Another lovely one!

Another lovely day here, 'though a bit chillier than yesterday.
At nine am, it is 54.5 degrees and rising.
The humidity is 50%.
The barometer is at 29.23 inches of mercury and rising under clear blue skies.
The fire danger (from HIGH yesterday) is now MODERATE.
Light wind of about 3 mph

Weather changing!

Skies darkening, barometer falling, 27 mph gusts, leaves blowing backwards....

Weather is inbound!

Cool, yet wonderful weather

Hikers moving through here at Cascading Waters this morning.

Amazing weather!

Introduced a hiker to just how extensive the Cascades are with a map. The joy was awesome to behold.

Conditions at the Lodge at Cascading Waters as of 10:00 a.m.:

~ temperature is 49.8°F and rising;
~ humidity is 42% and falling;
~ barometric pressure is 29.18"Hg and steady;
~ wind is moving and gusting to 20.5 mph;
~ Cascades Brook is flowing at 1.44" with both channels open;
~ the sun is out with blue skies and fair weather clouds;
~ there is flow over the Cascades;
~ USFS Fire Danger is MEDIUM.

More rain, More growth

Summer is arriving like a freight train over this past few days. Each day sees more rain, more leaves, and more height on every plant. Plants that were distressed have buds, and trees that looked dormant are in bloom. The ferns and moss are in their glory.

Today, as the skies eventually lighten and begin to clear, it will be a wonderful chance to hike into the woods and see them coming alive.

Conditions at the Lodge at 9:50 a.m.:

~ temperature is 59.4°F and steady;
~ humidity is 89% and steady;
~ barometric pressure is 28.88"Hg and steady;
~ the air is still;
~ 0.45" of rain reached the forest floor since yesterday morning;
~ the Cascades Brook is flowing at 2.16" of depth, and both channels are flowing;
~ the Cascades are flowing;
~ the USFS fire Danger is LOW.

Rainforest Days

Days of on and off rain have the forest practically bursting forth with growth! Today promises more rain and warmth so things will just get more lush and more full.

Conditions at the Lodge at 9:45 a.m.:

~ temperature is 62.2°F and steady;
~ humidity is 87% and steady;
~ barometric pressure is 29.03"Hg and steady;
~ Cascades brook is running at a depth of 1.92" and the flow is fast and both channels are running;
~ 0.15" of rain reached the forest floor since yesterday;
~ skies are grey;
~ there is gentle flow of wind gusting to 17.5mph;
~ the Cascades are running;
~ the USFS Fire Danger is low.

A Perfect Day

Sunshine, blue skies, warmth, and MOOSE!

Last week GWLT posted a Facebook picture of moose scat from up on Asnebumskit Ridge. Last night the moose was out on Rte. 122 Pleasant Street Paxton by the Howe's farm stand! Our visitor is in the neighborhood!

8:40 a.m. conditions at the Lodge:

~ temperature is 59.9°F and rising;
~ humidity is 89% and falling;
~ barometric pressure is 29.18"Hg and steady;
~ skies are blue;
~ 0.25" of rain fell to the forest floor since yesterday;
~ Cascades Brook is running at 2.4" of depth and not channels are running;
~ the wind is still;
~ USFS Fire Danger is LOW.

Moose scat:

And then the rains came...

How wonderful it was to go to sleep last night to the sound of falling rain on the roof!
The greening of the world continues in high gear with water to fuel it.
Enjoy spring!

The conditions at the Lodge at 9:16 a.m. were as follows:

~ temperature of 60.6 degree F and steady;
~ humidity of 89% and steady;
~ barometric pressure of 29.21"Hg and steady;
~ the Cascades Brook was running at 2.16" depth;
~ both channels of the Cascades Brook were running;
~ skies are overcast with occasional sprinkling;
~ the anemometer was not reading any movement of the air;
~ since yesterday morning 0.55" of rainfall fell to the forest floor (note that the rain gauge is under the canopy);
~ the USFS Fire Danger Class is LOW!

Rain coming at long last

After what feels like weeks without rain, this morning saw the first band of showers. The trees leafed out enough where the forest floor is still dry, but the openings received a thin layer of moisture.

The ground has become so dry that the cart path to the Lodge is a dust cloud after driving along it and you sit in the car for a minute or two to let it settle before getting out.

Sterling and Princeton both saw brush fires yesterday, and the Princeton one was quite a large one.

But, rain is coming

9:15am conditions at the Lodge:

~ temperature is 63.5°F and rising;
~ humidity is 80% and falling;
~ pressure is 29.41"Hg and steady;
~ skies are grey but fairly bright;
~ the Cascades are quite modest with flow;
~ Cascades brook is flowing at 1.2";
~ the USFS Fire Danger is MEDIUM.

Sun, Wind, Fire?

There hasn't been substantial rainfall in a while now, and the forecast doesn't offer relief, so we are automatically in a place where brush fires have been an issue. Today adds to that complication with steady winds.

Lucky for us the groundwater table is still in a good place after all we received this winter, and despite the dry, the trees have been leafing out nicely. In the past day it has become difficult to see either Olean Street or Cataract Street clearly, and that will only improve! Green is the dominant color again.

Conditions at the Lodge at 8:30 a.m.:

~ temperature is 48.6°F and rising;
~ humidity is 61% and falling;
~ barometric pressure is 29.71"Hg and steady;
~ sun is in clear blue skies;
~ wind is in motion and peaking at 5.0mph;
~ Cascades have modest flow;
~ USFS Fire Danger is HIGH.

A beautiful day to be outside, and not burning.

Springtime

Still lovely!
At nine am, it is 56.8 degrees and rising.
The humidity is 55% and falling.
The barometer is at 29.47 inches of mercury and steady.
The brook is at 1.64 inches.
The fore danger is now HIGH.
We had a great series of clean-ups this weekend--you're going to notice a difference in Cascades East!--and our thanks go out to all who helped!

Earth Day clean-up day!

It's Earth Day clean-up day here in the city of Worcester, and we hope you'll either come down to Cascades East (that's Olean Street, on the Holden line) or find a clean-up near you on the REC's map to pitch in on!

At nine am, it is 50.5 degrees and rising.
We have 53% humidity and falling.
The barometer is 29.62 is inches of mercury and steady.
We have clear blue skies here today.
The fire danger remains MODERATE.

Happy clean-ups!

Happy Arbor Day!

Happy Arbor Day!
It's lovely out today, and the trees are just getting their leaves out.
At 8:30, it is 47.3 degrees and rising.
We're seeing 48% humidity and falling.
The barometer is at 29.53 inches of mercury and steady under clear blue skies.
The brook is running at 1.92 inches.

Tomorrow brings the citywide Earth Day clean-ups. If you head over to the Regional Environmental Council's website, they have handy map posted of where you'll find a place you can pitch in. The Greater Worcester Land Trust is running clean-ups at three properties: two we could particularly use a hand on are Broadmeadow Brook (off of Kirkland Street) and Cascades East (off Olean Street). Clean-ups start at 8:30 and go until the DPW truck comes or 1 pm, whichever comes first.And if you're working on a GWLT property, please join us here at the Lodge for a cookout afterward!

Sunny and Warm

9:30 a.m. conditions at the Lodge:

~ temperature is 52.7°F and rising;
~ humidity is 74% and falling;
~ barometric pressure is 29.21" and steady;
~ full sun and high altitude clouds;
~ some wind movement but no reading;
~ Cascades have low flow over them;
~ Cascades Brook is at 1.8" and both channels are flowing;
~ no real precipitation amounts overnight;
~ USFS Fire Danger is MODERATE;
~ Bloodwort still in bloom but beginning to fade a little.

An absolutely beautiful day out there!

Cloudy, Threatening Rain

9:00 a.m. conditions at the Lodge:

~ Temperature is 37.6°F and steady;
~ Humidity is 80% and steady;
~ Barometric pressure is 29.65"Hg and steady;
~ Wind is constantly stirring and pops up to 11.5 mph occasionally;
~ Cascades Brook is running at 1.67";
~ There is light flow over the Cascades;
~ Overcast and misting in spots off and on;
~ USFS Fire Danger is HIGH.

It has been dry for a while and there is constant wind and that is enough to keep the fire danger up despite the cold and humidity.

The real showers are supposed to come this afternoon, so hiking this morning should be the best time.

The Bloodwort is still in bloom!

BTW: Saturday is Earth Day Cleanups in Worcester and GWLT will have three locations.

High Fire Danger, but real nice outside

7:00 a.m. conditions at the Lodge:

~ Temperature is 34.9°F and steady;
~ Humidity is 67% and steady;
~ Barometric pressure is 29.88"Hg and steady;
~ Light breeze is stirring and is supposed to increase;
~ Cascades are flowing;
~ Sun is out;
~ Cascades Brook is running at 2.16";
~ USFS Fire Danger is HIGH.

The native Bloodwort is still in bloom.

Be thoughtful out there.