Monsoonal Sunset - September 2011

Since yesterday there have been numerous Red Flag Warnings posted for the Central Coast of California where I reside as well as other areas of California north and south and east of here as of late this afternoon. A low pressure system is passing nearby and pulling monsoonal moisture up our way on this first full day of Autumn 2011. This evening has afforded the Paso Robles area where I make my home with hours-long pyrotechnic displays in nearly every direction. This moisture and energy continues to stream up from the southeast and the Red Flag Warnings have been extended until 5 AM tomorrow morning. So far all the lightning I've seen has appeared to have been associated with moderate to heavy showers. However, the concern is that some of the lightning will come without a lot of precipitation and start fires and that then the thunderstorm winds will fan the blazes. Already this evening Kern County has experienced numerous fires and a number of hours ago I heard on my scanner of firefighting resources from San Luis Obispo County being sent out of county as mutual aid up to the Highway 198 corridor between King City and Coalinga. Below are some images I captured several hours ago on the way home from work as the sun set.

All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved)