Trixology

Weather => General Weather Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on September 29, 2018, 09:45:40 PM

Title: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: elagache on September 29, 2018, 09:45:40 PM
Dear WeatherCat shutterbugs . . . . (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/kodak.gif)

Once more we have crossed another Autumnal Equinox which means it is time to start a new thread for photos capturing the sky around our weather instruments.  This morning offered a decent start to this activity:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-4BzR9nQ/0/69b18e46/XL/3%20cloud%20bands%20behind%20anemometer%20before%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-4BzR9nQ/A)

The weather has turned very fall-like after a period of hot off-shore winds.  Indeed, there is some hope for rain next week coming from remnants of Eastern Pacific Hurricane Rosa.

Stay tuned!
. . . .  (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/tune_in_TV_emoticon.gif)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: Blicj11 on October 05, 2018, 10:07:35 PM
Well, the last three days have been answers to prayers here in much of the drought-stricken West. At our mountain home we have recorded 2.64 inches (6.71 cm) of precipitation. And this morning, we awoke to a pleasant surprise: 3 inches (7.62 cm) of snow. Now if I only had an electronic snow sensor like Reinhard...
Title: Neat preview of Winter! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on October 05, 2018, 10:57:51 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat drought sufferers,

Well, the last three days have been answers to prayers here in much of the drought-stricken West. At our mountain home we have recorded 2.64 inches (6.71 cm) of precipitation. And this morning, we awoke to a pleasant surprise: 3 inches (7.62 cm) of snow. Now if I only had an electronic snow sensor like Reinhard...

Congratulations on all the precipitation!   [tup]  Thanks for the lovely pictures also!  Definitely a preview of Winter in your corner of the world!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Finally some colorful clouds! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on October 23, 2018, 10:36:24 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Northern California has been mostly under the control of high pressure ridges.  This has resulted in warm and dry conditions lasting longer than you would expect for being this late in October.  However, a storm to our North did bring in the marine layer enough to create this scene behind my anemometer this morning:

 (https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-dW68xLW/0/07ed3b32/XL/Broken%20clouds%20behind%20anemometer%20around%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-dW68xLW/A)

Alas, the overall pattern continues.  Warmer is more the norm than otherwise and no rain expected for at least two weeks.

Such are da' conditions that prevail . . . .

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Clouds from a storm to our North. (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on October 27, 2018, 10:26:47 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Alas, the dry season is stubbornly refusing to end here in Northern California.  There is no chance of rain for at least two weeks.  However, storms to our North are spinning clouds into our area and produced this sort of fair weather scene:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-b69WtVM/0/3181b4e4/XL/Thin%20clouds%20behind%20anemometer%20before%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-b69WtVM/A)

I'm getting more than a little weary of this warm dry weather, but at least we can all enjoy a bit of "painted sunrises."

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: xairbusdriver on November 01, 2018, 03:14:29 PM
Maple trees and Euonymus shrubs are always the first to show color. These are our red varieties:
Title: Thanks for sharing!! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on November 01, 2018, 09:35:26 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat Shutterbugs,

Maple trees and Euonymus shrubs are always the first to show color. These are our red varieties:

Very nice!   :)  Thanks for sharing! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/thanks_sign.gif)

Here in California we are stuck in a "broken record" weather pattern, so I'm glad somebody has been able to contribute something novel to this thread!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Last sunrise of daylight savings. (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on November 03, 2018, 08:29:34 PM
Dear WeatherCat shutterbugs,

I had noticed that the crescent Moon was closing in on the sunrise and that presented some interesting photographic opportunities.  However, this morning was the last sunrise before daylight savings ends in the United States so basically it was "now or nothing" for that shot.  Here is the best photo of the 18 attempts this morning:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-L2cnpX4/0/77cdf065/X2/Crescent%20Moon%20and%20Anemometer%20before%20dawn-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-L2cnpX4/A)

Enjoy!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Tragic d?j? vu . . . . . .(Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on November 10, 2018, 10:48:10 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning, . . . . . . .

This morning I was able to capture the following image of the sun rising on the same horizon as my anemometer:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-SdVbGFv/0/fa2cef9b/XL/Anemometer%20after%20a%20smoky%20sunrise-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-SdVbGFv/A)

It does look very similar to the photo I posted back in on August 7th:

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2578.msg27158#msg27158 (http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2578.msg27158#msg27158)

The smoky background is very similar.  Of course the position of the sun is radically different.  It is a reminder of how the sun travels across the sky during the seasons.  Alas, I never thought I would be taking a photo of the sun though the smoke of a wild fire in November.

The smoke is also having a far more pronounced effect on the weather.  The high on November 7th (the day before the fire started) was 72˚ F (22˚ C).  Today's high will only be 59˚ F (15˚ C).  The humidities are still very low and we are continuing to have off-shore wind events.  We are under another Red Flag fire warning tonight through tomorrow morning.

Certainly it is an unbelievable weather scenario coming horribly true.

Oh well, . . . . . Edouard
Title: Long time no colorful clouds . . .(Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on December 15, 2018, 09:56:48 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

After the deluge of late November, Northern California has been relatively cool and mostly dry.  That also has produced a "drought" in colorful sunrises to photograph.  Finally there is a change in the conditions which produced these two photos.  First a landscape view:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-Z5ThzZ8/0/d536918b/XL/Cloud%20bands%20behind%20anenometer-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-Z5ThzZ8/A)

About 15 minutes later the clouds have shifted - affording this view:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-XBNV25H/0/62019b37/X2/Clouds%20and%20winter%20branches%20behind%20anemometer-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-XBNV25H/A)

We are expecting a decent storm tomorrow with a moderate atmospheric river tap.  However, once that storm blows through we return to dry for most of the week.  Tomorrow's storm may catch up for the month's rainfall, but thus far, December is no boon for precipitation.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Two different moods . . . (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on December 29, 2018, 10:27:34 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the varied moods of the skies around us,

It's been two weeks since this thread got a posting, so to it is overdue.  Worse still, I had a neat picture to share but never had time to post it.  So without any further ado: 

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-nPKQShC/0/8e2360a2/XL/Moon%2C%20dusk%20clouds%20and%20anemometer-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-nPKQShC/A)

The photo was taken on the evening of December 18th while the Moon was still waxing.  This morning presented a very different scene:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-bk2CNDC/0/61d5b91d/XL/Yellow%20cloud%20bands%20behind%20anemometer-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-bk2CNDC/A)

Thin cloud bands really light up when the sun rises at almost right angles to the bands. 

Enjoy!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: xairbusdriver on December 30, 2018, 04:27:52 PM
You and your "waxing"! [rolleyes2] You even have the Moon involved!! cmu:-)
Title: Nothing but the best! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on December 30, 2018, 11:00:40 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat "shine" fanatics, . . . .

You and your "waxing"! [rolleyes2] You even have the Moon involved!! cmu:-)

But of course!  I use nothing but Griot's Garage Poly-Gloss synthetic wax . . . .

https://www.griotsgarage.com/product/liquid+gloss+poly+wax.do (https://www.griotsgarage.com/product/liquid+gloss+poly+wax.do)

 [wink] . . . .  I figured waxing the Moon was good practice for waxing the Airstream trailer - mighty tall d'em trailers!! . . . .  lol(1)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: Blicj11 on December 31, 2018, 04:26:42 PM
We are ending the year with a little snow cap atop the ISS this morning. One-third of the way through the water year and we already have half of the precipitation that we had in the previous water year. Good start for drought country. Also, for the third year in a row, this year's annual average temperature is 1/10 of a degree lower than last year's average, so no sign of global warming at my house. We are ending the year with our eighth consecutive day with the high temperature not climbing above freezing (outside - not inside, where we keep it slightly warmer).
 [freeze]
Title: Thanks for the white instruments! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on December 31, 2018, 10:28:07 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

We are ending the year with a little snow cap atop the ISS this morning.

Thanks for sharing the pretty scene!  :)

One-third of the way through the water year and we already have half of the precipitation that we had in the previous water year. Good start for drought country.

Glad to hear that at least one location in drought country is having a decent start to the wet season.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Clouds after the storm. (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on January 22, 2019, 10:21:05 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the skies around our weather instruments,

I had hoped to try to catch the lunar eclipse next to my anemometer, but that event mostly rained out.  Not very friendly but we need the rain.  This morning I captured this image of the clouds after the last of the storms had passed:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-SzfbhVZ/0/0730f4b2/XL/Cloud%20bands%20behind%20anemometer%20before%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-SzfbhVZ/A)

We will have a week to 10 days to dry out.  However, there is some hints of rain starting out February which would suit me just fine!  (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/rain_very_happy.gif)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: Blicj11 on January 24, 2019, 09:25:22 PM
We were luckier. It had been snowing all day but the skies parted just long enough for us to watch the entire lunar eclipse. Pretty cool.
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: bcurry on January 29, 2019, 11:38:16 AM
Venus (left), my anemometer and Jupiter in alignment this morning.

(http://www.billcurry.ca/blog/images/JVandA.jpg)
Title: Very cool! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on January 29, 2019, 11:25:10 PM
Dear Bill and WeatherCat stargazers,

Venus (left), my anemometer and Jupiter in alignment this morning.

Now that's a very cool shot! [bounce]  Thanks for sharing!  [tup]

I've been a bit too busy but I noticed that Venus and Jupiter were aligning in the morning sky.  If we get a clear morning I'll see if I can do anything with it.  Can anyone else?

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: Blicj11 on January 30, 2019, 03:38:01 PM
Another splendid shot, Bill.
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: wurzelmac on February 02, 2019, 06:58:55 AM
Venus (left), my anemometer and Jupiter in alignment this morning.

Wow!  [woohoo]
Title: The sun returns! (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on March 08, 2019, 11:11:09 PM
Dear WeatherCat shutterbugs,

We have been having so much rain in Northern California that the sun has been unusually scarce.  It felt more like living in Seattle than the San Francisco Bay area!  Today we finally had a sunrise that wasn't either completely cloudless or completely clouded over.  As a result, I managed to capture this shot:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-b2t4SNP/0/d24a52dc/XL/Dawn%20cloud%20band%20behind%20anemometer%202019-03-08-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-b2t4SNP/A)

We are expecting more rain tomorrow and Tuesday though.  I can't complain, but there are plenty of Californians who getting fed up with all the soggy weather. 

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: An extremely red forecast (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on March 22, 2019, 08:55:58 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the moods of the sky,

This morning there was an usually uniform field of orange-red behind my anemometer:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-dH9T8Zx/0/d7e04e3e/XL/Red%20sky%20behind%20anemometer%20before%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-dH9T8Zx/A)

A modest storm will come though today.  The weekend will be mostly dry, but more rain is expected for the first part of next week and possibly longer.  So whatever the astronomical alignments, old man winter is continuing to hang around at least this corner of the northern hemisphere.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Wintery grey. (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on April 08, 2019, 10:44:34 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Well it is considerably warmer than during the coldest of winter, but California doesn't exactly feel like spring either.  This morning I captured the following bands of grey behind my anemometer:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-QTqKWVc/0/79cf2e52/XL/Grey%20cloud%20bands%20behind%20anemometer%20at%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-QTqKWVc/A)

The bare branches of our locust tree definitely give a wintery feel to this image.

It does appear that the major rain events are behind us, but there continues to be threats of at least light rain looming into the next weekend.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: After sunrise color. (Re: Moods of the sky behind . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on April 16, 2019, 10:21:38 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the season's turning,

The sun is getting up earlier than me, so sunrise pictures are becoming impractical.  However, overnight we had a quick storm come through and this morning fast moving clouds created this scene behind my anemometer:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-jCcRqZw/0/766aec0f/XL/Streaming%20clouds%20behind%20anemometer%20after%20dawn%202019-04-16-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-jCcRqZw/A)

It is another sort of mood of the sky that you will see from time to time.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Atmospheric River? - in May?? (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on May 17, 2019, 12:32:19 AM
Dear WDear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Well the seasons went backward for Northern California.  We are back in winter with an Atmospheric River event even!  Here are the ominous storm clouds from this morning:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-S7KHdCs/0/c8a0406b/XL/Storm%20clouds%20behind%20anemometer%20after%20dawn-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-S7KHdCs/A)

We picked up 0.93" (23.6mm) from this one storm alone.  That's more than we normally get for the entire month of May!  More storms are expected so it will feel like winter for a while.  Most importantly, this should defer the start of the wildfire season.  We most definitely need that!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: Blicj11 on May 18, 2019, 12:47:06 AM
Nice rainstorm in California turned into a nice snowstorm at my house. Keep that atmospheric river flowing, Edouard .
Title: Summertime moods (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on June 26, 2019, 11:09:52 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Each season provides a potential atmospheric "canvas" to capture your weather instruments against.  Yesterday afternoon we had some high wispy clouds that produced this effect:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-VjKHWQW/0/95bc0281/XL/Thin%20afternoon%20clouds%20behind%20anemometer-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-VjKHWQW/A)

So you don't have to get up early in the morning to capture something pretty around your weather instruments.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Moods of the sky behind our weather instruments 2018-19.
Post by: xairbusdriver on July 01, 2019, 03:12:04 AM
There IS some sky out there, but it's mostly falling in the yard and roof... 6.19 in/hr when this image was recorded. Fortunately, not for more than a few minutes. [cheer]

BTW, that nearly solid stream is from one of three second story downspouts that are not allowed to empty/fill the first floor gutter. They hit concrete and some large stones which have, so far, avoided the streams to create cisterns. [rolleyes2]
Title: Glad everything survived the deluge (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on July 01, 2019, 10:29:09 PM
Dear X-Air and WeatherCat station caregivers,

There IS some sky out there, but it's mostly falling in the yard and roof... 6.19 in/hr when this image was recorded. Fortunately, not for more than a few minutes. [cheer]

That's an impressive summer rainfall event.  I'm glad station and owner are no worse for wear.  I'd gladly take some of that rain off of your hands if I could.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: June gloom in July. (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on July 07, 2019, 10:31:11 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

After a sizzling start to Summer, we have had a period of cooler than normal temperatures and usually heavy marine layer.  This morning the sun had some trouble breaking through the fog:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-Cg4kPH9/0/7d95a9b3/XL/Sun%20behind%20overcasts%20skies%20behind%20anemometer-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-Cg4kPH9/A)

While "June gloom" normally doesn't drag into July, this incursion isn't likely to last too much longer.  The high pressure ridges that normally dominate our weather pattern are expected to become established by the end of next week.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Greetings from TS Ivo. (Re: Moods of the sky . . . 2018-19.)
Post by: elagache on August 28, 2019, 11:15:59 PM
Dear WeatherCat sky watchers,

The remnants of tropical storm Ivo came through over the past 24 hours or so.  About all it brought was some passing clouds, but it did make for a pretty scene around sunset:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-5HB9ZZ8/0/86c78454/XL/Clouds%20from%20tropical%20storm%20Ivo%20behind%20anemometer-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Weather/Sky-effects-behind-weather-instruments-2018-19/i-5HB9ZZ8/A)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]