Source:
Chico Enterprise RecordPower was knocked out to more than half the residents of Butte and Glenn counties, as rain and winds as high as 60 mph toppled trees and power poles throughout the area. Power wasn't expected to be restored in Chico for 24 hours or more, with even longer waits in more rural areas.
The rain was surprisingly light, with just 1.15 inch falling at the Enterprise-Record station in south Chico. Paradise reported 1.5 inches and Willows had 1.44 inches.
On every street, bits of tree limbs littered the streets. In many places, large trees fell, taking out fences, cars and bashing in homes. Many streets were blocked at points during the day, including major thoroughfares like Forest Avenue in Chico and the Skyway in Paradise. In the orchards surrounding Chico, thousands of mature almond trees blew down, just a month before they were to bloom.
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Downtown Chico was filled with darkened doorways. Even businesses like 24-hour Jack's Restaurant were dark. Over on Mangrove, stores were closed with signs on the door that said, "Will be back when the power comes back on."
Most of the major supermarkets were open, seeing a steady stream of people buying ice, batteries and other items needed for life without power.
But the hunt was most intense for two of some people's true essentials — gasoline and coffee.
Read more:
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_7888720
Local storm report here:
Ferocious winds lasted from at least 4am til 1 or 2 in the afternoon.
I watched 10' limbs fly off my 120' cedar tree and fly 50' to the sidewalk. My patio table was flipped sideways as way my neighbors. I felt safe in my house as the tree leans towards my neighbors.
Lost power some time in the am due to a tree a block away that fell onto power lines.
When we drove around late in the afternoon almost every older neighborhood with old, tall, established trees had at least one tree down on every block. Some landed in the street, some landed on cars and for a few unlucky souls the tree landed on their house. Tree debris was everywhere as were people with chainsaws. One old neighbor told me they saw a transformer laying on the ground due to a snapped pole and many trees and poles down in Butte Creek Canyon. It may take days for them to get power. PG&E has their work cut out for them. At least one fence down in every block. Some homes had roof shingles blown away.
When BF drove to town from Durham he saw 1/4 acre areas of almond orchards blown down along with downed fences, and many downed and snapped poles.
In the stepford, newer neighborhoods much less damage, mostly due to snapped phone and power lines. These were some incredible wind gust, but I would say there was sustained winds at 50-70mph during the early morning.
On the road up to Paradise PG&E workers told me at least 10 power poles were snapped or down! Along with boulders in the road from mini-mud slides.
I don't know how you guys in hurricane/tornado alleys deal with winds like this. I don't ever remember wind that strong for so long in my life here in California!
Today should be milder with showers and a few thunderstorms.
Hope everyone in safe!
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