Checking in From OC

[Control-Z]

Back online, satellite signal returned.

I know quite a few DUers live right in the path of the the storm that just came through Orange County, Ca, my home included. We're fine here and hoping that our fellow Duers in the area are doing as well. Cars are stranded in water up to their hoods just a few blocks from here. Ex just called about finding alternate ways out of the area.

Call it a premonition, without having heard any news (watching West Wing on DVD), I fought with my ex (who happened to be visiting) over driving straight into the tornado at Peter's Landing in Seal Beach (where he works). Against his will, he did stay here for the few extra hours which, honest to gawd, may have saved his dumb ass.

There is actually little damage to report so far. Lots of sirens going by the house but the sun is out and my world feels a little safer for the moment. Awaiting the next, stronger storm.

[Initech]

1. Yeah the rains have been absolutely nuts today.

Several streets by my work are absolutely flooded, it was pretty difficult to drive anywhere.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I lived in Seal Beach for a little while

back in the early '70s. It's hard to imagine a tornado there.

[BeHereNow]

3. Thanks for checking in- looks like the tornado warning have moved to San Diego.

Straight Story just posted a thread about it in GD.

Keep dry and warm!
BHN

[Control-Z]

5. Yes. The storm moved through on a

NE path. I believe the worst of this storm is coming to an end. Hope some our local DUers check in to let us know they're OK. Our immediate area seems to be doing pretty good but there are reports of damage coming in from the mudslide areas to the North East.

[Control-Z]

17. Oh. wow.

I never knew Straight Story lived down here. I'll have to stop by his thread and say hi! I hope he's OK.

[cbayer]

4. We had a water spout come through the harbor in Catalina.

It was terrifying. Came right between our boat and the next one over. We drug our mooring but stayed tied on and no damage that we can see.

this is one badass storm system.

:scared:

[BeHereNow]

6. Hate to admit my ignorance, but what is a water spout?

I'm not much of a water person.
The ocean scares me, frankly.

I love the desert.
Earth sign (capricorn) and all.
BHN

[cbayer]

8. It's a tornado over the water.

It's a boater's worst nightmare.

I love the water and choose to live on it, but this was some scary stuff.

I am a Scorpio - maybe I should be in the desert, too.

:rofl:

[Control-Z]

12. This one moved onto land

causing some damage. Witnesses said it looked like a wall of water coming down the street. Very unusual in So Cal. Over turned cars. Downed trees.

Edit: Actually, it was a different water spout that came onto land in Sunset Beach. Not the same one as Catalina (which is an island off the coast of So Cal, duh). I misspoke. Sorry.

[BeHereNow]

15. SCARY! any one hurt? Hope not!

That must have been terrifying for those who saw it!
BHN

[Control-Z]

20. So far, I haven't heard of any

injuries. Damages though. One car that was lifted and dropped on its side was unoccupied at the time. I'll report anything new that comes out of my immediate area.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. They happen like once every ten years or so

and global weather change predicts they will just increase and become more common.

[BeHereNow]

13. Loves me scorpio friends and family.

Mom, sister and several close friends, all scorpios.

Both the desert and oceans are extremely powerful-
I just like knowing where the ground is and that I can keep my feet on it.
I got swept into a wave when I first moved to SoCal in '83.
Have kept a respectful distance from the Pacific ever since...
BHN

[cbayer]

21. I went through Katrina and decided I would rather be on the water when the water

is where it should be.

If you know what I mean.

:hi:

[KonaKane]

19. We had one here in Kona over Winter Solstice...

The are scary and if they come ashore, can be very dangerous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xqis9aqTa4

[KittyWampus]

9. Columnar vortex of condensing water that forms over larger bodies of water.

[BeHereNow]

18. Beautiful photo... but as close as I'd care to get to one.

Can't imagine being near one on the water...
BHN

[Control-Z]

10. I'm so glad you're OK.

Thanks for checking in. It IS one bad ass storm, with three more, back to back, on their way. I wasn't aware that we were in the direct path of the worst of this one until it had passed (even thought I could feel it was different) and tried to make light of it so the kids wouldn't be frightened.

Stay safe through the upcoming ones, and please check in to let us know you're OK. :hug:

[cbayer]

23. I'm glad you are OK, too. I also could feel that this was different.

I kept saying "i don't like this, I don''t like this", but my husband is a very reassuring presence when everything hits the fan.

We will see what tomorrow brings. Stay safe and dry.

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. I am glad you are okay

that was close...

And not to be all sunshine, the next system is expected to be even stronger.

[cbayer]

24. I am watching the marine forecasts and just hoping that they are wrong, as they are

about 50 % of the time. Thanks for your thoughts.

:hi:

[ddeclue]

7. Thanks for update - your friends in OC (Florida that is..)

:D

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Stay safe

Ah the floods will BE BAD.

I just hope nobody dies... and this goes all the way to Northern Baja

[krabigirl]

22. It was fine where we are. My mom was freaking out but it ended quickly.

So sorry to hear about the stuck cars.

[IDemo]

25. I'm wondering how Sunset Beach did

My grandparents, aunt, and cousins lived there years ago, and "extreme high tides" occasionally covered Pacific Coast Highway with water. It is basically a peninsula, surrounded by the Anaheim Bay (or was it Huntington Harbor?) on one side and the Pacific on the other.

[Control-Z]

26. Sunset Beach is Seal Beach/Huntington Beach,

where my ex is actually now headed to, and where the tornado hit earlier. It is Huntington Harbor that surrounds the small city. And yes, PCH can be completely covered with "extreme high tides" and heavy downpour.

I'm not real fond of the ex but I wish him no harm and I am worried. A musician, he is picking up his equipment from the Sunset Beach Club on PCH, beach side, to perform tonight at a club on the Harbor of Balboa Peninsula just across from Newport Pier, beach side. For those unfamiliar, it takes about a minute to walk from harbor to ocean front. I haven't heard of the ocean pouring over to the harbor at this particular point of the peninsula in the past. It usually happens further down. We'll see.

[IDemo]

27. Sunset Beach is now what they call the beach between Seal & Huntington?

If that's true (or if that's what you're saying) things have changed since my youth there in the 60's and 70's. Sunset used to mean just the two adjacent communities of Sunset Beach and Surfside colony, a gated community. Seal Beach was found to the north side of the Anaheim Bay bridge, and Huntington Beach was to the south, separated by 5 or 6 miles of state park. Now, Surfside is part of Seal Beach and it looks like Orange County is telling Sunset it must become part of Huntington Beach.

My grandparents ran the old Sunset Beach motel on PCH, an ancient lime green stucco place.

[Control-Z]

28. There are a lot of arguments over

jurisdiction. Sunset runs north on PCH from Warner. Not sure where it ends (somewhere on PCH where it is only water on either side). But it is Seal Beach that controls the businesses, ordinances... in Sunset Beach. Many a club has been temporarily (sometimes permanently) shut down by Seal Beach for noise or other (usually fabricated) violations. Tough call. Ex has been dealing with their control over Sunset Beach for years. That Huntington Harbor is part of Huntington Beach (west side) the OC comes into play, though I've never heard of Huntington imposing any kind of restrictions or creating problems with their businesses. This is obviously a simplified explanation, if I've managed to make any sense at all?