At least in Southern Louisiana, spring is here.
Temperatures are now getting close to 70 every day. We "Northerners" have turned off the heat -- a sure sign of spring.
I have also noticed on my drive to and from work, that the trees are beginning to "leaf out." There are some trees with "redbuds" on them, and this morning, in particular, I noticed many trees with green leaves starting to show.
We have not had to go through the idiotic practice of changing clocks (I'll suppress that rant for now), but in this part of the world, it is spring and I am glad!
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, December 12, 2009
More Seasonal/Weather reflections
I re-reading my last post, I realized that I had forgotten to mention another observation which is more related to the local weather conditions. This summer was a "dry" summer -- by local standards. Areas which were normally swampy/marshy were drying up.
Over the past few weeks it has rained a great deal. (To me if "feels" like the winter rainy season I remembered from my years in the desert of Tucson.) On Wednesday (that wonderfully warm and sunny day), there was a great deal of water in places that had been dry. There was water in the median (in the grassy areas, as well as on the bridges). It had turned into a wet world again.
The water went down over the course of the week. But last night it rained heavily at times, and pretty steadily over the course of the night. I expect to see that water again on Monday, since the weather forecasts are for more rain this weekend. (And yes, I much prefer rain to snow! Current temp [Sat, 8:30 am local time] 46....forecast, rain.)
Over the past few weeks it has rained a great deal. (To me if "feels" like the winter rainy season I remembered from my years in the desert of Tucson.) On Wednesday (that wonderfully warm and sunny day), there was a great deal of water in places that had been dry. There was water in the median (in the grassy areas, as well as on the bridges). It had turned into a wet world again.
The water went down over the course of the week. But last night it rained heavily at times, and pretty steadily over the course of the night. I expect to see that water again on Monday, since the weather forecasts are for more rain this weekend. (And yes, I much prefer rain to snow! Current temp [Sat, 8:30 am local time] 46....forecast, rain.)
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Seasons
A recent stauts update on Facebook commented that about 75% of the updates in the past day or so had to do with weather. That ties in well with a reflection I had this morning.
I was gone for the Thanksgiving holiday, and had only one day back doing the commute before I was again away and then off. Tuesday was a crappy weather day, warmish, but rainy and windy. Driving to work in the morning I leave in the dark, and going home is the same.
Today, because the sun was up (and out) for the last half of the commute, I saw some things which I had not noticed before. First was the leaves on the trees. There were some trees which had lost their leaves, and others with brown instead of green. The was the occasional swamp maple (with the emphasis on swamp!) with its red or red/brown leaves. It was the first time that I really began to believe that it is fall.
It is interesting how our perceptions of the seasons depend on these visual cues. The days have been getting shorter. (And don't start on the annual, pointless and useless time change fiasco...) But certainly sitting in my office, with its floor to ceiling windows looking out on the Spanish oaks with all their leaves, it does not feel much like fall! It took seeing the reds of the maples for me to (finally) realize that fall is here.
A final note about periodicity for this blog. You will see fewer posts, at least for a while. It is related to what is happening in my life. Most of it is good, and you will see conference posts when those seasons begin again (Midwinter, LLA, etc.)
I was gone for the Thanksgiving holiday, and had only one day back doing the commute before I was again away and then off. Tuesday was a crappy weather day, warmish, but rainy and windy. Driving to work in the morning I leave in the dark, and going home is the same.
Today, because the sun was up (and out) for the last half of the commute, I saw some things which I had not noticed before. First was the leaves on the trees. There were some trees which had lost their leaves, and others with brown instead of green. The was the occasional swamp maple (with the emphasis on swamp!) with its red or red/brown leaves. It was the first time that I really began to believe that it is fall.
It is interesting how our perceptions of the seasons depend on these visual cues. The days have been getting shorter. (And don't start on the annual, pointless and useless time change fiasco...) But certainly sitting in my office, with its floor to ceiling windows looking out on the Spanish oaks with all their leaves, it does not feel much like fall! It took seeing the reds of the maples for me to (finally) realize that fall is here.
A final note about periodicity for this blog. You will see fewer posts, at least for a while. It is related to what is happening in my life. Most of it is good, and you will see conference posts when those seasons begin again (Midwinter, LLA, etc.)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wisconsin Cold
This weekend has been warm -- for this winter. It has actually been double digits (above zero) including almost getting to 40 today.
Earlier in the week was the primary. So many of the national media talked about how Wisconsinites were braving the cold to vote. In Eau Claire, the turn out was almost a record with over 40% coming out to vote. Even my daughter blogged [no link, unless she asks for it] about how ridiculous it was to talk about being surprised at the cold in Wisconsin in the winter.
The locals here are talking about how this is like winters used to be. We have had below average cold and above average snow. Fortunately, here in Eau Claire we have not had the same dumping of snow that the southern part of the state has had. My observation has been that the snow has been pretty dry. The down side is the drifting (look at the first two photos on Flickr). But it is still light. With the cold it has stuck.
More snow is predicted for this week. We'll see!
Earlier in the week was the primary. So many of the national media talked about how Wisconsinites were braving the cold to vote. In Eau Claire, the turn out was almost a record with over 40% coming out to vote. Even my daughter blogged [no link, unless she asks for it] about how ridiculous it was to talk about being surprised at the cold in Wisconsin in the winter.
The locals here are talking about how this is like winters used to be. We have had below average cold and above average snow. Fortunately, here in Eau Claire we have not had the same dumping of snow that the southern part of the state has had. My observation has been that the snow has been pretty dry. The down side is the drifting (look at the first two photos on Flickr). But it is still light. With the cold it has stuck.
More snow is predicted for this week. We'll see!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Snow and Cold
Well, it has been winter.
Today, for about the third time in this decade, I made the decision to close the Library early. It was an interesting process, but for those not paying close attention to the weather here, the City Director of Public Works included this in his email on snow clean-up operations:
Closing for weather is tough. Actually, any unexpected closing is always fraught with possible public relations faux pas.
I hate closing the library, but the safety of staff comes first.
Today, for about the third time in this decade, I made the decision to close the Library early. It was an interesting process, but for those not paying close attention to the weather here, the City Director of Public Works included this in his email on snow clean-up operations:
When the Mall closed, it was easier to make the decision since that was the standard which my predecessor used.URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1053 AM CST TUE JAN 29 2008
IN COMBINATION WITH THE SNOW AND WINDS...BITTERLY
COLD AIR CONTINUES TO FLOOD INTO THE REGION. WIND
CHILLS OF 25 TO 40 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED THIS
AFTERNOON WEST OF INTERSTATE 35 IN MINNESOTA. THESE
WIND CHILLS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE
REGION TONIGHT AND LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THEREFORE A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT
AND WEDNESDAY MORNING.
A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND
STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS.
THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA
IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE
OUTDOORS...MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.
Closing for weather is tough. Actually, any unexpected closing is always fraught with possible public relations faux pas.
I hate closing the library, but the safety of staff comes first.
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