RED FLAG WARNING TODAY!

We have our first RED FLAG WARNING of the season today! 

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM
EDT THIS EVENING FOR ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER POTENTIAL FOR WESTERN
AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS....

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING FOR RELATIVELY HUMIDITY VALUES AS LOW AS 20 PERCENT AND
WIND GUSTS APPROACHING 25 MILES PER HOUR...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING. THE FIRE
WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

* AFFECTED AREA...WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...PARTICULARLY
  AREAS OF HIGHER TERRAIN.

* WINDS...SOUTHWEST 10 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TIMING...WINDS WILL BECOME MOST GUSTY BETWEEN 3 PM AND 7 PM
  MONDAY.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AS LOW AS 24 PERCENT.

* TEMPERATURES...HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S.

This means EXTREME caution around flames outdoors, even those as small as a cigarette. 

We also will see a high pollen count, so our condolences to those who are suffering. Good news for the plants, though!

Today's forecast is sunny with a high near 80!  If you're not an allergy sufferer, it's a GORGEOUS day outside.

At 7:30 am, it is 59.5 degrees and rising.
The humidity is 46% and falling (that's part of what feeds the fire warning).
The barometer is 30.03 and steady under clear blue skies
We currently are seeing no measurable wind at the Lodge.
Both stream channels are open and running. 

Cascades are ROARING!

Very unusual in January, of course, but given the rain and melting snow, not surprising!
If you've never seen the Cascades in action, come by tomorrow!

Weirdly warm and a seasonal reminder

So, having sent us all scrambling to bring in anything that could be killed by frost, our New England weather has now decided to treat us to a day with a high in the 70's with a chance of thunderstorms for this afternoon. Hope you haven't yet put your shorts away!
It is damp here under the trees, but a brisk wind is drying things out and continuing to bring down leaves. We have a trickle of water going over the falls and down Cascades Brook. 

ALSO, an important seasonal reminder:
HUNTING SEASON HAS NOW OPENED IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Archery season runs from October 15th - November 24th.
Shotgun season runs from November 26th - December 8th.
Muzzleloader season runs from December 10th - December 31st.

Hunting IS allowed on GWLT properties outside the city of Worcester: please recall that much of the Cascades parkland lies OUTSIDE of city bounds!

As such, we urge you to:

• stay on trails
• keep your dogs leased
• wear bright colors (blaze orange if you have it)

Let's be safe as we share our open space.

Gorgeous

Really nice (if complete unseasonal) day out there today: As the hiker who just came through, sat down on a rock and turned his face to the sun: get out and enjoy it!
At 11 am, we are just about to break 50 degrees F (49.6 and rising).
We currently have 78% humidity, though with a wind of about 11 mph, that is falling.
The barometer is steady at 29.15 inches of mercury under blue skies.
The brook is running between and under banks of snow. Trails that have been active will be a bit slippery, and by this afternoon, the edges will be mud.

Unseasonably Warm!

A nice day for a hike, but dress for the weather!
At 8:59am,
-the temperature is 65.5 F and rising,
-the humidity is 65% and steady,
-the pressure is 29.59 and steady.

Warmer!

We have daffodils working their way up through the leaves down by the sign, and a high of the mid-fifties is forecasted today!
If you've got a hankering to do some outside work, come by: we're out doing work on signs until 11:30 today.
At nine am, it is 38.7 degrees and rising under sunny skies.
52% humidity
The barometer is at 29.44 inches of mercury and steady.
The stream is 5.6 inches and burbling merrily along.

Cooler?

While the forecast for today was not for any cooler weather, it is cooler than it has been here in the trees. At 11:30, we're just hitting 81.1 degrees and rising.
42% humidity and falling (which is merciful for us, not so good for the fire danger level)
29.41 inches of mercury and steady
No rain
The Cascades are dry (mostly).
Fire danger (as will be no surprise to you following the fire on the other side of the Worcester reservoirs) is MODERATE

Spring is springing! UPDATED

First of all, yes, this find is right down the road from us, and no, we don't know anything about it, either.

Here at the Lodge, it is just hitting 60 at 9 am; the forecast says it could hit the mid-80's today!

The fire danger is back down to LOW with yesterday's rain (it will dry out quickly in this weather). UPDATE: Yes, in fact there is a RED FLAG WARNING posted for today, due mostly to the wind.
The stream continues at 5.2 inches.
The barometer is at 28.88 inches of mercury and steady under light blue skies.

The trails didn't get all that wet yesterday. I don't have the measurement, but that wasn't a lot of rain. There should be no problems on the trails today (well, assuming you don't run into investigators, I guess).