heavy rain and strong wind.
Ahava
01-04-2008, 05:43 PM
Where I'm at the wind doesn't seem bad yet, and the preciption is mostly misting more than raining here in the valley. So I'm waiting to see what happens. >.< Goodluck ya'll.
momoese
01-04-2008, 05:43 PM
Just light rain here so far.
harveyc
01-04-2008, 07:20 PM
Joe Real gave me a full grown Cal Gold in June because he wanted to plant something else in its spot (and because he's a really nice guy!). We dug it up and I hauled it home after wrapping the leaves but they still got beat up. Anyways, it bloomed 2 weeks later but the bunch grew very slowly due to minimal leaves remaining. The bananas still have strong ridges on them and, even though we have had seveal days of frost, there was still green on it so I was hoping for them to become more mature. The chances for that ended last night or this morning. I noticed a bit ago that it snapped in half. And that's with there being minimal wind resistance! :(
Ahava
01-04-2008, 07:31 PM
Joe Real gave me a full grown Cal Gold in June because he wanted to plant something else in its spot (and because he's a really nice guy!). We dug it up and I hauled it home after wrapping the leaves but they still got beat up. Anyways, it bloomed 2 weeks later but the bunch grew very slowly due to minimal leaves remaining. The bananas still have strong ridges on them and, even though we have had seveal days of frost, there was still green on it so I was hoping for them to become more mature. The chances for that ended last night or this morning. I noticed a bit ago that it snapped in half. And that's with there being minimal wind resistance! :(
Wow that's horrible, I'm sorry to hear that. As I'm looking outside I'm seeing the winds picking up a bit, it's so gray and ominous feeling. I'm hoping it passes quicker than forecasted. Although we really do need the rain.
Ethan
01-04-2008, 07:39 PM
hey Harvey, that sucks that it broke.
I think Jon has mentioned hanging the broken plant and it might ripen the bunch. ("Never give up")
just getting a little rain with wind here after a full day of wind and dust. Though the banana leaves are toasted from the freezes, the p-stems are standing firm.
-Ethan
harveyc
01-04-2008, 08:13 PM
Thanks, Ethan. I thought of that but just last week Joe and Benny came by to get a bunch of KMag I got for us and Joe suggested I just go ahead and pick the bunch at that time. With the rest of the mess I've got to clean up I'll go for the easy route. I hope to get at least 3 pups from it by spring if the little guys make it through the winter. I may even get more, so I've got my fingers crossed.
AnnaJW
01-04-2008, 08:53 PM
Joe Real gave me a full grown Cal Gold in June because he wanted to plant something else in its spot (and because he's a really nice guy!). We dug it up and I hauled it home after wrapping the leaves but they still got beat up. Anyways, it bloomed 2 weeks later but the bunch grew very slowly due to minimal leaves remaining. The bananas still have strong ridges on them and, even though we have had seveal days of frost, there was still green on it so I was hoping for them to become more mature. The chances for that ended last night or this morning. I noticed a bit ago that it snapped in half. And that's with there being minimal wind resistance! :(
Ohhhhh!!!!!!! Reading that literally took my breath away. I am so sorry! :(
The wind just kicked up here about 10 minutes ago. I'm rounding up the flashlights and candles. We loose power here easily with heavy winds. Also, we live right by a "lake". (Reservoir) Went across the dam this afternoon and they have let a huge amount of water out. I don't know if it's due to the storm, but the water level is VERY low.
bencelest
01-04-2008, 09:45 PM
Sorry to hear that Harvey.
On the bright side I noticed you have more than one pup of your California Gold.
I don't. But mine is hanging on and my dwarf Brazilian.
The wind died down and the rain a little bit come nightfall.
Prediction today was 30-foot wave.I wanted to see it but due to strong wind I dare not go out. But I was able to water my bananas and citrus in my patio with rain water.
harveyc
01-04-2008, 11:48 PM
Yes, Benny, you are right, I have at least three little pups and I would expect more to come out in the spring. In fact, the shock may promote them to come even sooner. When last year's freeze killed the pseudostem of my two Dwarf Orinocos it seemed that each of them produced about 8 pups right away. My Dwarf Brazlian also has a couple of pups but that's a stout plant and I don't have any worries about it breaking.
When you were hear you saw my "tent" of a shed. The wind tore that up badly and, unfortunately, many things that were inside got wet that I wish didn't! Live and learn...I need to take that into account when I finally decide on my greenhouse plans.
Bananaman88
01-05-2008, 09:26 AM
Hey, everyone out in CA! I hope you are all doing OK this morning. I just saw some news reports about the weather out there and it looks really bad. Please stay safe and good luck with your bananas!
mskitty38583
01-05-2008, 10:37 AM
hope you guys in cali are alright.
momoese
01-05-2008, 10:41 AM
So far Northern Ca is taking a beating, along with Nevada. We have had some rain and wind here. Last night we lost power about 6pm and it didn't come back til this morning.
harveyc
01-05-2008, 11:54 AM
We've been without electricity for 26 hours. :(
I did run the fan on the upstairs heater's fan on a small generator overnight and this morning started up a larger on to run two refrigerators for a while. Wish I could connect the downstairs heater somehow; it's 56F downstairs.
I feel bad for folk who might be freezing in the mountains!
bencelest
01-05-2008, 01:23 PM
Surprisingly very calm and no wind and SUNSHINE this morning. The prediction was rain until Wednesday. No damage with my bananas or citrus except very soggy soil all over.
island cassie
01-05-2008, 02:54 PM
Weather radar still looks nasty - stay safe everyone.
Cassie
SOCALROCKER
01-05-2008, 05:46 PM
We had two inches of rain here last night.We also had strong winds blowin here.my banana's look ok just beat up by the frost we had here last week,and from the winds that were here last night,and adding to my wet soggy planters.We will just have to see how the rest of the weekend is down here in Southern California.
_____________________
Mitch
microfarmer
01-05-2008, 07:25 PM
Many large trees down all over and some traffic lights are still out. My friend living about 3 miles away still has no power and is living on his gas generator til they fix it. The weatherguessers said the winds would die back about noon yesterday, but they actually got worse and kept up til about 2 pm. Sustained winds at 45 mph, with sustained gusting up to 69 mph.
Today I got some new thicker wall steel for rebuilding my patio cover. I was able to retrieve all my pieces before they left the county. No plants hurt too bad. Only a little jostling of a white ginger in a container...and a thorough watering.
harveyc
01-05-2008, 08:51 PM
Microfarmer, I wish I had SMUD for my electricity like you. PG&E stinks! Their computers called me 6 hours ago to tell me power had been restored. NOT! When I spoke with a live person that had my address noted as a trailer park! ??? I'm still out now after 34 hours. I also had an almond tree blow down and some large euclyptus (125' or so) blow down some time. I have an electric heater downstairs hooked up to a generator right now and power two refrigerators for a few hours this morning on my larger generator. After this experience I'm going to get a transfer switch installed to my main panel.
Sorry for venting! :(
mskitty38583
01-05-2008, 08:54 PM
you have every right to vent, no sorry needed!
AnnaJW
01-05-2008, 09:35 PM
Microfarmer, I wish I had SMUD for my electricity like you. PG&E stinks! Their computers called me 6 hours ago to tell me power had been restored. NOT! When I spoke with a live person that had my address noted as a trailer park! ??? I'm still out now after 34 hours. I also had an almond tree blow down and some large euclyptus (125' or so) blow down some time. I have an electric heater downstairs hooked up to a generator right now and power two refrigerators for a few hours this morning on my larger generator. After this experience I'm going to get a transfer switch installed to my main panel.
Sorry for venting! :(
Like MsKitty said - you do have every right to vent!!! I hope you have power back by now?
AnnaJW
01-05-2008, 09:37 PM
We had little rain last night, but the winds!!!! Ohhhhh..... my poor, poor plants! My sister lives about eight miles from me and they had very heavy rain, but no wind.
mskitty38583
01-05-2008, 10:26 PM
i hope yall have your power back on and i hope everyones babies are alright. i hope your homes have no damage. you guys be safe.
harveyc
01-05-2008, 11:16 PM
My power was restored at after about 36 hours of being out. Will be much more comfortable now. Since I live on a farm our well water is pumped by electricity and we did manage pretty well conserving water in our tanks, using water from a swimming pool to flush toilets, etc. My son thought the whole even was fun, like were camping at home! LOL
pitangadiego
01-06-2008, 12:31 AM
Almost a non-event in SD - 1/2 rain, after predictions of 5".
AnnaJW
01-06-2008, 12:39 AM
Almost a non-event in SD - 1/2 rain, after predictions of 5".
I'm glad to hear that! How about wind???
harveyc
01-06-2008, 12:40 AM
Yeah, and then you want all the water from NorCal sent down to you in those big ditches! ;)
momoese
01-06-2008, 12:40 PM
Yeah, and then you want all the water from NorCal sent down to you in those big ditches! ;)
Well someone has to water all those bananas!
harveyc
01-06-2008, 06:37 PM
Send them here and I'll take care of them for you! I have all the water they will ever need, though it might take some time for them to get used to "frost". ;)
pitangadiego
01-07-2008, 08:58 PM
Anna, we are finally up top 1-3/4". Wind was pretty wicked last night around 10:30, but no problems so far.
AnnaJW
01-07-2008, 09:49 PM
I was soooo happy to see the sun shine today! We did finally get some very heavy rain. I was out putting small wood chips in the many small "ponds" in our back yard today. Very happy to see they upped the low temp for tonight.
microfarmer
01-08-2008, 07:28 PM
Microfarmer, I wish I had SMUD for my electricity like you. PG&E stinks! Their computers called me 6 hours ago to tell me power had been restored. NOT! When I spoke with a live person that had my address noted as a trailer park! ??? I'm still out now after 34 hours. I also had an almond tree blow down and some large euclyptus (125' or so) blow down some time. I have an electric heater downstairs hooked up to a generator right now and power two refrigerators for a few hours this morning on my larger generator. After this experience I'm going to get a transfer switch installed to my main panel.
Sorry for venting! :(
I finally got my DSL back up. Haven't been able to tune in here. Glad to hear most of y'all did ok. Harvey, Vent away! PG&E is also more costly than SMUD.
:2691:
I got the roof re-supported, but I'll have to wait til this weeked before I attempt to re-attach all the panels. I have re-designed the structure and am building it to withstand a sustained 70mph wind with 100 mph gusts! I usually overbuild everything, but this time I fell short. That won't happen again. It did hold up to sustained 35 mph winds with gusts to 50mph a few weeks ago with no damage, but this storm's sustained 45 mph winds with almost 70 mph gusts were just too much for it.
And what's up with the trailer park thing?
STEELVIPER
01-08-2008, 08:07 PM
My area got 3.25" of rain. May get to 80F next week.
AnnaJW
01-08-2008, 09:43 PM
My area got 3.25" of rain. May get to 80F next week.
80?!!! Sounds like a dream! :2783:
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