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The La Paz area was pretty well overcast yesterday & I awoke shortly before 7 AM this morning to Bing vocally bitchin about a little rain! We're getting a steady light rain which has been falling for at least the past hour & a half. Totally calm with no breeze whatsoever. Octave is apparently preserving his strength for points much further north.

We've had about an inch of rain in the last 12 hours. Raining just light enough to avoid flooding. Looking at the storm path and satellite pictures, weather may get a bit worse. Yesterday the storm path was projected through our backyard, today looks to make landfall a few miles North. By the time it's in our neighborhood there won't be much left of it anyway.

Heavier rain.....now accompanied by breeze & rolling thunder.....Maggie's NOT happy with the thunder.....she could care about the rain! Bing's not happy with the rain & he could give a rip about the thunder!! I'm appreciating the 81 degrees & the breeze!

Wooo, you're right, storm is too far SW to bring us more than rain & by the time it moves north to you, it'll dissipate a lot.

Our morning here started out sunny and calm but currently at 11:30AM it is becoming overcast with increasingly strong winds.

I guess we'll stay tuned...

U.S. Consulate General Tijuana, Mexico
Emergency Message: Tropical Storm Octave
October 14, 2013

The Consulate alerts U.S. citizens in Baja California Sur that Tropical Storm Octave is currently centered 175 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical storm watch for Baja California Sur from Santa Fe to Punta Abreojos. Please visit NHC’s website at National Hurricane Center to follow the storm’s path. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case in the next 12-24 hours.

NHC forecasts rainfall accumulations of 3-6 inches, and possibly greater accumulations in isolated areas that could produce flash floods or mudslides, as well as maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) with higher gusts. Swells generated by TS Octave are expected to affect the west coast of the Baja California peninsula and will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. A storm surge is expected to produce coastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

U.S. citizens living in or visiting coastal areas may be affected by the storm and are advised to monitor local media for updates or possible changes to the potentially violent weather conditions and to follow any instructions/warnings issued by the Mexican government. Preparations to protect life and property should be considered. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents (i.e. U.S. passport or passport card) with them at all times or secure them by placing them in a safe, waterproof location.

U.S. citizens should contact relatives or friends in the United States to apprise them of their whereabouts both now and after the storm. Visitors should be familiar with their hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans and follow hotel/cruise staff instructions. U.S. citizens may also contact the local “Protección Civil” office (Mexico’s Emergency Management Agency) for updated information about the storm and preparedness measures or for information about nearby shelters. The phone numbers for Protección Civil in La Paz are (612) 124-3765 and (612) 122-9008. If you must travel during this time, please take reasonable precautions such as avoiding entering swiftly moving water. Drivers should remain vigilant for landslides.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mexico enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at Welcome to Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, (including the Travel Warning for Mexico), Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Mexico. For additional information, refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” on the State Department’s website.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana is located at Paseo de Las Culturas y Camino al Aeropuerto, Mesa de Otay, Delegación Centenario, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico 22425, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., telephone (664) 977-2000. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy/Consulate is (619) 692-2154, (Dialing from the U.S. 011-52 + phone number); E-mail: ACSTijuana@state.gov

Contact information for U.S. Consular Agency – Los Cabos is as follows:
Tiendas de Palmilla, Carretera Transpeninsular Km 27.5
Local B221, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23406
Telephone: (624) 143-3566
Fax: (624) 143-6750
Email: USConsulCabo@yahoo.com

U.S. Consulate General Tijuana, Mexico
Emergency Message: Tropical Storm Octave
October 14, 2013

The Consulate alerts U.S. citizens in Baja California Sur that Tropical Storm Octave is currently centered 175 miles south-southwest of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued a tropical storm watch for Baja California Sur from Santa Fe to San Punta Abreojos on the southwest coast of the lower Baja California Peninsula. Please visit NHC’s website at National Hurricane Center to follow the storm’s path. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case in the next 24 hours.

NHC forecasts rainfall accumulations of 3-6 inches, and possibly greater accumulations in isolated areas that could produce flash floods or mudslides, as well as maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) with higher gusts. The areas likely to be affected stretch from Punta Abreojos, San Juanico and San Carlos on the Pacific coast, across the northern Comondu region, over the mountains and to the Sea of Cortes including Santa Rosalia and Mulege and Loreto. Flooding and washouts are a threat to Highway 1 from San Ignacio to Loreto and to the spurs from Highway 1 to Punta Abreojos, San Juanico and San Carlos. Portions of Routes 53 and 22 may also be affected. Swells generated by TS Octave are expected to affect the west coast of the Baja California peninsula and will likely cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. A storm surge is expected to produce coastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

U.S. citizens living in or visiting coastal areas may be affected by the storm and are advised to monitor local media for updates or possible changes to the potentially violent weather conditions and to follow any instructions/warnings issued by the Mexican government. Preparations to protect life and property should be considered. U.S. citizens should carry their travel documents (i.e. U.S. passport or passport card) with them at all times or secure them by placing them in a safe, waterproof location.

U.S. citizens should contact relatives or friends in the United States to apprise them of their whereabouts both now and after the storm. Visitors should be familiar with their hotel or cruise ship evacuation plans and follow hotel/cruise staff instructions. U.S. citizens may also contact the local “Protección Civil” office (Mexico’s Emergency Management Agency) for updated information about the storm and preparedness measures or for information about nearby shelters. The phone numbers for Protección Civil in La Paz are (612) 124-3765 and (612) 122-9008. If you must travel during this time, please take reasonable precautions such as avoiding entering swiftly moving water. Drivers should remain vigilant for landslides.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Mexico enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at Welcome to Travel.State.Gov. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Regularly monitor the State Department's website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, (including the Travel Warning for Mexico), Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Mexico. For additional information, refer to “A Safe Trip Abroad” on the State Department’s website.

Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.

The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana is located at Paseo de Las Culturas y Camino al Aeropuerto, Mesa de Otay, Delegación Centenario, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico 22425, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., telephone (664) 977-2000. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy/Consulate is (619) 692-2154, (Dialing from the U.S. 011-52 + phone number); E-mail: ACSTijuana@state.gov

Contact information for U.S. Consular Agency – Los Cabos is as follows:
Tiendas de Palmilla, Carretera Transpeninsular Km 27.5
Local B221, San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, C.P. 23406
Telephone: (624) 143-3566
Fax: (624) 143-6750
Email: USConsulCabo@yahoo.com

Naw, it's north of La Paz now & all over but for a very heavy mist & a disgruntled cat who's going door-to-door checking to see if it's wet outside there too! He may have really pretty blue eyes, but he's not always the sharpest tool in the shed!

Octave has already dissipated down to maximum sustained winds of 40 mph & is close to being a tropical depression. Priscilla who was on Octave's tail decided to take a hard left.

Wouldn't it be nice if these were the last storms for 2013 season!!!

How's the weather cactus holding up?

Ya Legz... you got the cactus bolted down?

Mostly clear this morning, we totaled just under 4" of rain. I'm sure it was a lot worse inland. Be interesting to hear how the roads are.

According to the NHC, what's left of TD Octave is right over there.....

We didn't get any winds here to speak of, but that flighty cactus & it's pot are bungee corded to a column nonetheless! I'm not taking any chances with it!

Wooo, that's an awesome shot!! Looks like a giant arm reaching down to the water amongst the clouds! I didn't think the raggy remnants would effect you too much, but looking at EEBMIKE this morning, it appears to have had enough strength left to cross right over the peninsula (& you) at about 35 mph during the night!

Glad to hear that (apparently) the damage wasn't any worse than just a lot of rain - no flooding to report?

That is an absolutely amazing shot Wooo. If any of you haven't clicked on the photo to enlarge it, the detail in that storm out there is just too cool!!!

Thanks Legz, BG. No major flooding in our neighborhood, but according to the water truck driver, no one has come into town today, which is a good indication the main road is not passable somewhere along the way.

Our property road was a lot softer than any of us expected. We needed a water delivery today. The water truck got stuck....then the tractor that came to pull it out got stuck...then the water truck again....then the tractor.....

2 1/2 hours later everyone's on hard dirt. Now the road's a mess and we have to figure out how to get the truck back out.....

Forgive me, but I laughed!!

I'm guessing that tractor doesn't have a blade on it? I'm afeared to ask what this particular load of water cost you! Next time, maybe call before the rains hit?

Originally Posted by longlegsinlapaz

Forgive me, but I laughed!!

I'm guessing that tractor doesn't have a blade on it? I'm afeared to ask what this particular load of water cost you! Next time, maybe call before the rains hit?

I did

Then I beg forgiveness!
(Here, closer to civilization, I get water the same day I call.)

Legz, you obviously have no sense of adventure...

I've been living in Baja Sur since 1999.....I beg to differ with you!