MattyJ wrote:

I'm going to re-enact Under Siege 2 Wooks, you want in?

WHERE AND WHEN?

Only -2 today.

Can see for more than 50 metres though.

Move immediately. It's not going to get better but I admire the brave face.

Do what I do and invest in an electric blanket.

Thunderstorms and Flash Flood warnings keep on popping up on my phone. 

Severe thunderstorms produce damaging winds, destructive hail, deadly lightning and very heavy rain. For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of your home or business. Heavy rains flood roads quickly so do not drive into areas where water covers the road.

Flash Flood Warning in Southern California wrote:

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

It is indeed raining outside, I'm wondering if this is California not knowing how to deal with something that isn't sun, or if there really is something going on. Stuck my head outside the door but everything's still there, just wet. And the roads here aren't suited to that, they have nothing next to the roads that can lead all the water away.

Nina wrote:

Thunderstorms and Flash Flood warnings keep on popping up on my phone. 

Severe thunderstorms produce damaging winds, destructive hail, deadly lightning and very heavy rain. For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of your home or business. Heavy rains flood roads quickly so do not drive into areas where water covers the road.

Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life.

It is indeed raining outside, I'm wondering if this is California not knowing how to deal with something that isn't sun, or if there really is something going on. Stuck my head outside the door but everything's still there, just wet. And the roads here aren't suited to that, they have nothing next to the roads that can lead all the water away.

West coasts of mid latitude continents bordering oceans ... great conditions for thunderstorms. 

If you are east of a line of hills or mountains, expect more.

Also southwest cloudbands in El Nino years might be contributing here. Theyve had a pretty dry few years so this rain is unusual. The vegetation growth will be feral after this rain once spring arrives. 

I'd recommend looking at what you can do re: firebreaks if youre in a semi-rural area once it warms up.

Source: west coast of australia is very similar.

It will be a big change compared to Europe living.
When they issue official warnings it is worth listening.

I would say it is worth having a small supply of food, torches, batteries etc stashed away.

When I was in a hurricane in Florida we were a bit blase about it. Picked up some canned food and bottled water. The Hurricane didn't do much damage around us but power was out overnight and a good while into the next day and a lot of places weren't open for a couple of days after. I could easily see how it could have been a few days or even a week before normality resumed.

Thanks for the tip Live, I've only a can of coconut milk and crushed tomatoes. Wouldn't last us very long. Will keep a closer eye to all the coupon deals and stock up a little if there's something interesting in there. Just picked up Bas and all is fine for today.

Latitude is 33.72, closest bit of coast is 10 miles away (just made a direct line in google maps). I don't know anything about closeby riverbeds etc yet, were supposed to go out this weekend (Bas his first 3 day weekend, President Day on Monday) and explore a bit. I still get lost in the parking area's in the market place around the corner.

Having lived in a place which has proper hurricanes, I suggest the following:

2 x power packs for any electronics you wanna keep going in the event of a power cut (prioritise phones for emergency services, of course - get extra power packs if you want to keep gaming devices running)
Bottled Water
Canned Goods
Heavy duty tape (for windows - tape them up before any big storm and it'll mean any debris that hits the glass won't cause it to shatter and fly)
A BIG thermos flask - boil some hot water and fill it and it'll mean you can have hot drinks for a day or so.
Dried foods - nuts, fruit etc.
A couple of torches

99 times out of a 100 you won't need any of that, but if you get caught directly under the middle of a big one then you can have 24-48 hours of torrential rain and winds. It's not that dangerous, given how buildings are made nowadays, but you'll be far more comfortable having that stuff.

Buy the non-perishables and just leave them in a cupboard somewhere.

Nina wrote:

Childintime wrote:

It's not that dangerous, given how buildings are made nowadays, but you'll be far more comfortable having that stuff.

Have you seen American community apartments? I haven't dared leaning against any of the wails, afraid of falling through. 

Bottled water is always here, no one drinks tap water. Dried nuts and fruits wouldn't last a day if I know where they are stored, so I might give this task to Bas, he can hide the emergency kit.
I have no idea how the weather actually is in this area, it's just south of LA (build against it more or less). I thought earthquakes and fires were a known thing, didn't expect to have all this rain.

If it's apartment building it'll be brick or concrete, I expect. As long as it's not wood frame (like in Florida), you're gonna be fine with wind.

As I mentioned, most of the time you'll be fine - getting caught at the outer tip on a hurricane will just mean 3-6 hours of moderate winds. Really, that kit is just for the random mega hurricane you'll get every decade or so.

Nina wrote:

Dried nuts and fruits wouldn't last a day if I know where they are stored, so I might give this task to Bas, he can hide the emergency kit.

You can go off people...

Nowt to do with giving one of those Russian scrappers a gobble you understand, I'm on about how fucking windy it is today.

Sun's out here.

Got to drive to Inverness today. It was nice knowing you all...