The red flag warning (see below) is still posted. The only hope of escaping that is for the rain that is forecasted for this evening to amount to something.
At 9 am, it is 58.3 degrees and rising
38% humidity and steady
30.36 inches of mercury
Stream stands at 4.4 inches
We really could use some help tonight with the tent platform if you're free!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
ALL HANDS ON DECK!
At 5:30 this evening, we're going to be moving the tent platform at Cascading Waters--not far, we hasten to add! Just back into the woods. We've got a work crew coming next week who are going to be using it.
There's PIZZA (of course) for those who come.
Please email Anne at anne@gwlt.org if you can come. The more hands, the easier it will be!
Thank you!
There's PIZZA (of course) for those who come.
Please email Anne at anne@gwlt.org if you can come. The more hands, the easier it will be!
Thank you!
Another Red Flag Fire Warning
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EDT
THIS EVENING. THE FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
THIS WARNING INCLUDES SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE... MUCH OF WESTERN AND
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT.
VERY LITTLE RAIN HAS FALLEN ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND OVER THE
PAST WEEK. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY BETWEEN NOON AND 2
PM IN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY. THEREAFTER...THE INCREASING WIND
WILL SPREAD INTO THE WORCESTER HILLS AND SOUTH CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE
BETWEEN 3 PM AND 6 PM.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Hikers hiking
Two hikers are coming down the trail as I type this. Nice day out there...unlike the past few, it isn't so hot that you can't stand the idea of moving.
At 9 am, it is 53.2 degrees and rising
39% humidity and steady
Barometer is at 30.39 and rising (very high)
The stream is down to 4.4 inches
The fire danger is high. You may have caught the front page article in today's T&G about the danger of fire. It has been a very dry and warm spring with an early snowmelt. We are not usually having red flag dangers this early in the season, and unless things turn wet, it could be a dangerous summer.
At 9 am, it is 53.2 degrees and rising
39% humidity and steady
Barometer is at 30.39 and rising (very high)
The stream is down to 4.4 inches
The fire danger is high. You may have caught the front page article in today's T&G about the danger of fire. It has been a very dry and warm spring with an early snowmelt. We are not usually having red flag dangers this early in the season, and unless things turn wet, it could be a dangerous summer.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Red Flags, Purple Trilium, and Seedlings
First, as to the Red Flag Fire Danger:
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF
STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.
Out walking the bound lines of Cascading Waters and watering the seedlings planted on Saturday. And the wicked low humidity, high temperatures, and breeze to high winds mean that the seedlings are in a tough spot to keep their moisture and properly establish themselves. Yesterday the Bovenzi Consv. Park seedlings were watered, and if time permits they will be again today.
On the good side, all sorts of things are in bloom! In addition to the Trout Lily, which are quite abundant, there is also some purple trilium coming into bloom. These warm temperatures have put the trees into overdrive and the leafing out over the course of the last 24 hours has been dramatic. The forest is once again green, almost overnight. Pretty wild stuff.
On the negative side there was at least a trashbag's worth of litter collected from the abutters on the north bound line before I ran out of room. It is less than last year. No real litter on the abutters to the south line this year. All in all incremental progress.
A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONSSTRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL
CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.
Out walking the bound lines of Cascading Waters and watering the seedlings planted on Saturday. And the wicked low humidity, high temperatures, and breeze to high winds mean that the seedlings are in a tough spot to keep their moisture and properly establish themselves. Yesterday the Bovenzi Consv. Park seedlings were watered, and if time permits they will be again today.
On the good side, all sorts of things are in bloom! In addition to the Trout Lily, which are quite abundant, there is also some purple trilium coming into bloom. These warm temperatures have put the trees into overdrive and the leafing out over the course of the last 24 hours has been dramatic. The forest is once again green, almost overnight. Pretty wild stuff.
On the negative side there was at least a trashbag's worth of litter collected from the abutters on the north bound line before I ran out of room. It is less than last year. No real litter on the abutters to the south line this year. All in all incremental progress.
Lovely Weather
76.8 and rising degrees F
41 and steady % Humidity
30.06 and steady inches of mercury
0.00 for the Rain
4+11 for the Stream Level
At 9:00
RED FLAG FIRE DANGER it might go as high as 90!
41 and steady % Humidity
30.06 and steady inches of mercury
0.00 for the Rain
4+11 for the Stream Level
At 9:00
RED FLAG FIRE DANGER it might go as high as 90!
Frog in the brook
Monday, April 27,2009
62.2 degrees F and rising
49 % humidity and falling
30.30 inches of mercury and steady
0.00 for the rain
and the stream is at 5
9:00
I saw a green and brown frog in the brook by the little falls!
62.2 degrees F and rising
49 % humidity and falling
30.30 inches of mercury and steady
0.00 for the rain
and the stream is at 5
9:00
I saw a green and brown frog in the brook by the little falls!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
More Beautiful Weather
Presently it is sunny, blue skies, decent breeze, and as yet still cool.
The 9:02 a.m. weather conditions are:
74.8 degress F and rising;
51% humidity and falling;
30.09" of mercury and rising;
no reportable precipitation yesterday;
no USFS Fire Danger Status is available.
Last night the Lodge was still full of the day's heat even as outside cooled off, so up into the crawlspace for the screens and this morning was the sound of breeze, birds, and running water in the Cascades Brook. What a great start to the day.
Lots of hikers yesterday, and we expect more of the same today.
The 9:02 a.m. weather conditions are:
74.8 degress F and rising;
51% humidity and falling;
30.09" of mercury and rising;
no reportable precipitation yesterday;
no USFS Fire Danger Status is available.
Last night the Lodge was still full of the day's heat even as outside cooled off, so up into the crawlspace for the screens and this morning was the sound of breeze, birds, and running water in the Cascades Brook. What a great start to the day.
Lots of hikers yesterday, and we expect more of the same today.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
So at one point today in the Lodge we looked over at the weather station and it read "91° F" and our immediate inclination was that something was amiss. Maybe the sun was directly on the remote sensor, or......Nope.
It really was that warm today, and not just here but across the north-east.
If it can get to 91° F in April, what can it do in July and August?
Trout Lily in Bloom
Spring is moving on here at Cascading Waters, and the trout lilies (above, from the north side of the stream, taken this morning) are now in bloom. They're easy to spot this time of year, with the bright yellow flowers standing out against the dry leaves of last year. The rest of the year, you can find them by the mottled leaves that give them their name.The bloodwort have largely stopped blooming now and have only their shamrock-shaped leaves out.
Treees, trees, trees!
Today was tree planting day for the Trust!
At Cascading Waters the WPI fraternity ΑΧΡ (Alpha-Chi-Rho) planted trees along the north and south bound lines.
They planted a mix of:
Meanwhile, across town, at Bovenzi Conservation Park (in the Sunrise Ave section) the Bates Alumni Club of Central Mass. planted trees.
They planted a mix of:
Both groups started at 9 a.m. and finished at 11 a.m.
80 trees were planted in Worcester on the kick-off of the Worcester Tree Initiative planted by the Greater Worcester Land Trust on Trust lands thanks to the academic volunteers! Thank you so much!
All the trees, save the 5 White Spruce, are native to Central Massachusetts and they are all non-ALB host species. The White Spruce were a free-bee we didn't ask for and managed to get into the ground when no one was paying attention. Sneaky trees.
WEATHER:
And now for the glorious weather!
Warm! Sunny! Gentle Breeze! Idyllic!
Presently at 12:45 p.m. it is 83.1 degrees F, and 31% humidity.
As of 9 a.m. the weather was:
66.6 degrees F and rising;
49% humidity and steady;
30.12" of mercury and steady;
no rainfall yesterday;
the USFS fire danger server is still down.
At Cascading Waters the WPI fraternity ΑΧΡ (Alpha-Chi-Rho) planted trees along the north and south bound lines.
They planted a mix of:
- 25 Eastern Red Cedar (good in wetter soils);
- 10 American Red Pine;
- 5 Eastern White Pine;
Meanwhile, across town, at Bovenzi Conservation Park (in the Sunrise Ave section) the Bates Alumni Club of Central Mass. planted trees.
They planted a mix of:
- 25 Balsam Fir;
- 10 American Red Pine;
- 5 White Spruce
Both groups started at 9 a.m. and finished at 11 a.m.
80 trees were planted in Worcester on the kick-off of the Worcester Tree Initiative planted by the Greater Worcester Land Trust on Trust lands thanks to the academic volunteers! Thank you so much!
All the trees, save the 5 White Spruce, are native to Central Massachusetts and they are all non-ALB host species. The White Spruce were a free-bee we didn't ask for and managed to get into the ground when no one was paying attention. Sneaky trees.
WEATHER:
And now for the glorious weather!
Warm! Sunny! Gentle Breeze! Idyllic!
Presently at 12:45 p.m. it is 83.1 degrees F, and 31% humidity.
As of 9 a.m. the weather was:
66.6 degrees F and rising;
49% humidity and steady;
30.12" of mercury and steady;
no rainfall yesterday;
the USFS fire danger server is still down.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Windy, sunny
Presently the conditions as of 9:12 a.m.:
Sunny, passing clouds, windy;
47.5 degrees F and steady;
64% humidity and falling;
29.65" of mercury and rising;
USFS Fire Danger Class is hard to get out of them. (Their server service was supposed to be completed by the 21st);
Yesterday's (Wed.) rainfall was 0.16"
The Cascades Brook is at 6" even.
Yesterday's conditions as of 9 a.m. were:
55.8 degrees F and rising;
81% humidity;
29.65" of mercury and steady; and
the total rainfall from Tuesday was 0.98" (Quite a lot! for one day)
The secondary stream channel was running.
A series of observations on the brook proper and the secondary stream channel.
The instances of the secondary channel running are increasing, and the size of the storm it takes to get flow in the channel is decreasing. The stone walled edge of the primary channel appears to be breaking down a little bit in its effectiveness.
In addition, as you stand on the Cataract Street Bridge and look east the fairly straight channelized segment is seemingly less straightforward with low to moderate flow. The whole of the channel is still straight, but the stream is taking a less than linear path along the bottom of the channel. High flow and it is definitely straight, but in less than high conditions you begin to wonder when the channel will erode a little here and build up a little there.
It would seem, at least anecdotaly, that the stream is beginning to reassert itself on the Cascading Waters site. We have no problems with this. No public safety is involved, no structures are threatened, and the bridges continue to function admirably. It is kind of nice to know that the Cascades Brook wants to run wild, and that it is more in a position to do so unchecked than it has in decades.
Sunny, passing clouds, windy;
47.5 degrees F and steady;
64% humidity and falling;
29.65" of mercury and rising;
USFS Fire Danger Class is hard to get out of them. (Their server service was supposed to be completed by the 21st);
Yesterday's (Wed.) rainfall was 0.16"
The Cascades Brook is at 6" even.
Yesterday's conditions as of 9 a.m. were:
55.8 degrees F and rising;
81% humidity;
29.65" of mercury and steady; and
the total rainfall from Tuesday was 0.98" (Quite a lot! for one day)
The secondary stream channel was running.
A series of observations on the brook proper and the secondary stream channel.
The instances of the secondary channel running are increasing, and the size of the storm it takes to get flow in the channel is decreasing. The stone walled edge of the primary channel appears to be breaking down a little bit in its effectiveness.
In addition, as you stand on the Cataract Street Bridge and look east the fairly straight channelized segment is seemingly less straightforward with low to moderate flow. The whole of the channel is still straight, but the stream is taking a less than linear path along the bottom of the channel. High flow and it is definitely straight, but in less than high conditions you begin to wonder when the channel will erode a little here and build up a little there.
It would seem, at least anecdotaly, that the stream is beginning to reassert itself on the Cascading Waters site. We have no problems with this. No public safety is involved, no structures are threatened, and the bridges continue to function admirably. It is kind of nice to know that the Cascades Brook wants to run wild, and that it is more in a position to do so unchecked than it has in decades.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Cascades are RUSHING!
That's what some rain will do for you! The stream is back up to 6 inches, and we expect the fire danger to fall today.
At 9am, it is 44.8 degrees and steady
97% humidity and steady (and raining)
Barometer is at 29.74 inches and falling
The fire danger is below, but expect it to change.
As of 2 pm, we've had 0.43 inches of rain.
At 9am, it is 44.8 degrees and steady
97% humidity and steady (and raining)
Barometer is at 29.74 inches and falling
The fire danger is below, but expect it to change.
As of 2 pm, we've had 0.43 inches of rain.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Fire Danger Update...
While the USFS Fire Danger is impossible to get from the Forest Service WebServer,
Google Earth's got the WFAS basic station infromation.
And we are in a band of between HIGH and VERY HIGH fire danger.
The rain tonight and tomorrow will be a big help.
Google Earth's got the WFAS basic station infromation.
And we are in a band of between HIGH and VERY HIGH fire danger.
The rain tonight and tomorrow will be a big help.
Great Weather! but hurry!
A beautiful weekend, and a beautiful Patriot's Day!
The trails are in ever increasing order, the bloodwort is in full bloom, the Cascades Brook is running.
Carpe Diem!
As of 10:47 a.m. the conditions were:
48.4 degress F and rising;
54% humidity and falling;
30.18" of mercury and steady;
A storm system is bearing down on us and will move in this evening (a warning is associated with that.);
The USFS Web Server is all messed up so a fire danger class isn't accessible, other than Maine being MODERATE, and a decent inference is that we would be similar.
National Weather Service Hazardous Weather Warning for Tonight:
THERE WILL BE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. ALSO...THERE WILL BESOME HEAVIER DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING.
The trails are in ever increasing order, the bloodwort is in full bloom, the Cascades Brook is running.
Carpe Diem!
As of 10:47 a.m. the conditions were:
48.4 degress F and rising;
54% humidity and falling;
30.18" of mercury and steady;
A storm system is bearing down on us and will move in this evening (a warning is associated with that.);
The USFS Web Server is all messed up so a fire danger class isn't accessible, other than Maine being MODERATE, and a decent inference is that we would be similar.
National Weather Service Hazardous Weather Warning for Tonight:
THERE WILL BE SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. ALSO...THERE WILL BESOME HEAVIER DOWNPOURS WHICH MAY CAUSE URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING.
Friday, April 17, 2009
And now for the less dramatic part of our report
At 9 am , it is 53.2 degrees and rising; it may top 70 today!
38% humidity and falling (and there, plus wind, is the fire danger)
Barometer is at 30.15 inches and steady
Stream is at 4.6 inches
Fire danger, you can read about below.
BEAUTIFUL DAY! Just leave your flames at home!
38% humidity and falling (and there, plus wind, is the fire danger)
Barometer is at 30.15 inches and steady
Stream is at 4.6 inches
Fire danger, you can read about below.
BEAUTIFUL DAY! Just leave your flames at home!
RED FLAG WARNING!!
URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BINGHAMTON NY
1052 AM EDT FRI APR 17 2009
A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE MET ACROSS THE WESTERN CATSKILLS AND SOUTHERN TUG HILL PLATEAU THIS AFTERNOON.
WEST WINDS WILL AVERAGE 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 35 MPH... ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THESE WINDS... COMBINED WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES DROPPING BELOW 20 PERCENT AND DRY FUELS... WILL CAUSE ANY BRUSH FIRES THAT DEVELOP TO EASILY SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL.
THE MOST CRITICAL TIME FRAME FOR FIRE CONCERNS WILL BE FROM MID AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING WHEN WIND SPEEDS WILL BE HIGHEST. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER BETWEEN 8 AND 10 PM THIS EVENING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BINGHAMTON NY
1052 AM EDT FRI APR 17 2009
A RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING.
CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL BE MET ACROSS THE WESTERN CATSKILLS AND SOUTHERN TUG HILL PLATEAU THIS AFTERNOON.
WEST WINDS WILL AVERAGE 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 35 MPH... ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THESE WINDS... COMBINED WITH RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES DROPPING BELOW 20 PERCENT AND DRY FUELS... WILL CAUSE ANY BRUSH FIRES THAT DEVELOP TO EASILY SPREAD OUT OF CONTROL.
THE MOST CRITICAL TIME FRAME FOR FIRE CONCERNS WILL BE FROM MID AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING WHEN WIND SPEEDS WILL BE HIGHEST. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL BEGIN TO RECOVER BETWEEN 8 AND 10 PM THIS EVENING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW...OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS...LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY... AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
And now it's spring...
Yes, we finally got around to changing the top photo. The pansies went in earlier this week!
Still Sunny!
48.0 and rising for the temperature
38% and steady for the humidity
30.21 and steady for the pressure
0.00 for the rain
4+111 for the Stream Level (that's 4.6 inches)
Fire danger is still HIGH
(at 9:00)
Not many hikers.
38% and steady for the humidity
30.21 and steady for the pressure
0.00 for the rain
4+111 for the Stream Level (that's 4.6 inches)
Fire danger is still HIGH
(at 9:00)
Not many hikers.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Trail report in
A hiker stopped by yesterday to let us know that in his travels through Cascades East, Cascades West, and Cascading Waters, he'd only found trail blockage on the switchback section of the Cascades trail heading down slope to Cataract Street; all else had been cleared up.
If anyone's got new or different information, we'd love to hear it!
If anyone's got new or different information, we'd love to hear it!
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