California gets hammered by Pineapple Express - 164 [or 165] mph winds

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses extreme weather conditions in California, particularly focusing on high wind gusts and snowfall associated with the Pineapple Express phenomenon. Participants share personal experiences, concerns about safety, and the impact of the weather on various activities, including outdoor recreation and local infrastructure.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report wind gusts reaching up to 165 mph in the Lake Tahoe area, raising concerns about safety in such conditions.
  • There are predictions of significant snowfall, with some suggesting up to twelve feet in certain elevations, while others clarify that this may only apply to areas above 7,000 feet.
  • Participants express humor and light-heartedness about the weather, with references to building an ark and watching movies during the storm.
  • Concerns are raised about the operational limits of wind farms in high winds, with some noting that turbines typically do not operate above 50 mph.
  • There are discussions about the dangers of solo mountain climbing in severe weather, with participants sharing personal safety philosophies and past experiences.
  • Some participants reflect on the cultural references associated with the term "Pineapple Express," linking it to popular media and humor.
  • Concerns about mudslides and debris flows are mentioned, particularly in relation to rainfall amounts and ongoing weather patterns.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of humor and serious concern regarding the extreme weather. While there is some agreement on the severity of the conditions, there are differing views on safety practices for outdoor activities and the implications of the weather on local infrastructure.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention varying personal experiences and local conditions, indicating that reports of wind and snowfall may differ based on specific locations and elevations. There is also uncertainty regarding the exact impact of the weather on outdoor activities and safety.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those following weather patterns, outdoor enthusiasts considering activities in extreme conditions, and individuals concerned about the effects of severe weather on local communities.

Ivan Seeking
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The Lake Tahoe area had wind gusts hitting 155 mph, and I saw that one area had 165 mph gusts. That is nuts! How would you like to be surrounded by 150-foot trees in 155 mph winds?!

12/19/2010 1233 PM

2 miles W of alpine meadowsne meadowsprings vvil, Placer County.

Non-thunderstorm wind gust m155 mph, reported by mesonet.


155 mile per hour wind gust measured near the Sierra
crest. Winds sustained at 124 miles per hour.
http://www.wunderground.com/US/CA/069.html
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Some areas will get up to twelve feet of snow.

Merry Christmas!
 


I'm building an ark.
 


Math Is Hard said:
I'm building an ark.
I hope jelly has her waterwings.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN1VcgRrEM8
 
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At least it must be drowning the fleas on the lawn!
 


Math Is Hard said:
At least it must be drowning the fleas on the lawn!
I read it only takes 1/2 inch to get rid of fleas.
 


Jelly and I are staying warm and cozy watching The Bishop's Wife tonight :)
 


Math Is Hard said:
Jelly and I are staying warm and cozy watching The Bishop's Wife tonight :)

That brings back fond memories of the many nights that I spent with the Bishop's wife.

Do you know how much rain have you had and how much is coming? I was mainly following the reports for Northern California. I know there is a lot of concern about mudslides in some areas.
 
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I wonder how well the wind farms handle these kinds of winds. I would think that sustained 125MPH winds can generate some serious electricity, if the windmills don't disintegrate...
 
  • #10


Climate change at its finest. :approve:
IMP said:
I wonder how well the wind farms handle these kinds of winds. I would think that sustained 125MPH winds can generate some serious electricity, if the windmills don't disintegrate...

Wind turbines generally don't operate with wind speeds above 50mph.
 
  • #11


My mom won't fly, but we are expecting her house to land here in the city any time now. Can't wait to see my mom. :!)
 
  • #12


Lacy33 said:
My mom won't fly, but we are expecting her house to land here in the city any time now. Can't wait to see my mom. :!)

:smile:
 
  • #13


You do realize that, thanks to Judd Apatow, there are probably some stoners out there (in Cali... imagine that) who haven't stopped giggling since they heard the words, "Pineapple Express," for the first time on the news.
 
  • #14


nismaratwork said:
You do realize that, thanks to Judd Apatow, there are probably some stoners out there (in Cali... imagine that) who haven't stopped giggling since they heard the words, "Pineapple Express," for the first time on the news.

I had to do a quick Google

"Pineapple Express...a stoner action movie"
wiki

Now THAT'S funny!
 
  • #15


:rolleyes: I've scheduled some solo mountain time up in the High Sierra, starting this weekend. Keeping fingers crossed that conditions improve!
 
  • #16


Ivan Seeking said:
I had to do a quick Google

"Pineapple Express...a stoner action movie"
wiki

Now THAT'S funny!

...so he says... really you're smoking a bone right now and watching Cheech & Chong... tell it Tsu! :wink:
 
  • #17


Gokul43201 said:
:rolleyes: I've scheduled some solo mountain time up in the High Sierra, starting this weekend. Keeping fingers crossed that conditions improve!

Yeah... um... I like your posts, please don't die on a mountain?
 
  • #18


Math Is Hard said:
Jelly and I are staying warm and cozy watching The Bishop's Wife tonight :)
Aww, did you watch it all? Did you like it?
 
  • #19


I was raised on Tahoe's west shore (Homewood area). There are very few homes located along the ridges, which are the only places that the winds reach speeds above 90 mph. My father owned a glass business, and we did a few window replacements in people's homes out in Rubicon. The windows were extremely expensive and very heavy due to the wind rating requirements.

We did get a few feet of snow at lake level (about 6,200 ft.), but not 12 feet. The 12' predictions were probably for elevations above 7,000 feet.
 
  • #20


nismaratwork said:
...so he says... really you're smoking a bone right now and watching Cheech & Chong... tell it Tsu! :wink:

I smoke meat but never thought of smoking the bone. It's too hard to light.
 
  • #21


nismaratwork said:
Yeah... um... I like your posts, please don't die on a mountain?
I'm generally pretty good at turning back when conditions warrant that.

I'm a strong believer in Ed Viesturs' motto: getting to the summit is optional; getting back down is mandatory!
 
  • #22


Gokul43201 said:
I'm generally pretty good at turning back when conditions warrant that.

I'm a strong believer in Ed Viesturs' motto: getting to the summit is optional; getting back down is mandatory!

Going alone? Let people know your schedule, and watch for falling rocks...I didn't see "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/127_Hours" " but, dang :eek:!
 
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  • #23


Gokul43201 said:
I'm generally pretty good at turning back when conditions warrant that.

I'm a strong believer in Ed Viesturs' motto: getting to the summit is optional; getting back down is mandatory!

The biggest problem we see in the NW is people getting caught in a bad storm with no time to get out. The weather can change very quickly.

When I was in college, we lost a grad student from the physics dept. that way. I don't think they ever found the bodies.
 
  • #24


lisab said:
Going alone?
So far, it seems that way. My potential climbing partner couldn't make it.

Let people know your schedule,
Yup, standard procedure.

and watch for falling rocks...
More avalanche danger than rockslide danger where I'm headed, but I'll naturally be monitoring avalanche conditions.

I didn't see "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/127_Hours" " but, dang :eek:!
I've seen the preview but not the movie itself. I hope to watch it eventually though. Good for lessons on what to do when in trouble, and what not to do if you don't like getting into trouble.
 
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  • #25


Gokul43201 said:
So far, it seems that way. My potential climbing partner couldn't make it.

That is very surprising to me. You should NEVER do something like this by yourself.
 
  • #26


Evo said:
Aww, did you watch it all? Did you like it?

I did! I loved it! I would have found Cary Grant more believable as a devil than an angel, though! :devil:
 
  • #27


Ivan Seeking said:
That is very surprising to me. You should NEVER do something like this by yourself.
I'm still looking for a partner, but if I don't find one I'll have to settle for a much less ambitious trip, along a more popular route with zero technical difficulty, and which will likely have other folks on it anyway. And I won't do it if conditions are poor.
 
  • #28


Ivan Seeking said:
Do you know how much rain have you had and how much is coming? I was mainly following the reports for Northern California. I know there is a lot of concern about mudslides in some areas.

The rain has been been moderately light, but steady. It never stops. We've gotten 6 or 7 inches in my area:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/12/heavy-rainfall-recorded-across-la-area.html

We are supposed to get a break on Thursday, but I think more is coming next weekend. I've heard that some debris slid down over PCH near the Ventura/Los Angeles county line, but it has now been cleaned up. I'm sure there is more of that to come.
 
  • #29


Gokul43201 said:
I'm generally pretty good at turning back when conditions warrant that.

I'm a strong believer in Ed Viesturs' motto: getting to the summit is optional; getting back down is mandatory!

A very wise stance to take in regards to a recreational activity, I'm glad you'll be around and not drinking rainwater for the next week. :wink:

Ivan: Mmmm Hmmm... I saw that before you edited your post, you'd actually coughed. Honest!
 
  • #30


Gokul43201 said:
I'm still looking for a partner, but if I don't find one I'll have to settle for a much less ambitious trip, along a more popular route with zero technical difficulty, and which will likely have other folks on it anyway. And I won't do it if conditions are poor.

Ah. I was going to say that I did some really crazy stuff, but even I always stuck to the buddy system. Of course in my case, my buddy nearly killed me, but that's beside the point. :biggrin:
 

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