California

A new storm is tiptoeing across California this weekend, bringing a slight chance of rain and snow to Southern California and light showers to the northern part of the state.Commuters woke up Friday to dense fog, with visibility at or below a quarter-mile in many portions of the state. As the morning progresses, that fog will dissipate and make way for the rain, according to the National Weather Service.The northern part of the San Francisco Bay Area will see the most precipitation over the next day, with other areas receiving only small amounts of rain. By 8 a.m. Friday, some parts of northern Sonoma County had reported “a hundredth [of an inch] here and there,” according to the weather service.The low-pressure system, which the weather service is calling an “inside slider,” could bring small amounts of rain to northern San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, as well as the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties Friday night into Sunday morning, said … [Read more...] about Rain and snow sneaking across California in ‘inside slider’ storm

A phallic-looking phenomenon took over a Northern California beach last week after a strong storm uncovered thousands of fat innkeeper worms — colloquially known as penis fish — leaving them stranded on the sand.Photographer David Ford was walking along Drake’s Beach in Marin County on Dec. 6 with his camera when he noticed a massive flock of seagulls that appeared to be munching on something on the shore. The appearance of what the birds were eating might be enough to get a chuckle out of even the most mature beachgoer. This may just be the weirdest thing you've seen today! https://t.co/MwY6xkN3kb pic.twitter.com/vGMpSvGoAT— Bay Nature magazine (@BayNature) December 11, 2019 Advertisement The seagulls were feasting on fat 10-inch-long innkeeper worms that were spread across the beach for miles. Some were clearly dead, but a few were bright red — a sign they were still alive. A stench that Ford described as “dead sea creature smell” hung … [Read more...] about Thousands of ‘penis fish’ wash up on a Northern California beach

So far this winter, a farm in Placerville (El Dorado County) has found 1 pound of prized, elusive black truffles, leading to its first sale to a Northern California restaurant on New Year’s Eve. Around the same time, a 10-year-old Santa Rosa orchard also found its first truffle. Meanwhile, a nearby Santa Rosa orchard owned by Jackson Family Wines has unearthed an astonishing 25 pounds of truffles this season, some of which are being served in San Francisco restaurants like Saison, Birdsong and Che Fico. About a decade ago, California-grown black or Périgord truffles were at best a dream, and at worst a long shot. That’s when about a dozen farmers started planting orchards of hazelnut and oak trees, their roots inoculated with Tuber melanosporum spores. If the orchard was carefully tended, the first black truffles could form within five to eight years, though it would take a couple more years for an orchard to really bear fruit. It’s happening: For the first time, … [Read more...] about Northern California is suddenly awash in locally grown black truffles

A homeless woman is thought to have been mauled to death by pitbulls in a California Costco parking lot after surveillance cameras captured what are believed to be two of the dogs running loose nearby.  Police say the unidentified victim, thought to have been in her late 30s or early 40s, 'suffered from obvious trauma' after she was found with dog bites in Bakersfield Sunday morning.  It is thought the attack - which happened overnight - 'started in a different location and ended in the parking lot'.  Police say she was 'likely attacked by one or more dogs'. Surveillance footage appears to have captured dogs running loose nearby before a homeless woman is thought to have been mauled to death by at least two pitbulls Police say the unidentified victim, thought to have been in her late 30s or early 40s, 'suffered from obvious trauma' after she was found with dog bites in Bakersfield Sunday morning KGET Privacy Policy Evidence at the scene, including paw prints, … [Read more...] about Homeless woman is mauled to death by three pitbulls in California Costco parking lot

The Chronicle has launched a new weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. At the mouth of Elkhorn Slough, we floated near motionless in a tandem kayak and watched a colony of harbor seals sunning themselves on the beach. A soft breeze carried a light scent of algae in the sea air. Right then, a sea otter popped up to our right, took a look at us, seemed to grin, and then in a swirl, dived under our little boat. That little guy was cuter than a truckload of baby ducks. And that’s why you go. Sea otter watching is one of the great, easy and cheap ways to get a refreshed view of the world. Trips to see otters can range from easy paddles with rental kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, walks on secluded beaches and bluffs, and lookouts from coastal points. The best times of the year to sight otters are often winter and spring. To stay protected from rough weather out to sea, the creatures tend to raft up in areas shielded from wind in estuaries, coves and near inshore kelp forests. You … [Read more...] about The 6 best places to spot sea otters off the California coast