Earlier in the day the 60-acre wind-driven El Cerritos Fire started by a powerline on the eastern margin of the City of San Luis Obispo (SLO) forced evacuations for a time this morning.
It wasn't worth driving down to see while it was going on as it didn't last long and was more smokey than firey as it was mostly burning on rocky grass-covered hillsides, but coupled with the intensifying winds here in the North County that I knew were warmer and stronger on the south side of the Santa Lucia Mountains due to compressional heating I wanted to experience that plus see the aftermath of the fire.
Therefore, I decided to drive over the Cuesta Grade and down to SLO to experience the winds and see the fire.
I took mom with me as well as my little dog Tequila and decided to take a walk at Laguna Lake Park in SLO.
The winds had been going pretty good all day here on the north side of the grade but were slightly cool albeit much warmer than you'd expect winds to be in mid-November around here.
However, once we hit the area around the Cuesta Pass and Cuesta Summit (elevation 1,522 feet) the winds were howling through there headed over the grade to the south due to the Venturi Effect.
As we descended down the grade southbound on Highway 101 it became noticeably warmer throughout the descent.
By the time we arrived in SLO it was downright hot, but we saw no sign of this morning's brush fire which was clearly out.
The winds were extremely strong in SLO which combined with the unseasonable temperatures made for the sort of day one wants to get out and exercise and many folks seemed to have the same thing in mind as the park was very busy with activity.
The views of the surrounding landscape and geography were splendid with Bishop Peak, one of the Nine Sisters, looking unusually beautiful.
I decided to take my camera long and shot some images to share with you.
Although I can't capture in a photo the feel and sound of the wind or the warmth and dryness of the air, I can still give you some sense of how it was through these photographs.
Trailhead at the back of the park (Tequila at bottom left).
The wind roared through these eucalyptus trees.
The sky was incredibly clear in spite of the dust from the wind.
Santa Ana Winds raked these Eucalyptus trees.
This haze was actually an intense glare over the Irish Hills.
Beautiful Bishop Peak
Looking south back towards Laguna Lake Park.
The winds made a loud rushing noise passing through these reeds.
Winds raked the trees and the water's surface.
The winds upon the surface of Laguna Lake.
Bishop Peak, Chumash Peak, and Cerro Romauldo.
I took mom with me as well as my little dog Tequila and decided to take a walk at Laguna Lake Park in SLO.
The winds had been going pretty good all day here on the north side of the grade but were slightly cool albeit much warmer than you'd expect winds to be in mid-November around here.
However, once we hit the area around the Cuesta Pass and Cuesta Summit (elevation 1,522 feet) the winds were howling through there headed over the grade to the south due to the Venturi Effect.
As we descended down the grade southbound on Highway 101 it became noticeably warmer throughout the descent.
By the time we arrived in SLO it was downright hot, but we saw no sign of this morning's brush fire which was clearly out.
The winds were extremely strong in SLO which combined with the unseasonable temperatures made for the sort of day one wants to get out and exercise and many folks seemed to have the same thing in mind as the park was very busy with activity.
The views of the surrounding landscape and geography were splendid with Bishop Peak, one of the Nine Sisters, looking unusually beautiful.
I decided to take my camera long and shot some images to share with you.
Although I can't capture in a photo the feel and sound of the wind or the warmth and dryness of the air, I can still give you some sense of how it was through these photographs.
Trailhead at the back of the park (Tequila at bottom left).
The wind roared through these eucalyptus trees.
The sky was incredibly clear in spite of the dust from the wind.
Santa Ana Winds raked these Eucalyptus trees.
This haze was actually an intense glare over the Irish Hills.
Beautiful Bishop Peak
Looking south back towards Laguna Lake Park.
The winds made a loud rushing noise passing through these reeds.
Winds raked the trees and the water's surface.
The winds upon the surface of Laguna Lake.
Bishop Peak, Chumash Peak, and Cerro Romauldo.
When we were done walking (which came out to about a mile and a quarter we think) we drove across the street to the shopping center and mom got a couple of things at Gottschalks department store.
We did get a chance to check out this morning's fire from a distance as we drove home along Highway 101 and it was clearly out with a couple of red CALFIRE engines visible at different locations on the charred mountainside.
We were all fortunate that no other fires started in the area during this weather event unlike Montecito last night and Sylmar tonight which is burning.
Driving back over the Cuesta Grade on the way home we experienced the reverse of our drive south as it got cooler and cooler the higher we climbed up the grade and the winds howled the most through the Cuesta Pass and over Cuesta Summit which gave us quite a headwind.
Back in the North County, it was noticeably cooler although nonetheless unseasonably warm and certainly a bit less windy.
Mom and I both agreed that was well worth the time and fuel we spent down there.
Kimmer
We did get a chance to check out this morning's fire from a distance as we drove home along Highway 101 and it was clearly out with a couple of red CALFIRE engines visible at different locations on the charred mountainside.
We were all fortunate that no other fires started in the area during this weather event unlike Montecito last night and Sylmar tonight which is burning.
Driving back over the Cuesta Grade on the way home we experienced the reverse of our drive south as it got cooler and cooler the higher we climbed up the grade and the winds howled the most through the Cuesta Pass and over Cuesta Summit which gave us quite a headwind.
Back in the North County, it was noticeably cooler although nonetheless unseasonably warm and certainly a bit less windy.
Mom and I both agreed that was well worth the time and fuel we spent down there.
Kimmer
What a cool-sounding time you had! I wish I'd been able to be there and share it with you.
ReplyDeleteI like your photographs, too!