Readiness
Active Weather
Flooding in northern Arizona, a freeze watch in the northern California mountains, and wind at Lake Tahoe.
The Flagstaff office has flood warnings this morning for parts of Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, and Apache counties after heavy rain from the same storm system that is soaking the Four Corners. The Coconino and Navajo warning runs until 3 AM Saturday.
The Eureka office has a freeze watch from late tonight through Saturday morning for interior Mendocino, Trinity, and northern Lake counties. A lake wind advisory is in effect for the Lake Tahoe area on both the California and Nevada sides until 8 AM Saturday, which makes small boats and paddleboards a poor idea today.
Hawaii and Guam have no weather alerts in effect.
Infrastructure
The Timber fire near Big Sur is 97 percent contained at 25,350 acres, with area and trail closures still in effect. The Norte fire near San Clemente is 95 percent contained. The Cooley fire south of Yorkville in Mendocino County is 74 percent contained at 1,365 acres.
Guam has a federal major disaster declaration from October 7 for Super Typhoon Bavi, including Individual Assistance, and an emergency declaration from October 17 for Typhoon Champi. Hawaii has disaster declarations from October 7 for Hurricanes Lala and Lowell, covering public assistance. If you are in Guam and had typhoon damage, check disasterassistance.gov.
Public Health
No public health advisories found for the Pacific region.
Food recalls posted by the Food and Drug Administration this week include Gelatelli coffee and vanilla gelato sold at Lidl for possible Listeria, Starfish Seafood cold smoked salmon for possible Listeria, and Family Farmstead raw mild cheddar cheese for possible E. coli. The full list, with lot codes, is at fda.gov/recalls.
Two sources we check could not be read this morning: the CDC Health Alert Network, for national health advisories, and AirNow, for air quality readings. Check emergency.cdc.gov/han and airnow.gov directly.
Watch Item
The National Hurricane Center is tracking Hurricane Vance, far south of Mexico and about 440 miles south-southwest of Acapulco as of this morning. It is forecast to strengthen but has no watches or warnings and poses no threat to the U.S. Southwest at this time.
Wildfire activity is winding down across California, though the National Interagency Fire Center still lists the Southern California area at preparedness level 3 of 5, the highest of any area in its latest report.
Living Ready
Free household hazardous waste drop-offs in Riverside County
Riverside County is holding free collection events where residents can drop off old batteries, fluorescent bulbs, electronics, motor oil and filters, gasoline, and lawn and garden chemicals: Corona on October 24 and 25 at City Hall, 400 S. Vicentia Ave.; Indio on October 31 at 83101 Avenue 45; and Lake Elsinore on November 7 at 512 N. Langstaff St. All run 9 AM to 2 PM, with a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per trip. Old fuel and chemicals stored in a garage are a fire risk, and this is the free way to clear them out.
California · Source: County of Riverside, event listing, October 24 to November 7
Free high-desert gardening workshop in Caliente and online
University of Nevada, Reno Extension holds a free monthly gardening workshop with a Master Gardener at the Lincoln County Extension office, 360 Lincoln St. in Caliente, and online. The next one is Tuesday, October 27, from 6 to 8 PM. Registration is required.
Nevada · Source: University of Nevada, Reno Extension, event listing, October 27
Explore Today
Why burn scars turn heavy rain into mudflows, and the warning signs to know.
Flash flooding in desert country, and why washes are the danger.
Growing food in a dry climate, from soil to water.