Another bright sunny day out there. If you're looking for a workout, go take a walk where the trail hasn't been broken yet!
At 10 am, it is 23 degrees and steady
58% humidity and falling (as I watch, in fact; it's down to 57% now)
Barometer stands at 29.74 inches and steady
Clear skies, sun is out and shining
The Cascades are starting to clear a bit. It's really something how they can just look like a rocky hill in the snow.
The squirrels are very busy this morning, and we're also seeing some junkos at the feeder.
For those of you following the plague of the ALB, we've received word from the USDA that cutting will start at Bovenzi Conservation Park this week. You will probably most easily be able to see it heading north or south on Route 190. Bovenzi is the wooded hillside across the highway from Sainte Gobain. Those trees are mostly maples.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Icy
(Sorry if we seem rather fixated by that; the hike up the driveway is making it rather a prominent feature of the Lodge right now!)
At 10 am, it is 25 degrees and rising (up from 9 this morning)
Humidity stands at 73% and falling
29.77 inches of mercury and steady under sunny skies
No precipitation to speak of
Fire danger is LOW
Brook and the Cascades remain largely snow covered, with a rim of ice, and some water flowing under the ice
We may break freezing today, but only just, if we do. That's going to make all the difference in hiking conditions for the weekend. Where the trail is broken, it's frozen into a slippery mess. Where it isn't broken, expect a crust of ice that breaks under foot (if you're heavier than a squirrel; they seem to be having an easy time of it, trotting along on top).
At 10 am, it is 25 degrees and rising (up from 9 this morning)
Humidity stands at 73% and falling
29.77 inches of mercury and steady under sunny skies
No precipitation to speak of
Fire danger is LOW
Brook and the Cascades remain largely snow covered, with a rim of ice, and some water flowing under the ice
We may break freezing today, but only just, if we do. That's going to make all the difference in hiking conditions for the weekend. Where the trail is broken, it's frozen into a slippery mess. Where it isn't broken, expect a crust of ice that breaks under foot (if you're heavier than a squirrel; they seem to be having an easy time of it, trotting along on top).
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Slippery
The trees are now dripping, but enough freezing rain fell last night to both make a nice thick crust on top of the snow ('though not enough to walk on unless you try it in snowshoes) and to coat every cleared surface in ice. It's tough going this morning!
At 10:30 am, it is 30 degrees and steady
70% humidity and steady
29.74 inches of mercury and rising under bright sunny skies.
Yesterday we got .31 inches of rain (on top of four or so inches of snow)
Fire danger is up to LOW
The Cascades brook is trickling under the ice.
At 10:30 am, it is 30 degrees and steady
70% humidity and steady
29.74 inches of mercury and rising under bright sunny skies.
Yesterday we got .31 inches of rain (on top of four or so inches of snow)
Fire danger is up to LOW
The Cascades brook is trickling under the ice.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
It's snowing
(for those who might have missed this!)
In a scene that's become overwhelmingly familiar, there are no school buses on the road, the shoveled walks are filling back in, and the snow is pelting down. A squirrel rummaging under our birdfeeder this morning was rapidly being buried. Even the junkos seem to have taken cover!
At 9 am, it is 21 degrees and rising
83% humidity and steady
30.06 inches of mercury and still falling (much of the storm is still west of us)
Fire danger is NONE
We did see a dogwalker go through this morning, but that has been it. We're sending out some junior rangers now, though!
UPDATE: As I was sitting here at the window, a snowshoer just came by! Looks like it's freezing rain right now.
In a scene that's become overwhelmingly familiar, there are no school buses on the road, the shoveled walks are filling back in, and the snow is pelting down. A squirrel rummaging under our birdfeeder this morning was rapidly being buried. Even the junkos seem to have taken cover!
At 9 am, it is 21 degrees and rising
83% humidity and steady
30.06 inches of mercury and still falling (much of the storm is still west of us)
Fire danger is NONE
We did see a dogwalker go through this morning, but that has been it. We're sending out some junior rangers now, though!
UPDATE: As I was sitting here at the window, a snowshoer just came by! Looks like it's freezing rain right now.
Monday, January 26, 2009
401 posts!
That last post was # 400 for us! YAY! As we don't make it every day, that marks over a year of logging the conditions here at Cascading Waters.
It was not us but a visitor who noticed that some of the tracks crossing the driveway were a deer! A bit more poking around this morning shows that they (we're guessing, as deer usually travel together) are also using the trail (and they poked around on the yard, too). Very fun!
For those of you wondering about the rabbits, we haven't seen them this winter. We're not sure if that means we've lost them, they've moved elsewhere, or they're just taking it a bit slower during the cold season.
At 9 am, it is 21 degrees and rising (up from a low of 5 this morning)
54% humidity and falling
Barometer is 30.27 inches and steady under bright, sunny skies, with not a cloud between here and Florida
Fire danger is NONE
The stream gauge has several inches of snow on top of ice, but we can see that Cascades Brook continues to flow under the ice.
It was not us but a visitor who noticed that some of the tracks crossing the driveway were a deer! A bit more poking around this morning shows that they (we're guessing, as deer usually travel together) are also using the trail (and they poked around on the yard, too). Very fun!
For those of you wondering about the rabbits, we haven't seen them this winter. We're not sure if that means we've lost them, they've moved elsewhere, or they're just taking it a bit slower during the cold season.
At 9 am, it is 21 degrees and rising (up from a low of 5 this morning)
54% humidity and falling
Barometer is 30.27 inches and steady under bright, sunny skies, with not a cloud between here and Florida
Fire danger is NONE
The stream gauge has several inches of snow on top of ice, but we can see that Cascades Brook continues to flow under the ice.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Warmer
Yes, that is dripping you see from your roofline. We're hoping that it takes care of that ice dam over the door, at least a bit.
At 9 am, it is 26 degrees and rising (up over 40 at noon!)
77% humidity and steady
29.94 inches of mercury and steady
Fire danger remains LOW
We had an brave soul wading through the snow this afternoon. We do have more than half the parking area open down below, though, we'll warn you: we're going to have some sledders coming down that hill later this afternoon! Look out below!
At 9 am, it is 26 degrees and rising (up over 40 at noon!)
77% humidity and steady
29.94 inches of mercury and steady
Fire danger remains LOW
We had an brave soul wading through the snow this afternoon. We do have more than half the parking area open down below, though, we'll warn you: we're going to have some sledders coming down that hill later this afternoon! Look out below!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Bright, Sunny, Cold
Very bright out there today!
At 9 am, it is 22 degrees and rising
60% humidity and steady
29.74 inches of mercury and steady
Fire danger remains LOW
Stream is still frozen
At 9 am, it is 22 degrees and rising
60% humidity and steady
29.74 inches of mercury and steady
Fire danger remains LOW
Stream is still frozen
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Our black-and-white warbler IS NOT: UPDATED
Sorry it's taken a bit to get this up: here's one of the black-and-white warblers during a visit to our birdfeeder:
You can see how that black-and-white striped head makes it pretty distinctive!
UPDATE: except this is apparently, according to local birders, a photo of a white-throated sparrow. And we were so excited.
You can see how that black-and-white striped head makes it pretty distinctive!UPDATE: except this is apparently, according to local birders, a photo of a white-throated sparrow.
Sunny...at least
But it is still cold enough to chill your face!
At 9 am, it is 20 degrees and rising (up from a low of 6 this morning)
61% humidity and falling
29.74 inches of mercury and rising
Fire danger remains LOW
The stream and falls are covered in snow.
And for you skaters out there, the neighbors have been keeping up with the clearing of Cook's Pond, so you can still get to the ice!
At 9 am, it is 20 degrees and rising (up from a low of 6 this morning)
61% humidity and falling
29.74 inches of mercury and rising
Fire danger remains LOW
The stream and falls are covered in snow.
And for you skaters out there, the neighbors have been keeping up with the clearing of Cook's Pond, so you can still get to the ice!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Gentle breeze, partly clear, warmer
Well, it is a whole lot more pleasant than it has been of late, nearly warm, and it appears to have been more pleasant here than it was in D.C. as well. They looked cold.
The weather conditions at 9 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Temperature: 24.4 and rising: 17.8 and falling;
Humidity: 74% and steady: 67% and steady;
Pressure: 29.56" Hg and steady: 29.59" Hg and steady;
The USFS Fire Danger Class is LOW;
There is a gentle breeze;
The Cascades Brook is running.
Today was a good roof snowpack melting day, but not warm enough to do much else.
We also get a final tally from the snow the other night.
It was 8.2" to midnight, but the snow didn't stop then.
Well NWS says another 1.7" fell from that point, taking the storm total up to 9.9"!
Not bad!
This also takes the yearly total up to 51.6"!
Now were talking.
Lots of birds today.
Chickadees hovering by the window looking in the Lodge,
Bright red male Cardinal,
The Black and White Warblers,
The Juncos,
The crazed Grey Squirrels (who think they are birds and "fly" to the feeder, and "fly" away);
and that is all that I noticed off-hand.
The weather conditions at 9 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Temperature: 24.4 and rising: 17.8 and falling;
Humidity: 74% and steady: 67% and steady;
Pressure: 29.56" Hg and steady: 29.59" Hg and steady;
The USFS Fire Danger Class is LOW;
There is a gentle breeze;
The Cascades Brook is running.
Today was a good roof snowpack melting day, but not warm enough to do much else.
We also get a final tally from the snow the other night.
It was 8.2" to midnight, but the snow didn't stop then.
Well NWS says another 1.7" fell from that point, taking the storm total up to 9.9"!
Not bad!
This also takes the yearly total up to 51.6"!
Now were talking.
Lots of birds today.
Chickadees hovering by the window looking in the Lodge,
Bright red male Cardinal,
The Black and White Warblers,
The Juncos,
The crazed Grey Squirrels (who think they are birds and "fly" to the feeder, and "fly" away);
and that is all that I noticed off-hand.
Monday, January 19, 2009
More snow
(Maybe I've just lost track of my weather reports, but was more snow even forecasted for last night?)
At 9 am, it is 24 degrees and steady (much warmer!)
90% humidity and steady
Barometer stands at 29.56 inches and steady under clear skies
Fire danger is LOW (as of yesterday...all this snow will change that)
We're looking at something around a foot of fluffy stuff here (and remember: it's still ICE underneath!). Great for snowshoes! Break 'em out.
* * * * * * * * *
UPDATE 10:48 a.m.
The entrance has been carved out, as well as some parking.
There is enough room for one car, and two savvy drivers could easily fill the space.
That's a lot'a snow!
IN POINT OF FACT:
Yesterday was a record breaking day for snow!
8.2" total to midnight,
besting the previous record of 6.5" in 1948.
More record breaking snowfall!!!
This season has a total snowfall of 49.9",
(that's right campers, more than 4 feet since the first belated flakes fell in December)
where as we would typically have received 26.3" by this point.
Pretty soon we will need to break out the "Moylan-Meter."
At 9 am, it is 24 degrees and steady (much warmer!)
90% humidity and steady
Barometer stands at 29.56 inches and steady under clear skies
Fire danger is LOW (as of yesterday...all this snow will change that)
We're looking at something around a foot of fluffy stuff here (and remember: it's still ICE underneath!). Great for snowshoes! Break 'em out.
* * * * * * * * *
UPDATE 10:48 a.m.
The entrance has been carved out, as well as some parking.
There is enough room for one car, and two savvy drivers could easily fill the space.
That's a lot'a snow!
IN POINT OF FACT:
Yesterday was a record breaking day for snow!
8.2" total to midnight,
besting the previous record of 6.5" in 1948.
More record breaking snowfall!!!
This season has a total snowfall of 49.9",
(that's right campers, more than 4 feet since the first belated flakes fell in December)
where as we would typically have received 26.3" by this point.
Pretty soon we will need to break out the "Moylan-Meter."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
It's snowing...more
National Weather Service is predicting up to 7 inches today before it's over late this afternoon. It's really pelting down out there this morning. We did send an intrepid junior ranger out on her new snowshoes (from Santa) to refill a few birdfeeders and get the paper. The juncos and black-and-white warblers were waiting for us.
We're posting a bit early today, as it looks as though it's going to be an adventure getting to church this morning (like last Sunday).
At 8 am, it is 14 degrees and steady
80% humidity and steady with lots of snow falling
Barometer is at 29.97 inches and falling; the storm goes all the way out to midstate New York at this point.
Fire danger is LOW.
Both the Cascades and the stream are snow-covered at this point.
The junior ranger reports that it's "like going into a storybook or walking into a poem" this morning.
And the GWLT Annual Meeting is ON for 3pm today. If you're a member, come make up a voting quorum!
We're posting a bit early today, as it looks as though it's going to be an adventure getting to church this morning (like last Sunday).
At 8 am, it is 14 degrees and steady
80% humidity and steady with lots of snow falling
Barometer is at 29.97 inches and falling; the storm goes all the way out to midstate New York at this point.
Fire danger is LOW.
Both the Cascades and the stream are snow-covered at this point.
The junior ranger reports that it's "like going into a storybook or walking into a poem" this morning.
And the GWLT Annual Meeting is ON for 3pm today. If you're a member, come make up a voting quorum!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Snow Coming!
So you go to the record books,
Maybe there is some excitement in this arctic period.
Its been cold,
-1, -2 degrees F, etc.
But alas, for the same days the records are actually -9, -12 etc.
Sorry, it is cold, but not record breaking cold.
Presently it is 5:06 p.m., the conditions are:
30.27" of Hg and steady;
15.1 degrees F and falling;
44% humidity and steady;
The USFS fire danger class is LOW (must be the snow and ice encrusted forest floor);
The Cascades Brook, while running, is ice encrusted and not easily measured and read.
The incoming snow is supposed to amount to 1-2",
Tomorrow's snow is supposed to be 3-5",
What actually falls?
Let's see!
Maybe there is some excitement in this arctic period.
Its been cold,
-1, -2 degrees F, etc.
But alas, for the same days the records are actually -9, -12 etc.
Sorry, it is cold, but not record breaking cold.
Presently it is 5:06 p.m., the conditions are:
30.27" of Hg and steady;
15.1 degrees F and falling;
44% humidity and steady;
The USFS fire danger class is LOW (must be the snow and ice encrusted forest floor);
The Cascades Brook, while running, is ice encrusted and not easily measured and read.
The incoming snow is supposed to amount to 1-2",
Tomorrow's snow is supposed to be 3-5",
What actually falls?
Let's see!
Friday, January 16, 2009
More feeders= more birds
We invested in a few more birdfeeders yesterday, feeling sorry for those who live outside in such brutal weather, and we've been rewarded! Over the past twenty-four hours, we've seen juncos, chickadees, our resident cardinal pair, a pair of goldfinches, nuthatches, and our black-and-white warblers. On those, we've heard back from central Mass birders that they are rare, but not unheard of in the wintertime.
(And we put out peanuts for the squirrels)
At 9 am, it is 12 degrees and rising (that's up from -2.6 at 7 am, incidentally)
The humidity is 48% and steady
Barometer is 30.27 inches and steady
Fire danger is LOW
Stream continues frozen
NO activity on the trail; even the dog walkers are staying close to home these days.
Stay warm!
(And we put out peanuts for the squirrels)
At 9 am, it is 12 degrees and rising (that's up from -2.6 at 7 am, incidentally)
The humidity is 48% and steady
Barometer is 30.27 inches and steady
Fire danger is LOW
Stream continues frozen
NO activity on the trail; even the dog walkers are staying close to home these days.
Stay warm!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Happy 198th birthday, Abby Kelley Foster!
(which matters to us because Cascading Waters was part of Liberty Farm, owned by Stephen and Abby Kelley Foster. It served as a home-away-from-home for prominent abolitionists, and as a stop on the Underground Railroad. If you trace back the deed for Cascading Waters, you get to one signed by Abby Kelley Foster, selling off this property after Stephen's death.)
12 degrees F and steady
48 % humidity and steady
30.09 pressure and steady
0.00 rain(no rain)
Brook is not measurable
REALLY cold!
12 degrees F and steady
48 % humidity and steady
30.09 pressure and steady
0.00 rain(no rain)
Brook is not measurable
REALLY cold!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Very cold
If you're going out today, this is a day to cover up all exposed skin; my face was quickly starting to hurt this morning while filling the birdfeeders.
Speaking of which, an update on that warbler from the weekend: it turns out that the black-and-white warbler is migratory. This time of year, they are supposed to all be in southern Florida and Mexico. No telling what it's doing up here, but we aren't the only ones to have seen them; one of the women over at Mass Audubon spotted one over the weekend, too. We're sending it in to the Mass Birds list.
At 9 am, it is 19 degrees and rising under sunny skies
51% humidity and steady
Barometer is at 29.83 inches and rising
Stream remains frozen (it's flowing in the middle, but the edges are solid).
More snow coming in tomorrow night!
Speaking of which, an update on that warbler from the weekend: it turns out that the black-and-white warbler is migratory. This time of year, they are supposed to all be in southern Florida and Mexico. No telling what it's doing up here, but we aren't the only ones to have seen them; one of the women over at Mass Audubon spotted one over the weekend, too. We're sending it in to the Mass Birds list.
At 9 am, it is 19 degrees and rising under sunny skies
51% humidity and steady
Barometer is at 29.83 inches and rising
Stream remains frozen (it's flowing in the middle, but the edges are solid).
More snow coming in tomorrow night!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Great day for winter sports
Sorry to post so late in the day, but we were out enjoying it. One of the neighbors has cleared off several hockey rinks' worth of ice on Cook's Pond, so we pulled on our skates! We highly recommend it! It's remarkable how warm the mid-20's are when one is doing something so active.
At 9am, it was 25 degrees and rising
62% humidity and falling
29.97 inches of mercury and rising under clear skies, which we had all day.
Fire danger is LOW
The stream is now FROZEN OVER: even good, hard stomping won't get through that ice!
We've also had a few new visitors to the birdfeeder (kudos to the middle junior ranger for noticing): we've had a few black-and-white warblers (Mniotilta varia), most noticable for their black and white striped heads (very unusual!). "Common in deciduous woods," says our bird guide, and it behaves "more like a nuthatch." If we catch a photo, we will post it!
At 9am, it was 25 degrees and rising
62% humidity and falling
29.97 inches of mercury and rising under clear skies, which we had all day.
Fire danger is LOW
The stream is now FROZEN OVER: even good, hard stomping won't get through that ice!
We've also had a few new visitors to the birdfeeder (kudos to the middle junior ranger for noticing): we've had a few black-and-white warblers (Mniotilta varia), most noticable for their black and white striped heads (very unusual!). "Common in deciduous woods," says our bird guide, and it behaves "more like a nuthatch." If we catch a photo, we will post it!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Still snowing here
National Weather Service is saying 4-6 inches before it's done here. They're estimating it should be tapering off by mid-morning, gone by noon. We're looking at about 4 inches of nice, fluffy stuff here right now, so get those skies and snowshoes ready; we might finally get to use them!
At 8 am, it is 20 degrees F and steady.
89% humidity and steady
Barometer stands at 29.65 inches and (this is alarming) falling.
The stream is...well, covering in snow! We'll see if we can get a measurement this morning.
Enjoy that this is on a weekend!
At 8 am, it is 20 degrees F and steady.
89% humidity and steady
Barometer stands at 29.65 inches and (this is alarming) falling.
The stream is...well, covering in snow! We'll see if we can get a measurement this morning.
Enjoy that this is on a weekend!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Snow coming in....
The snow should be falling any second now!
US NWS says 5-9 inches in total from the storm...
but we will just have to wait and see.
We have decided to play it safe and have stocked up on firewood, split kindling, chopped ice, and left the van near the bottom of the incline.
This morning at 9 a.m. the conditions were:
Pressure, 30.15" of Mercury and steady (presently 30.06" and steady);
Temperature, 19.2 degrees and rising (presently 20.8 and steady);
Humidity, 61% and falling (presently 61%);
USFS Fire Danger Class of LOW;
Cascades Brook is at 5.8".
Hunker down!
Storm doesn't let up until 12 p.m. tomorrow afternoon!
US NWS says 5-9 inches in total from the storm...
but we will just have to wait and see.
We have decided to play it safe and have stocked up on firewood, split kindling, chopped ice, and left the van near the bottom of the incline.
This morning at 9 a.m. the conditions were:
Pressure, 30.15" of Mercury and steady (presently 30.06" and steady);
Temperature, 19.2 degrees and rising (presently 20.8 and steady);
Humidity, 61% and falling (presently 61%);
USFS Fire Danger Class of LOW;
Cascades Brook is at 5.8".
Hunker down!
Storm doesn't let up until 12 p.m. tomorrow afternoon!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Warmer, snowy, and icy
33 degrees F and rising.
87 % Humidity and steady .
29.18 pressure and rising .
0.04 rain .
8:53 time .
U.S.F.S. fire danger is LOW.
This morning sunrise was nice, because the pink, blue and white snow go together very well.
87 % Humidity and steady .
29.18 pressure and rising .
0.04 rain .
8:53 time .
U.S.F.S. fire danger is LOW.
This morning sunrise was nice, because the pink, blue and white snow go together very well.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Changing weather
Right now what's falling is sleet, but it has also been freezing rain. With the temperature hovering right at freezing, it will be going back and forth all day. The radar shows plenty of this storm still south of us, so, if you can, hunker down someplace warm and dry. It's rotten weather for snowshoes and skies, even. We have seen some intrepid dog walkers, though!
(We're having some technical difficulties with our equipment here at the Lodge this morning. We ventured out to get the readings on temp and humidity, but we can't give you much beyond that.)
At 9 am, it is 31 degrees F.
96% humidity
Barometer stands at 29.44 inches and still falling
We have frost warning (no surprise there!)
As of yesterday, the fire danger was still LOW, but I imagine that will be coming off entirely today.
Brook is at 5 inches exactly.
The falls are largely snow covered, with a crust of ice.
(We're having some technical difficulties with our equipment here at the Lodge this morning. We ventured out to get the readings on temp and humidity, but we can't give you much beyond that.)
At 9 am, it is 31 degrees F.
96% humidity
Barometer stands at 29.44 inches and still falling
We have frost warning (no surprise there!)
As of yesterday, the fire danger was still LOW, but I imagine that will be coming off entirely today.
Brook is at 5 inches exactly.
The falls are largely snow covered, with a crust of ice.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Splitting wood
Much to the consternation of the chickadees who were obviously hoping for a peaceful breakfast, we were out this morning and split some wood. We're starting a fire up this afternoon and may keep it going all night. You're not going to find US unprepared if the power goes out again!
At 9:30 am, it is 23 degrees and rising under sunny skies
Humidity is at 73% and steady (just for fun, if you have a way to check, compare this with your interior humidity. Here's it's 23% inside, and that's with a pot boiling on the stove.)
29.97 inches of mercury and steady (so far...check out that radar map on the bottom of the GWLT page if you want to see what's coming)
The stream is at 5.8 inches (up pretty substantially from yesterday)
Fire danger is LOW
Stay warm!
At 9:30 am, it is 23 degrees and rising under sunny skies
Humidity is at 73% and steady (just for fun, if you have a way to check, compare this with your interior humidity. Here's it's 23% inside, and that's with a pot boiling on the stove.)
29.97 inches of mercury and steady (so far...check out that radar map on the bottom of the GWLT page if you want to see what's coming)
The stream is at 5.8 inches (up pretty substantially from yesterday)
Fire danger is LOW
Stay warm!
Monday, January 05, 2009
More Snow and Ice on the Way!
The Monday 9:00 a.m. conditions:
31.5 degrees F and rising;
91% humidity and steady;
29.80" pressure and steady;
USFS Fire Danger Class is NONE;
everything is coated in a sheet of ice, but black ice, so watch carefully.
as it was all ice the rain gauge has no reading.
MORE WEATHER HEADED IN!
The Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service Sums it up nicely:
So there you have it folks!
While this will be worse to our north, and weather is fickle, we could end up with another storm that brings down more limbs.
31.5 degrees F and rising;
91% humidity and steady;
29.80" pressure and steady;
USFS Fire Danger Class is NONE;
everything is coated in a sheet of ice, but black ice, so watch carefully.
as it was all ice the rain gauge has no reading.
MORE WEATHER HEADED IN!
The Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service Sums it up nicely:
A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY WITH AT LEAST SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW
FOLLOWED BY THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT ICING. THE MOST LIKELY AREA
FOR SIGNIFICANT ICING APPEARS TO BE ALONG AND NORTH OF LINE FROM THE
GREATER SPRINGFIELD AREA EXTENDING NORTHEAST TO FITCHBURG AND
LAWRENCE MASSACHUSETTS.
ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND...THE POTENTIAL CERTAINLY DOES EXIST FOR
SOME DOWN TREE LIMBS AND POWER OUTAGES WITH ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF
INCH OF FREEZING RAIN ON TOP OF THE SNOW/SLEET. HOWEVER...THIS
EVENT WILL ALSO FEATURE A PERIOD OF SNOW FOLLOWED BY SLEET...BEFORE
THE FREEZING RAIN. THIS MEANS THAT THE AMOUNT OF FREEZING RAIN WE
RECEIVE SHOULD BE LESS AND NOT AS DESTRUCTIVE/WIDESPREAD AS WHAT WE
SAW A MONTH AGO. NONETHELESS...THIS STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS OVER A PORTION OF THE REGION THAT WAS HARD HIT
LAST MONTH SO WE CERTAINLY ARE CONCERNED. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MANY
TREES ARE ALREADY SEVERELY DAMAGED...WHICH WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR
LIMBS TO COME DOWN AND COULD RESULT IN MORE POWER OUTAGES.
So there you have it folks!
While this will be worse to our north, and weather is fickle, we could end up with another storm that brings down more limbs.
Dated Report
First off,
The Sunday 9:09 a.m. report:
25 degrees F and rising;
52% humidity and steady;
29.85" Hg and steady;
sunny, pure blue skies, faint breeze.
Why so late?
A flu none of us want to get into.
We had folks out hiking, and kids trying to smash the ice on the brook with downed limbs.
The Sunday 9:09 a.m. report:
25 degrees F and rising;
52% humidity and steady;
29.85" Hg and steady;
sunny, pure blue skies, faint breeze.
Why so late?
A flu none of us want to get into.
We had folks out hiking, and kids trying to smash the ice on the brook with downed limbs.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Blowing snow
That dusting we received overnight is mostly in the air right now. If you're heading out on it, bundle up and be prepared to get a faceful!
At 9 am, it is 30 degrees and rising
Bright sun with the barometer at 29.71 inches and rising
Humidity is 68% and erratic (I think it's trying to measure that blowing snow)
We heard from hikers that came through snowshoeing on Friday that the Meadow Ridge trail is clear, but the Silver Spring trail is full of downed trees. Proceed accordingly!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Cloudy, cold, still
The conditions this morning as of 8 a.m. were:
Temperature of 11.7 degrees F and rising,
Humidity of 45% and steady,
Pressure of 29.88" Hg and falling,
Overcast, Still,
USFS Fire Danger Class of LOW.
And then we split for a day on public transit.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Cold, Eagles, and Records
Lots going on here for the first day of 2009.
First of all, there is the cold.
If it were possible to hang icicles off of the word cold I would.
Last night around 11:30 p.m. it was 6.9 degrees F.
Some folks might round up,
Some folks might decide that the margin of error for the thermometer makes it 7,
The moment it says it is less than 7, it is six,
Call it six point whatever, I don't care.
It is ridiculously cold.
(I was deeply thankful I wasn't doing First Night when I saw that,
I was also deeply thankful that the Lodge was some 60 degrees warmer than that.)
This morning I looked at the thermometer at 7:30 a.m. and it was 2.1 degrees.
TWO!
It just keeps getting more crazy!
So I checked my favorite National Weather Service page,
Climatological Data (see the new link off to the right in the column,)
and the record for yesterday was -13 degrees F in 1917.
Ok.
2 is fine.
I'll deal.
Then there was an email from Conscripted Ranger Melican.
It is his firm conviction that he saw an Eagle circling over Mower Street this morning.
Any one else sight the bird in the Cascades of late out there?
Hmmm.... and eagle, pretty cool!
As for today's weather conditions at 9:13 a.m.:
Temperature of 9.5 degrees F and rising (yeah!);
Humidity of 67% and steady;
Pressure of 29.91" Hg and rising;
USFS Fire Danger of NONE.
Yesterday we got 6.4" of snow as measured by the National Weather Service up at the Worcester Airport (O'Brien Municipal Field), and
THAT IS A RECORD!
Previously the snow record for 12/31 was 5.0" in 1897.
Which gets us to the 2008 weather recap.
What was notable about 2008?
Precipitation.
Plenty of it.
Let me demonstrate:
Last year we got 63.04" of precipitation!
Five and a quarter feet of rain fell here!
Amazing the effectiveness of the streams, and rivers at moving this stuff along so we don't all have to become fish or take up wearing moss.
Typically we would expect on the order of 49.05",
or a whole foot and a half less.
As for snow?
well, we have December to thank for keeping us well supplied.
Not a flake fell before December,
and 31.4" fell in December.
That is a lot of snow.
Generally we get 17.3" of snow from July to January 1,
and that gets spread out over October, November and December.
This time we almost double the snowfall, and do it all in the final 2/3rds of December.
Wild!
I love this weather record stuff.
We have had two families of hikers go through, and confirm that indeed, it is cold.
The sun is out the breeze is light.
It is all very pretty outside.
The fire is burning away inside.
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