Trixology

Weather => General Weather Discussion => Topic started by: elagache on March 19, 2019, 11:41:34 PM

Title: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: elagache on March 19, 2019, 11:41:34 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

The concept may seem completely foreign to you when you look out the window, but sometime between this posting and my usual return tomorrow, the Vernal Equinox will occur.  Here is a website with local times all over the world:

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20190320T2158&msg=March%20Equinox%202019 (https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=20190320T2158&msg=March%20Equinox%202019)

In keeping with my tradition, I have taken a few photos to set the mood for the new season.  Sooner or later, you will staring seeing signs of Spring peeking beyond the cold stillness of Winter:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-DXZGBtc/0/543fab1e/XL/Flowering%20tree%20behind%20bare%20tree-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-DXZGBtc/A)

Of course, old man winter is likely to keep interfering at least for a time.  In California that means rain:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-fRPhL7S/0/2a307fcc/XL/Spring%20flowering%20tree%20in%20front%20of%20waterfall-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-fRPhL7S/A)

Another sign of Spring is the blooming of the Daffodils:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-xLfJm7p/0/30c62fce/XL/Daffodils%20and%20birch%20tree-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-xLfJm7p/A)

Yet even for Daffodils a little rain must fall:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-cc2Xdkq/0/6d1fbaea/XL/Daffodils%20next%20to%20street%20gutter-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-cc2Xdkq/A)

Nonetheless, eventually the sun will return and Spring will bloom all over your world:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-7Wk3pTj/0/ed02184b/XL/Blooming%20trees%20with%20Acacia%20in%20background-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-7Wk3pTj/A)

Of course this is the normal course of things and that does not in any way shape of form predict when this will happen!

Until then, grin and bear it!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: jennajon on March 24, 2019, 12:19:20 PM
Beautiful!

And helps me remember that it WILL turn green here in Maine once again too.

Thank you so much for sharing.

 [tup]
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: Weatheraardvark on March 24, 2019, 03:51:34 PM
From Iowa,
Title: You're welcome and NOAA outlook (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on March 24, 2019, 10:04:12 PM
Dear Jenna, Weatheraardvark, and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

And helps me remember that it WILL turn green here in Maine once again too.

Thank you so much for sharing.

You are certainly most welcome!  I understand that for some people it might feel premature.  I hope they can look forward even if the weather outside their window is anything but springlike. 

From Iowa,

My sympathies.  I've been trying to keep an eye on the flooding but I'm too overwhelmed locally to keep up.  I just found the NOAA report from which your graph comes from:

https://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/2019NHA.html (https://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/2019NHA.html)

There is also a real-time map of the United States with all the potential flooding risks:

https://water.weather.gov/ahps/ (https://water.weather.gov/ahps/)

It does take as much as a few seconds to load.  At the moment it is a busy map.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: Weatheraardvark on March 25, 2019, 04:32:24 AM
Many farmers cannot put in a crop this year.  Their grain silos were flooded and farms as well.  Livestock is an unknown.  BUT FEMA is going to help to some extent, but still over 1200 homes are wiped out in IOwa.  Tough times, but some how we will advance forward.

It is tough for those who farm.
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: Blicj11 on April 13, 2019, 03:53:14 AM
Still snowing here so I'll hold off with any photos. I was able to free my car from a snow berm last night with only 45 minutes of shoveling snow and ice. Hahaha. Welcome to Springtime in the Rockies.
Title: Rain's final dance of Spring. (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on April 16, 2019, 10:32:37 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the season's turning,

This morning I noticed a spider web that had caught droplets of water from the overnight storm.  It was pretty enough to try to capture it:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-sPXwjbn/0/95651cf0/XL/Spiderweb%20after%20the%20rain.-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-sPXwjbn/A)

A bit later in the morning I spotted this patch of grass that was a bit overwhelmed by the storm:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-7qLGCcn/0/d82ee0a0/XL/Grass%20turning%20to%20seed%20after%20a%20rain%20storm-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-7qLGCcn/A)

The winds had blown down the stalks, but this grass had already started to turn to seed.  The weather is supposed to warm considerably at the end of this week and the start of the next.  The transition from California's wet season to the brown hills of summer might be very swift indeed!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: jennajon on April 17, 2019, 02:17:51 PM
Edouard and all WC'ers:

Anyone else see a fish form in that spiderweb? Pareidolia anyone?

 [sun2]

Jenna
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: xairbusdriver on April 17, 2019, 03:25:33 PM
I even see one in your avatar!!! :o ThU32:-)
Title: Maine flooding anywhere near you? (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on April 17, 2019, 11:23:39 PM
Dear Jenna, X-Air, and WeatherCat weather observers,

Anyone else see a fish form in that spiderweb? Pareidolia anyone?

If there had been a fish in that spider web, it would be long dead now.  Today's high was 73˚ F (22.7˚ C) with humidities in the 50% range.  Things are drying out very rapidly and will continue to do so as tomorrow's highs should approaching 80˚ (26.7˚ C) with a dry on-shore flow.

However, there has been some news headlines about flooding in Maine.  Is that anywhere close to your neck of the woods Jenna?

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: Blicj11 on April 18, 2019, 02:30:59 AM
I see it. Edouard is looking for an actual fish, rather than a spiritual one.
Title: Re: Maine flooding anywhere near you? (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: jennajon on May 01, 2019, 01:29:23 PM

However, there has been some news headlines about flooding in Maine.  Is that anywhere close to your neck of the woods Jenna?

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]

Edouard and all WC'rs:

None in this neck of the woods, however I do live close to a hydroelectric dam on the Union River, and the alarms have been going off there for some days!
Mud season is in full swing here...yay!

Jenna
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: jennajon on May 01, 2019, 01:30:09 PM
I even see one in your avatar!!! :o ThU32:-)

OMG.... [lol2] [lol2]

Jenna
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: Blicj11 on May 01, 2019, 03:18:24 PM
Happy May Day Weather Catters! Here is the view out my window this morning.
Title: From winter to summer. (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on May 02, 2019, 10:35:53 PM
Dear Blick and WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Happy May Day Weather Catters! Here is the view out my window this morning.

Belated thank you for your picture! [tup]  The first of the month is always a bit overwhelming for me with all the various graphics I need to collect for the predictions posting.

Rain isn't completely out of our forecast but all that is left is more nuisance than benefit.  It is definitely starting the turn from Spring to Summer here in Orinda.  This morning I captured these California Poppies next to a fire plug:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-pphWWgc/0/a73784fd/XL/California%20Poppies%20next%20to%20fire%20plug-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-pphWWgc/A)

It is a cute natural bouquet, but the pedals are already starting to get a bit ragged around the edges and the nearby grass is already brown.  Yesterday I took this photo of a nearby hillside:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-8JZpttd/0/cca6fffa/XL/Hillside%20grasses%20starting%20to%20dry%20out-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-8JZpttd/A)

The greens are definitely disappearing and the browns of summer are emerging.  We'll see just how harsh this summer turns out to be.

Cheers, Edouard
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: Blicj11 on May 03, 2019, 03:46:09 AM
Lovely to see that California colour coordinates the fire hydrants with the poppies.
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: The Grand Poohbah on May 03, 2019, 07:12:24 PM
Lovely to see that California colour coordinates the fire hydrants with the poppies.

And not just for beauty: https://www.fmsystems-inc.com/fire-hydrant-color-code-table/ (https://www.fmsystems-inc.com/fire-hydrant-color-code-table/).
Title: I KNEW they could not be trusted! (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on May 03, 2019, 10:53:05 PM
Dear Blick, Grand, and WeatherCat observers of all that can be seen on along the countryside,

Lovely to see that California colour coordinates the fire hydrants with the poppies.

And not just for beauty: https://www.fmsystems-inc.com/fire-hydrant-color-code-table/ (https://www.fmsystems-inc.com/fire-hydrant-color-code-table/).

 [wink] . . . . . Just as I suspected!  I knew we couldn't trust California politicians to make anything match up - even California poppies! . . . .  lol(1)

Seriously, thanks Grand for the reference!  [tup]  I was not aware of the color coding scheme for fire hydrants.

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: A "rite" and wrong of . . . . (Re: Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on May 11, 2019, 10:29:51 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

It isn't only plants that are effected by Spring.  The animal kingdom also has its rhythms.  A few weeks back I thought I spotted a very young deer in the yard.  Today I was able to confirm my suspicions!

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-24q7H5n/0/52b48ea3/XL/Newborn%20deer%20next%20to%20watering%20dish-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-24q7H5n/A)

Of course this little creature will grow up to be a pest that thinks my yard is a banquet, but at the moment . . . . . they sure are so cute!  :)

Alas even at this young age they do seem to slip into "drinking problems." . . . . .

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-5VRDXkd/0/02f207e0/XL/Newborn%20deer%20drinking-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-5VRDXkd/A)

At least "mom" is keeping an eye on the situation!

Enjoy!  :)

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Nature's experiment on dried grasses. (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on May 22, 2019, 11:14:11 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the seasons turning,

Amazingly, we have picked up 2.64" (67.1mm) of rain since the 15th of May.  That's a lot of late season moisture occurring after the grasses had turned to seed.  Out of curiosity I took a photo at about the same place I took the photo of the grasses starting to turn.  Here is that earlier photo taken on May 1st:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-8JZpttd/0/cca6fffa/XL/Hillside%20grasses%20starting%20to%20dry%20out-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-8JZpttd/A)

Here is the photo taken this morning:

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-F3NL8qZ/0/4d7c8123/XL/Hillside%20after%20rains%20of%20May%2015-20-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-F3NL8qZ/A)

There are some obvious changes as a result of the storms.  Some of the grasses were blown down by the wind.  I'm curious to see if the moisture will start the decomposition process that we normally only see in late autumn.  If it does that might mitigate some of the fire concerns.

I'll take another photo in a few weeks.  Stay tuned!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: One tough California poppy. (Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!)
Post by: elagache on June 02, 2019, 10:59:58 PM
Dear WeatherCat observers of the season's turning,

On my travels I encountered something of an "old friend."  Two years ago I spotted a California poppy growing through the cracks in curb.  I took a photo that I shared with you all on this posting:

http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2476.msg24066#msg24066 (http://athena.trixology.com/index.php?topic=2476.msg24066#msg24066)

I kept an eye for this poppy last year, but it didn't manage to bloom.  However, with the late rains of this spring, look at what happened!

(https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-4bp58nP/0/c52c43fc/XL/California%20poppy%20growing%20through%20concrete%20crack-XL.jpg) (https://canebas.smugmug.com/Nature/Wild-Flowers/Scenes-of-Spring-2019/i-4bp58nP/A)

This plant has put out an impressive set of blooms considering the environment it has to live in.  That's one tough California poppy!

Cheers, Edouard  [cheers1]
Title: Re: Welcome to Spring 2019!
Post by: xairbusdriver on June 03, 2019, 01:10:03 AM
Ah, yes, that is the (I thought well known) California odd-year blooming Poppy! You can confirm the species by looking at the even-numbered seeds. ::)