Small-craft advisory in effect off Central Coast

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• Forecasters warn of winds, high surf and rough seas

  Forecasters warn of winds, high surf and rough seas

  The National Weather Service has issued wind, high-surf and small-craft advisories, with a gale watch, affecting the Central Coast as of Sunday night and into Monday morning.

  The wind advisory is in effect through noon Monday, and mostly applies to the North County, including Paso Robles and Atascadero areas.

  The agency warns that south-to-southwest winds are expected to increase to 20 to 30 mph, with gusts to 40 to 45 mph late Sunday night and continue through Monday morning.

• His standards are service and readiness

  His standards are service and readiness

  George Brown, a retired emergency service coordinator for San Luis Obispo County, has always believed in a culture of service for others. As a young man, he recorded weather observations for the National Weather Service on his family’s farm in Santa Clara County. These weather observations warned others downstream of possible floods. He worked as a ski patrolman in the Sierra Nevadas looking for signs of possible avalanches.

  He served in the U.S. Navy, (he was once was honored as the Seabee of the quarter), and worked as a firefighter before going to work for the county. He told me that one of his most important tools as an emergency coordinator was a coffee mug. He made a point of meeting other first responders for coffee, which allowed them to share information and get to know one another before an emergency occurred. As a Boy Scout leader, he lives by the motto “Be Prepared.”

  Ron Alsop, Emergency Services manager with the county Office of Emergency Services, stated, “George Brown has unquestionably

• High winds, rough seas expected for San Luis Obispo County

  High winds, rough seas expected for San Luis Obispo County

  The National Weather Service on Sunday evening has issued three warnings to take effect along the Central Coast into Monday and Tuesday.

  In a wind advisory in effect from 1 to 10 p.m. Monday, forecasters warn of increasing winds on Monday thanks to a quick-hitting cold storm system expected to move along the coast.

  That storm is expected to bring strong gusty winds along the coast and in coastal valleys, west to northwest and 15-25 mph, with gusts to 25 mph.

• The greater the wind speed, the higher the wave will be

  The greater the wind speed, the higher the wave will be

  The earliest writings from ancient civilizations have told stories of huge waves damaging or sinking ships. Not even modern technology is immune from Neptune’s wrath.

  During World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill offered President Franklin Roosevelt the use of the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth ocean liners to transport large numbers of U.S. troops to the British Isles. At the time, the Queen Mary was the fastest ocean liner in the world and could outrun any German U-boat.

  In late 1942, the Queen Mary with her thousands of cabins stuffed with soldiers set sail to Britain. Like sailors on submarines, soldiers were required to “hot rack,” or share beds on eight to 12-hour shifts to accommodate as many troops as possible.

• High winds trigger dust alerts

  High winds trigger dust alerts

  It’s springtime, and that means windy days. County officials have begun issuing health advisories for the windiest days, warning people in the Oceano Dunes and Nipomo Mesa areas of high dust levels.

  The warnings typically come every week or so and last several days. They are triggered by high wind conditions that are likely to generate unhealthy particulate levels as dust blows off the dunes and onto the Nipomo Mesa.

  During the advisories, county officials recommend that people minimize outdoor activity when blowing dust is visible. High particulate levels typically peak from 1 to 5 p.m.