Trixology
Weather => General Weather Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on December 20, 2018, 11:48:43 PM
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Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,
The Winter Solstice is upon us. It won't be happening in California until 2pm tomorrow, but some of you might have already crossed that line. Here is a list of when the Solstice is happening for cities all over the world:
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20181221T2223&msg=December%20Solstice%202018 (https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20181221T2223&msg=December%20Solstice%202018)
As has become my custom, I decided to try to capture some scenes bringing the feel to the changing season. Here is a photo of wispy clouds behind a birch tree:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-FMPdzFn/0/29fa5e1c/X2/High%20clouds%20behind%20birch%20tree%20in%20winter-X2.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-FMPdzFn/A)
In Winter skies are rarely completely clear even when the weather is benefiting from a high pressure ridge. Of course there are some contradictions in California. In many places it looks more like Spring than Winter:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-qFbQ8RR/0/7af233ca/XL/Newly%20sprouted%20grass%20on%20hillside-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-qFbQ8RR/A)
It never gets so cold that grasses can't grow. Now that the ground is wet, the grasses make a start even if there isn't much sunlight for growth.
Of course, there are some dramatic skies to be seen:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-wqdzrhH/0/e8075923/XL/Winter%20birch%20tree%20in%20front%20of%20dramatic%20clouds-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-wqdzrhH/A)
Between storms the cloud cover can vary widely. We have had a lot of fog and low clouds which have contributed to cold temperatures and a very gloomy feel. This photo captures that effect extremely well:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Winter-2018-19/i-WvzG7WQ/0/22353287/XL/Biquette%20in%20front%20of%20a%20tree%20without%20leaves-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette/Photos-of-Biquette-in-Winter-2018-19/i-WvzG7WQ/A)
While I took the photo for a Buick forum, the contrast between the shiny paint and bare tree and neglected structures really capture the feel of Winter in California.
Of course in coastal California snow isn't a very likely occurrence. Can someone contribute some photos a white solstice for some contrast?
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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To all WC's everwhere:
Happy Winter Solstice (here at 17:23 hours). Glad you requested a white Solstice photo, because we are on the verge of a hell of a storm....rain 2-3 inches then gale force winds from 12 noon today until 13:00 tomorrow. Very little chance of a white Christmas here this year.
[rainyluck]
jenna
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Dear Jenna and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning, . . . .
Happy Winter Solstice (here at 17:23 hours). Glad you requested a white Solstice photo
Thank you Jenna for the contribution! :) Very nice! [tup]
because we are on the verge of a hell of a storm....rain 2-3 inches then gale force winds from 12 noon today until 13:00 tomorrow. Very little chance of a white Christmas here this year.
Well there has been one hell of storm inside my computer (apparently RAM trouble,) but the weather here has been positively dreary. Gloomy, cold and only 0.11" of rain today. We are definitely falling behind for a normal December.
Best of luck with your upcoming deluge! [rain2] May da' cat's umbrella protect you! . . . . [WCSmall] . . . . [biggrin]
Cheers, Edouard
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The first full day of winter brought us just a touch of snow. Still, the reindeer doesn't look too happy about it... ;)
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I think he's bowing to the snow god's. He's probably thankful he won't have to drag that sleigh on the grass! [rockon] [snow] BTW, I hope Santa appreciates the wreathes on the storage building. :D
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Dear Steve and WeatherCat observers of the seasons changing,
The first full day of winter brought us just a touch of snow. Still, the reindeer doesn't look too happy about it... ;)
Thanks for sharing the cute picture! [tup] I suppose the reindeer thinks there isn't enough snow! [snow]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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We have received 79 inches of snow (201 cm) since the beginning of the water year (1 September) This compares to 55 inches (140 cm) during the same period last year. Good news.This is the view from the front porch this morning and is valid for both inches and cm.
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Dear Blick and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,
. . . . This is the view from the front porch this morning and is valid for both inches and cm.
Those little trees in the foreground look like perfect Christmas trees if they had a few decorations! A few folks around here insist on putting decorations on trees, but with grass growing everywhere - ya' know, it just doesn't really capture the winter mood of Christmas! [biggrin]
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Dear WeatherCat sky watchers,
Recently I noticed Venus as a "Morning star." The crescent Moon was closing so I hoped I could catch a picture of the conjunction. This morning was the day so I pulled my camera out. As I bracketing my exposures I got a free bonus!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-dbGVFtd/0/200d54f8/XL/An%20airplane%2C%20Moon%20and%20Venus%20in%20dawn%20skies-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-dbGVFtd/A)
A plane flew directly at my conjunction. All I had to do was wait for it to enter the frame of my camera! In case you are missing Venus, it is directly to the right of a branch and the plane is "pointed" at that branch.
Sometimes it does pay to get up early and brave the cold!
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]
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Nice work.
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Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,
Today I came across this somewhat sad sight:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-4N7cXf7/0/2de7232d/XL/Fallen%20wild%20oak%20tree%20on%20utility%20right%20of%20way-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-4N7cXf7/A)
This wild oak tree had been growing on a utility right of way for clearly decades. It was still standing 2 days ago. Yesterday we had a round of high winds and heavy rains. It appears that was the final straw for this tree. As you can see there was an "X" painted on the trunk. It may have already been dying of sudden oak death syndrome or something analogous. Still it is a sad thing to see a tree that had grown for a very long time taken down by just one storm.
oh well, . . . . Edouard
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Dear WeatherCat observers of the season's turning,
The damp weather has helped the processes of decomposition of the grass stalks of last year. I had never managed to capture the scene of transition between last year's grass and the new green shoots. Here is a decent view of the process underway:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-XXPm5n6/0/94c61437/XL/Decaying%20stalks%20replaced%20by%20new%20grasses-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Winter-2018-19/i-XXPm5n6/A)
Today's rain will certainly further the process along. The strong winds will further break the stalks. The stage is definitely being set for the Spring grasses.
Cheers, Edouard [cheers1]