This was what it was like at 3:00 am this morning in Tollhouse.
Snow covered just about everything but the road this morning.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunrise:
6:30 am - Sunset: 5:51 pm
Today:
High: 45/Likely Snow
Chance of Snow: 70%
Tonight:
Low: 29/Partly Cloudy
Chance of Snow: 10%
WEATHER: Tollhousians awoke to a coat of white on everything this morning at sunrise, as can be seen by some of our photos today. Several waves of snow came through the area last night, the first at around 9:00 pm, then another around midnight, and the heaviest of all came through about 2:45 am to 3:15 am. At that time, the road coming through Tollhouse was completely white and iced over. A Fresno County snow plow made it's way through the area about 3:30 am running all the way down to Burrough Valley Road, before making a return loop a little bit later. By sunrise, however, the snow had melted from the roadway, so that early morning travelers could make their way up and down the hill. The Weather Service tells us that the possibility of some more snow until about 2:00 pm this afternoon. A snow advisory for the area is in effect until that time. Long term, the snow is expected to end today, which will lead to a clearing trend which is expected to last through the weekend. After that time, another round of storms may be possible during the beginning of next week, but the models aren't in complete agreement on that issue. In the meantime, temperatures will begin to warm, leading to normal or slightly above normal temperatures leading into the weekend. TRAFFIC: Chain restrictions were in effect early this morning near the bottom of the 4-lane, but were lifted to Pine Ridge shortly after noon today. An early morning accident on Tollhouse Road near Humphrey Station about 3:00 am in the morning, left a family, ill prepared for be caught in snowy weather. The passengers of the damaged vehicle made their way to the Blasingame Fire Station where they were looked after until transportation could be arranged for them early this morning. Minor injuries were reported as as result of this accident. An accident on slippery road on Jose Basin Road near its intersection with Auberry Road left a male driver stranded after his vehicle overturned just after noon today. Members of his family arrived to help him upright and repair the vehicle which was able to leave the scene under its own power. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: Even though we had lots of snow overnight, Sierra School District was able to run a normal schedule of buses today, so Mother Nature wasn't forceful enough to give the kids an extra day off of school. We'll have to have a word with her about that, we suppose. (smile)
Tollhouse at 7:00 am after the overnight snow storm.
The entrance to Sierra Elementary at 10:00 pm this evening.
Snow was falling at Prather this evening at 9:20 pm
Cars and landscaping covered in snow at Prather at 9:20 pm this evening
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sunrise:
6:31 am - Sunset: 5:50 pm
Today:
High: 44/Likely Rain
Chance of Rain: 80%
Tonight:
Low: 30/Likely Snow
Chance of Snow: 70%
WEATHER: After a relatively dry afternoon, that even included some sunshine for a time, which led many area residents to believe that the 'big storm' so talked about on the media for the past two days that was supposed to bring snow to the lower elevation of the Sierra Nevada Mountains was going to be a bust, Mother Nature decided to take pity on our local weather forecasters and give us exactly what they had said we would get. At about 9:00 pm, the rain started in, followed very quickly by low elevation snow across the area. As our webmaster was driving up Auberry Road from the Friant area, the snow started in with a vengenance near Marshall Station. By the time, he arrived in Prather, the white stuff was covering the roadway and much of the parking lot in the Canyon Fork Mall. The drive from Prather back to Tollhouse which usually takes about 15 minutes, took nearly 40 minutes this evening as cars inched along SR 168 with only the ruts in the snow on the road from the car ahead to point the way through the rapidly falling snow. By the time Sierra High School was reached, Lodge Road was a solid white. The few cars on the road at that time (9:40 pm) were all moving at an average of 20 mph feeling their way along the very snow covered Lodge Road at that point. Upon reaching Sierra Elementary, which is shown in one of today's photos, the snow was still falling heavily. This first wave of snow continued until about 10:45 pm this evening, when it abated for a time, before another round of snow started at about midnight. The Weather Service is telling us that the snow will continue on and off throughout the night and possibly into tomorrow morning. A Snow Advisory from the Weather Service remains in effect for the area until 2:00 pm tomorrow afternoon. After the storm passes tomorrow afternoon, the cold air left behind will most likely lead to a very cold evening tomorrow night, before the skies clear somewhat and high pressure moves into the area for a warmer rest of the week. TRAFFIC: The California Highway Patrol has instituted chain requirments on SR 168 at the intersection of Lodge Road, the lowest point that they've done so this year so far. At 9:30 pm this evening, several spotters told us that while chains may not have been required, that a few people were seen putting on chains along 168 in Prather, and that this was probably quite a good idea. Our webmaster can testify that chains would have been a very good idea for Lodge Road this evening as well. Traffic-wise, the day got off to an interesting start as a tree across part of SR 168 just west of Auberry Road was reported at about 12:30 am this morning. Caltrans crews arriving at the scene had to make their way back to Shaver Lake to pickup a chainsaw, before they could completely clear the roadway, which they finally did at about 2:00 am this morning. An accident at about 3:40 pm, this afternoon, along SR 168 near the Balsam Sno Park left several occupants of the vehicles involved with minor injuries. The vehicles involved were of the oversized variety, which required a couple of heavy duty tow trucks to be brought up from the valley to tow the vehicles away from the scene of the accident. Finally, at about 11:30 pm this evening, an accident was reported on Auberry Road just south of the Mono Wind Casino. In this single car accident, the driver slid off the roadway, due to snow on the road. The driver of the vehicle asked the Deputy Sheriff responding to the accident to not have the car towed, if possible. No injuries were reported as a result of this accident.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Sunrise:
6:33 am - Sunset: 5:49 pm
Today:
High: 55/Mosttly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 30%
Tonight:
Low: 37/Likely Rain
Chance of Rain: 60%
WEATHER: Even though there was a 30% chance of precipitation during the day today, Tollhousians saw very little of the wet stuff until just about sundown today. The folks that predict the weather tell us that we can expect a good deal of rain through the rest of the night, with the snow level at about 3500 feet. The snow level is expected to drop slowly throughout the day tomorrow as the rain continues, then possibly turns to snow even at the approximately 2000 foot elevation of Tollhouse. The Weather Service continues to tell us that this could end up being quite the storm, especially at the lower elevations where some areas may see more snow on the ground since the early 1990's, when what was called a Yukon Express dumped nearly 6 inches of snow on the Tollhouse/Burrough Valley area. The current forecast indeed calls for up to 9 inches of snow down to the 3000 foot level. The wet weather is expected to be with us until Wednesday afternoon, and the Weather Service has issued a rare Snow Advisory for the foothills lasting until 2:00 pm on Wednesday afternoon. TRAFFIC: Chain restrictions remain on SR 168 this evening at about the 3000 foot level near the heliport. Motorists are advised to be on the lookout for the numerous Caltrans snowplows at work on SR 168 and the county owned snowplows working on various other roadways at the higher elevations, including in areas where snowplows aren't usually seen.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Sunrise:
6:35 am - Sunset: 5:48 pm
Today:
High: 54/Chance Rain
Chance of Rain: 50%
Tonight:
Low: 37/Partly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 30%
WEATHER: The Weather Service got it right, this time around as rain started falling throughout the area before day break this morning, and as this is being written at about 12:30 this afternoon has continued to fall since that time. While the amounts of rain have not been copious, the rainfall has been steady, slowly but surely bringing the amount of rainfull a bit closer to what should be considered normal amounts. The storm predicted to arrive tomorrow night should help in that goal as well. The current forecasts continue to call for tomorrow's storm to be nearly as cold and with as much moisture as our storm of Thursday and Friday. This will mean plenty of rain and low elevation snow for the foothills. The current prediction calls for the snow level to start out at around 3500 feet and gradually lower as the storm passes to 2500 feet and perhaps lower in the areas that receive heavier showers. TRAFFIC: As is to be expected with a new round of rain in the area, chain restrictions have been reinstated on SR 168 between the 3000 and 4000 foot elevation of the 4-Lane, so it's slow going for skiers trying to make it to Sierra Summit to take advantage of the new snow falling on the area. Also, as expected, a number of traffic issues have presented themselves. At the 3000 foot elevation of the 4-Lane at about 10:15 this morning, some cars sliding around caused a problem and some traffic blockage. At about 11:30 am this morning, Auberry Road near Alder Springs Road was blocked for a time by a non-injury accident that left traffic unable to proceed in either direction. At about 12:30 pm, came reports that two disabled vehicles or vehicles that had collided were blocking SR 168 near the community of Shaver Lake. Also at 12:30 pm, a report came in of an accident on Huntington Lake Road just above the community of Big Creek, which has left the road blocked. No injuries have yet to be reported from any of these accidents. TRAFFIC: 3:15 pm UPDATE: As the rainy weather continues across the area today, so too, do the number of accidents reported. At 1:50 pm, a report came in about a head-on accident on Auberry Road near it's intersection with Powerhouse Road. In this incident, two vehicles collided head-on, apparently at a relatively low rate of speed. A trailer pulled by one of the colliding vehicles swung around and hit a third vehicle. The accident resulted in at least one occupant of the vehicles involved in the crash being pinned in their vehicle. Minor injuries have also been reported as a result of this accident. At 2:45, word came in of an accident on SR 168 at Gooseberry Lane. The party reporting the accident reported that an overturned vehicle had come to rest on its side in the westbound lane of the state highway. Minor injuries are also reported as a result of this accident, though we have no details of their nature or extent.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Sunrise:
6:36 am - Sunset: 5:47 pm
Today:
High: 56/Partly Cloudy
Tonight:
Low: 35/Partly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 10%
WEATHER: The weather today turned out quite decent, as expected, with some clear skies most of the day until the clouds started ariving in the afternoon, leaving us with quite a colorful sunset. Tomorrows storm, which had been expected to mostly bypass us to the north, started taking a more southware course not too long before midnight tonight, as this is being written. This has led the Weather Service to upgrade the chances of rian tomorrow from a slight chance to a likely chance of rain. And also, this has led them to predict more moisture arriving in the area as well. For the next several days, the forecast now calls for rain tomorrow, followed by a slight break tomorrow night and Monday early, until a second, colder storm arrives late Monday and lasts through early Wednesday. Current estimates of this storm indicate it will be very similar to Thursday and Friday's storm with snow levels well down into the foothill areas. TRAFFIC: The chain restrictions on SR 168 as a result of the storm were lifted late last night and today the highway remained clear of snow and ice. A quick trip to Shaver this afternoon showed us that the temperature up there was in the neighborhood of about 45 degrees this afternoon, and the quiet up there was often disturbed by large chunks of ice falling off of rooftops in the afternoon melt. The afternoon melt will leave lots of wet spots across the roadways at the higher elevations and lead to patches of black ice that motorists need to be on the alert for. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: 9:00 am: The word from PG&E this morning is mixed. Last night's power outage lasted from about 8:15 pm until shortly after 3:00 am this morning. After that the power went on and off several times, before finally staying on for good about 7:15 am. A call to PG&E's outage department, indicated that they still planned on shutting down the power for the planned outage today, but 7:30, 8:30 and 9:00 am came and went with no further outages. Another resident claimed to have spoken to a PG&E supervisor this morning who told the caller, that 'due to the outages of last night, the scheduled outage today will not take place'. So, that's where the issue stood at 9:00 am this morning. In the meantime, cell phone service for AT&T/Cingular customers is still down this morning, now being down for just under 12 hours. No word has reached us as to when the service will be restored. 10:00 am UPDATE: We just got off the phone with 'the new AT&T' (Cingular) repair department, and they tell us that they've had someone out on Black Mountain working on the cell tower already this morning. While unable to say how long the outage of service would last, they did indicate that in most cases, these matters are repaired within 12-18 hours of the service first going out. Since the service went down at about 9:30 pm yesterday evening, that would mean that service should be restored within the next 6 hours. We hope that estimate is an accurate one. 11:00 pm UPDATE: Cell service was restored this afternoon at about 1:30 pm for most of the area's AT&T/Cingular customers as crews made repairs to the tower on Black Mountain. We are sure this was good news to many of the area's residents, many of whom use cell phones as their primary phone service.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Sunrise:
6:37 am - Sunset: 5:46 pm
Today:
High: 42/Mostly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 30%
Tonight:
Low: 32/Partly Cloudy
WEATHER: Definitely an interesting day weather-wise here in Tollhouse today. Sunrise saw Tollhouse with about 1 to 2 inches of snow on the ground which started to melt rapidly as the sun rose over the nearby ridges. Even though the rain was supposed to be over this morning, this afternoon saw brief periods of hail and rain as the departing storm had the last word. Tomorrow is expected to be a clear day, before another storm makes it way through the area late Saturday night through Sunday night from a storm that will deliver its largest punch to the north of us. After that, we're supposed to get a small break on Monday before another storm, some say which will be similar to the one last night, is expected to make it's way through the area on Monday night through Wednesday morning. All in all, we could see enough rain in the next few days to perhaps get us back to something closer to a normal amount of rainfall for the area. TRAFFIC: Amazingly, chain restrictions on SR 168 were lifted late this afternoon, meaning clear sailing for those wishing to head to Sierra Summit to take advantage of the 2 to 3 feet of new snow received up there. At about 8:45 am this morning, crews were called to the scene of an accident on the 4-Lane at about the 4000 foot level, when a collison left an individual partially suspended out of the rear window of an extended cab pickup and unable to be immediately rescued. Minor injuries were reported as a result of this accident. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: We're updating the website tonight at 11:30 pm, using electricity generated by a portable generator, as a result of a power outage here in the Tollhouse, Prather, Auberry area. We spoke with PG&E about 9:30 pm, and they indicated that the power went out as the result of a broken power pole, and approximately 1600 households in the area were affected by the outage. They also indicated that hopefully, power would be restored at about 3:00 am. When asked if they also expected, as a result of this outage to proceed with the planned outage in the area tomorrow, which is due to start at 7:30 am and last until 1:30 pm, they indicated that this was likely to happen as scheduled, meaning that many households in the area will be without power for more than half of a 24 hour period. Nothing like seeing our public utilities in action. (smile) We find it ironic that most of the folks that would most likely have need of this information don't have the ability to visit our website tonight and tomorrow to read it. By the way, even though that for the past 3 years, AT&T Wireless and Cingular have known about the outages that often take place up here, they refuse to install any kind of backup power to their cell tower other than a 90 minute battery system, that leaves their cell phone customers without service, during any power outage that lasts longer than that. Apparently, Verizon customers have a more foresighted company working for them, as their customers still have service tonight, and will most likely also have power tomorrow during the outage as well.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Sunrise:
6:38 am - Sunset: 5:45 pm
Today:
High: 53/Likely Rain
Chance of Rain: 100%
Tonight:
Low: 32/Likely Rain
Chance of Rain: 50%
WEATHER: The rain started early this morning, and continued on and off until about 6:15 pm this evening, when the snow started falling. By midnight tonight, it has been snowing on and off, with some accumulation on the ground and a temperature of 33 degrees. The current snow advisory says that areas above 1500 feet can expect to see accumulations of from 2 to 4 inches before the snow stops sometime tomorrow morning. This is according to the snow advisory issued by the U.S. Weather Service this afternoon. In the longer term, another storm is due into the area early Sunday morning that may bring more snow to the Tollhouse area. TRAFFIC: As expected during a storm such as we're having at the moment, chains are required on SR 168 about 6 miles east of Prather this evening, and overnight chains may be required at or near Prather itself. Several accidents were reported this evening along the 4-lane. At about 7:30 pm, came a report that 2 vehicles were stuck in a snow bank on SR 168 near Beale Fire Road, though no injuries were reported. About 8:20 pm, came reports that an accident had occured near the top of the 4-lane where SR 168 makes its upper intersection with Tollhouse Road. No details are currently available as to the nature of that accident and whether any injuries were involved.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Sunrise:
6:39 am - Sunset: 5:44 pm
Today:
High: 59/Partly Cloudy
Tonight:
Low: 36/Mostly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 30%
WEATHER: The weather is the subject of discussion in Tollhouse today as the forecast calls for a strong storm to reach the area by early tomorrow morning. Current forecasts call for rain and possible snow down to the foothills. Also, depending the the exact timing of the storm, thunderstorms and hail will also be possible with the arrival of the storm. If the hatches aren't battened down, they should be by tomorrow morning. The storm is expected to last through Friday morning, and upper elevations of the Sierra are expected to see between 2 and 3 feet of fresh snow above 5000 feet, perhaps lower, and several inches below that, perhaps as low as 2000 feet, the elevation of Tollhouse. TRAFFIC: As no rain or snow has fallen as of yet late this evening, no chain restrictions are in place and SR 168 remains free of any current chain restrictions, but that is likely to change before sunrise tomorrow, as the storm arrives. Otherwise, we've heard of no major traffic incidents today.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Sunrise:
6:40 am - Sunset: 5:43 pm
Today:
High: 60/Partly Cloudy
Tonight:
Low: 33/Mostly Cloudy
WEATHER: Today was a near repeat of Sunday, where we saw a very small temperature range from early morning to this evening. A high of 51 and a 8:00 am low of 45 degrees was the only variation we saw today here in Tollhouse. Projections of the apparent strength of the storm due to arrive late tomorrow have continued to increase, even though the expected arrival time has been moved back to the wee small hours of Thursday morning. The current chance of precipitation for Thursday now rests at 90% with an 80% chance on Thursday night. As the storm arrives, snow levels are expected to be near 5000 feet, but will most likely lower rapidly as the front makes its passage through the area. Current forecasts call for snow levels at about 2500 feet by Friday morning, meaning the hills around Tollhouse are likely to be covered in a coat of white Friday afternoon. After the storm passes on Friday, the models are in disarray as to the continuing weather pattern. Several storms are due to pass through, but whether they will make it this far north remains the big question. TRAFFIC: An accident this evening at about 6:30 pm. between two pickup trucks near the bottom of the 4 lane, led to one of the trucks blocking the roadway for a time. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of this traffic incident. Another non-injury accident took place this evening at about 10:15 pm near the intersection of Auberry and Powerhouse Road, when a vehicle taking a turn at too fast a speed lost control and hit an embankment. There apparently was some sort of mixup with authorities, who at first thought that damage from an earlier accident in the same area were the result of this accident. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: The storm that we'll be visited by on early Thursday morning has the capacity to give us the most significant moisture of the year, and hopefully make a dent in our overall rainfall deficit. However, the storm is due to be accompanied by strong winds as well as possibly heavy rain, especially on Thursday, so Wednesday, might be a very good time to get everything battened down in preparation for the storm. (smile)
Monday, February 19, 2007
Presidents Day
Sunrise:
6:42 am - Sunset: 5:42 pm
Today:
High: 60/Mostly Cloudy
Tonight:
Low: 33/Mostly Clear
WEATHER: As the low clouds returned to Tollhouse today, the Weather Service tells us that a change is in the wind by midweek. While todays temperature hardly varied under the cloud deck remaining at about 44-48 degrees nearly the entire day, it remained dry after yesterday's winds and sprinkles. By Wednesday night, the folks at the Weather Service tell us that a storm brewing in the Gulf of Alasak may bring us our largest dousing yet of the winter. The upcoming storm is supposed to be bringing us as much as 3 feet of snow down to 4000 feet, and a mix of rain and snow below that elevation. It remains to be seen whether this will come to pass, but as everyone knows now, we could really use the moisture. TRAFFIC: Local roadways remained clear today, as chain requirements were absent from SR 168 even though traffic was fairly heavy as a number of folks took advantage of the Presidents Day holiday to get in an extra day of skiing at Sierra Summit.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Sunrise:
6:43 am - Sunset: 5:41 pm
Today:
High: 60/Mostly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 40%
Tonight:
Low: 38/Mostly Cloudy
Chance of Rain: 30%
WEATHER: The expression, "What a difference a day makes" which we use from time to time, took on new significance today with a 25 degree drop from yesterday to today in our high temperature reading. When we woke up this morning, the temperature was about 46 degrees, and throughout the day, we saw it move only about 4 degrees up and down, as cloudy skies kept the temperature variations today at a minimum. In addition, the frontal passage of the predicted storm came through at about 3:30 this afternoon as the wind bore down on Tollhouse with a vengenance. Though the amount of rain that the storm brought only amounted to a few hundreths of an inch, we definitely knew that the storm had passed through the area. Later in the evening, saw the winds much calmer. For the upcoming week, the Weather service is talking of a storm building in the Gulf of Alaska, that may be quite a weather maker by midweek. TRAFFIC: SR 168 remains free of chain restrictions today as the amount of snow that fell at the upper reaches of the highway were not significant enough to merit the restrictions being put in place. We've also not come across any reports of accidents in the area today. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: The webmaster of this website was doing his best today to ignore the fact that he was born 52 years ago today, but we're not letting him get away with it. (smile)
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Sunrise:
6:44 am - Sunset: 5:40 pm
Today:
High: 71/Mostly Sunny
Tonight:
Low: 35/Partly Cloudy
WEATHER:Wow, they said that it would be 71 degrees today, but we're here to tell you that they were wrong. It made it to an unofficial high of 76 degrees today here in Tollhouse, which made it the warmest day of the year to date for our community. The media reported like temperatures in Fresno which, while not a record down there, it was definitely the warmest day in Fresno this year as well. Unfortunately, it would appear that today's warmth will not be with us tomorrow as it appears that an upcoming storm due to arrive tomorrow sometime will see the high tomorrow plummet as much as 20 degrees from today's near record high. A 40% chance of rain exists for tomorrow, but it doesn't appear that any significant amount of rain will fall. TRAFFIC:Another quiet day on the traffic front today, as we've heard of no incidents in the area, but given we've been extremely busy lately, it's very possible that we missed one. If any of you happen to come across an incident, please feel free to take a picture and send it our way, along with any details. SR 168 remains free of chain restrictions. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS:The Mountain Press reported this week, that due to a large amount of rural post office box vandalism, the Postal Service will be replacing the boxes used along many of the local roadways to a new and improved model of the type that was installed a year or so back along Sycamore Road in Burrough Valley. The boxes have been heavily damaged both in our area and in the Dunlap area along SR 180 to the south of us.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Sunrise:
6:45 am - Sunset: 5:39 pm
Today:
High: 64/Mostly Sunny
Tonight:
Low: 37/Mostly Clear
WEATHER: The warming trend was definitely here today, as we surpassed the predicted high of 64 by 5 degrees as we reached a high just 1 degree shy of 70 today. Tomorrow is on track for an even warmer day with the current prediction of 71 looking a bit low to us, if today was any indication. The weekend storm coming our way is still doing it's best to confound the folks at the Weather Service as to whether or not it will actually give us anything in the way of measurable precipitation. We're hoping for the best and bracing for the worst, as the dry winter still looks as though it will remain with us a bit longer. The one bright spot is that the models are in much better agreement on a possible storm arriving next week sometime around mid week, that has the potential for giving us a significant amount of rainfall and low elevation snow to the area. We definitely could use the moisture, most would agree. TRAFFIC: The relative calm on local roadways was disrupted today with the collision of two vehicles on the lower streches of SR 168 this afternoon, with the collision of two vehicles near where the roadway passes Millerton Road. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the accident, but traffic was reported backed up for a time. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: For those that have grown used to paying their Ponderosa Telephone bills at Canyon Feed in Prather or at Ponderosa Glass, tomorrow is the last day that this service will be available as Ponderosa will be discontinuing the paystation service to it's customers starting tomorrow. Ever since Ponderosa closed it's business office in Auberry about 14 years ago, there have always been a place where local residents could pay their phone bills, but it would appear that this will no longer be the case.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Sunrise:
6:46 am - Sunset: 5:38 pm
Today:
High: 63/Mostly Sunny
Tonight:
Low: 38/Mostly Clear
WEATHER:The hint of a warming trend showed its face today in Tollhouse as the clouds were fewer, the temperatures warmer, and we actually made it slightly above the 63 degrees forecast for today. It was actually a pleasant day to be out and about and taking care of outdoor activities for a change. The forecast folks at the Weather Service are still having a difficult time forecast this weekends storm, but they continue to predict a significant warming trend for tomorrow and Saturday, and we'll live with that just fine. (smile) The weather will also be a nice start to 9 days of vacation for local youngins as ski week starts at local schools with the end of classes on this coming Friday. TRAFFIC: As the weather has warmed and the ice on the upper reaches of SR 168, the roadway remains clear of chain restrictions and as far as we've been able to tell, also free of traffic incidents. OTHER NEWS AND TIDBITS: The price of gasoline has taken a dramatic upturn in the past 7 days from a low of 2.29 a gallon in Fresno early last week, rising nearly 30 cents in the past week to an average of 2.59 in the environs of Fresno, with a corresponding increase in the mountain areas. The Valero station at the Millerton Store saw a rise from 2.49 to 2.79 in the same time frame.
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