Friday, May 10, 2013

Tamarack needles budding in our front field.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 7:05AM it’s currently 54 degrees and raining lightly under overcast skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 98%, dewpoint 54, barometric pressure 29.94″ and rising slowly. We picked up 0.07″ of rain in the past 24hrs. Yesterday’s high was 69 and the overnight low was 50.

Forecast:

We’ll see mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers this morning and a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 70s with light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 40%. A slow moving cold front and associated low pressure currently out over western Ohio will move into the region tonight bringing showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms until midnight then showers after midnight. Lows will be in the upper 50s with southeast winds around 10 mph, becoming southerly after midnight. Chance of rain is 90%.

Saturday will be rainy with areas of fog in the morning. Highs will be in the upper 60s with south winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain is 90%. Saturday night should be mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers. Lows will be in the mid 40s with southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Cooler and drier air will move into the region Sunday bringing partly sunny skies. Highs will be in the upper 50s with west winds 10 to 15 mph. Sunday night should be partly cloudy and chilly with lows in the mid 30s.

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 52 and a low of 43. We picked up 0.30″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 65°F and lows of 43°F.
Record high was 89°F in 2007 (we had a high of 87).
Record low was 25°F in 1947.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:30 AM EDT
Sunset: 8:06 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 42m
Length of Day: 14h 36m
Tomorrow will be 2m 22s longer.

The Moon is a waxing crescent, 10 hours old with 0% illumination.
Moonrise: 5:52 AM EDT
Moonset: 8:54 PM EDT

About the Photo:

Tamaracks (also known as Larch) are the only deciduous conifers that grow in our region. They favor damp soils and their needles  turn a lovely yellow in fall before dropping. This tree is in our front field and is one of two I planted there last spring having gotten them from a neighbor. I love the soft, feathery quality of the needles at this phase of their growth. I took the shot using my trusty 105mm macro, ISO 400, f/20, 1/100 sec shutter.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Marsh marigold flowering along Taft Road.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 6:15AM it’s currently 51 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 97%, dewpoint 51, barometric pressure 29.92″ and falling. We picked up a welcome 0.37″ of rain in the past 24hrs. Yesterday’s high was 79 and the overnight low was 51.

Forecast:

Unsettled and showery weather is in the cards for us through the weekend. An upper level low will drift over the region today from the south bringing cloudy skies with a slight chance of showers this morning, then a chance of showers with a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 60s with light and variable winds becoming southerly around 10 mph this afternoon. Chance of rain is 50%. Tonight should be mostly cloudy until midnight then become partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms until midnight. Lows will be in the lower 50s with light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 50%.

Friday should be cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Highs will be around 70 with light and variable winds. A slow moving cold front will move into the region Friday night bringing a more soaking rain. Lows will be in the mid 50s with light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 80%.

Rain will continue into Saturday along with cooler Highs will be in the mid 60s with south winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain is 80%. Saturday night should be mostly cloudy with a 505 chance of showers and lows in the mid 40s. Between Friday and Saturday we should see rain totals in the range of 0.50″ to 1.50″. We certainly can use it!

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 67 and a low of 52. We picked up 1.41″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 65°F and lows of 43°F.
Record high was 92°F in 1979.
Record low was 28°F in 1950.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:31 AM EDT
Sunset: 8:05 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 39m
Length of Day: 14h 33m
Tomorrow will be 2m 23s longer.

The Moon is new today, 29d 1h old with 0% illumination.
Moonrise: 5:15 AM EDT
Moonset: 7:58 PM EDT

The woods around here are pretty much all filed in once again. Between Monday and Wednesday, the difference was notable as the canopy closed in to block the sky and the understory became a filtered wall of green. Love it! The overnight rains and those to come this weekend will be the icing on the cake!

About the Photo:

I thought I’d start adding some information about the daily photos for those of you interested in photography and the subjects that I choose. Today’s image of a Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris), also known as Cowslip, was taken a couple days ago up along Taft Road. These plants like wet to soaking soils so you’ll often find them along meandering streams, wetlands or wet roadside ditches. I took the shot hand-held using a 105mm macro lens on my Nikon D90. Camera settings were: ISO 400, f/20, 1/200 sec shutter.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

A wide open magnolia blossom on the tree by our back deck. Already it’s dropping its petals…

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 7:10A it’s currently 52 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 97%, dewpoint 51, barometric pressure 30.12″. Yesterday’s high was 82 and the overnight low was 49.

Forecast:

We’ll finally see a change in the weather today as the high pressure  that’s been more or less parked over us for the past 12 days gives way to a slow moving low moving up the Atlantic coast. We’ll finally see some much needed rain as unstable conditions will persist through the weekend. We’ll start the day with sunny skies this morning giving way to clouds with a chance of showers by late this afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 70s with south winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain is 40%. Tonight will be cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Lows will be in the mid 50s with south winds around 10 mph until midnight, becoming light and variable.

Thursday will be cloudy with showers and some possible rumbles of thunder likely mainly in the afternoon out ahead of cold front approaching from the northwest. Highs will be around 70 with light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 60%. Thursday night should be mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Lows will be in the lower 50s with light and variable winds.

Friday rain is likely as the cold front moves through. It will be noticeably cooler, though seasonable, with highs in the upper 60s and light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 70%. Friday night showers are likely. Lows will be in the upper 40s. Chance of is rain 70%. Expect unsettled weather through the weekend with on and off showers. We can certainly use the rain!

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 60 and a low of 50. We picked up 0.02″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 65°F and lows of 43°F.
Record high was 89°F in 1936.
Record low was 25°F in 1962.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:33 AM EDT
Sunset: 8:04 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 37m
Length of Day: 14h 31m
Tomorrow will be 2m 26s longer.

The Moon is a waning crescent, 28d 1h old with 2% illumination.
Moonrise: 4:42 AM EDT
Moonset: 6:58 PM EDT

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

A tightly wound fern head unfurls along Taft Road.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 7:05AM it’s currently 47 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 95%, dewpoint 45, barometric pressure 30.10″. Yesterday’s high was 78 and the overnight low was 44.

Forecast:

We’ve got another day of clear skies and above normal temperatures in store for us as we see the last full day of this 11-day string. It’ll be sunny with highs around 80 and light and variable winds, becoming southwesterly around 10 mph this afternoon. Tonight will be clear with lows in the upper 40s with south winds around 10 mph until midnight, becoming light and variable.

Wednesday will start out sunny with highs in the upper 70s and light and variable winds becoming southerly around 10 mph in the afternoon. The high pressure block that’s been over us will finally erode and move eastward allowing for a low pressure system currently trudging its way up the Atlantic coast to move into the region Wednesday night. We’ll see cloudy skies with a 50% chance of showers overnight. Lows will be in the lower 50s with southeast winds around 10 mph.

Thursday’s looking cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs will be around 70 with light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 50%. Thursday night should be cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Lows will be around 50. Expect showery and unsettled weather into the weekend. We can certainly use the rain!

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 72 and a low of 31. We had our last frost of the season.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 64°F and lows of 42°F.
Record high was 89°F in 2000 (we had a high of 85).
Record low was 25°F in 1968.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:34 AM EDT
Sunset: 8:03 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 34m
Length of Day: 14h 29m
Tomorrow will be 2m 29s longer.

The Moon is a waning crescent, 27d 1h old with 6% illumination.
Moonrise: 4:12 AM EDT
Moonset: 5:56 PM EDT

Monday, May 6, 2013

A purple trillium blooming along Taft Road.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 6:30AM it’s currently 43 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 87%, dewpoint 40, barometric pressure 30.15″. Yesterday’s high was 79 and the overnight low was 43.

Forecast:

We’re in for a few more days of this sunny, warm and dry weather if you can stand it! With high pressure still in place over the region we’ll see mostly sunny skies today with highs around 80 and southwest winds around 10 mph. Tonight should be clear with lows in the upper 40s and south winds around 10 mph.

Tuesday should be sunny with highs around 80 with light and variable winds, becoming southwesterly around 10 mph in the afternoon. Tuesday night should be clear with lows in the lower 50s and light and variable winds.

Wednesday’s looking mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70s and south winds 10 to 15 mph. Low pressure will finally make its way into the region Wednesday night bringing mostly cloudy skies with a 50% chance of showers. Lows will be in the lower 50s. A change! Woo-hoo!

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 64 and a low of 31. We picked up 0.01″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 64°F and lows of 42°F
Record high was 87°F in 1944.
Record low was 25°F in 1961.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:35 AM EDT
Sunset: 8:02 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 31m
Length of Day: 14h 26m
Tomorrow will be 2m 30s longer.

The Moon is a waning crescent, 26d 1h old with 12% illumination.
Moonrise: 3:43 AM EDT
Moonset: 4:53 PM EDT

We were driving home from Burlington last night at around 9:40PM and we’re just coming into Huntington when a very bright and long-lasting meteor fell right in front of us. It was perfectly lined up in the gap between the trees and moving in our direction of travel. It was quite large and bright and lasted about 3 seconds before breaking into two pieces and extinguishing. Quite the site! Anyone else spot it?

Sunday, May 5, 2013

A trout lily blooming up along Taft Road.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 8:50AM it’s currently 61 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 40%, dewpoint 38, barometric pressure 30.22″. Yesterday’s high was 75 and the overnight low was 42.

There’s an outdoor burning ban in effect for northern New York, and in our region, a burn warning is in effect. If you plan on doing some spring clean up burning, you’re supposed to get a permit from the local fire warden.

Forecast:

Do I need to relate the forecast? We’ll okay, here comes the broken record… With high pressure still in place over the region, we’ll see sunny skies with highs in the upper 70s with southwest winds around 10 mph. Tonight should be mostly clear with lows in the upper 40s and south winds around 10 mph.

Monday should be mostly sunny with highs in the upper 70s and light and variable winds becoming southwesterly around 10 mph in the afternoon. Monday night should be clear with lows in the upper 40s and south winds around 10 mph.

Tuesday’s looking sunny with highs in the upper 70s and light and variable winds. Tuesday night should be clear with lows in the upper 40s.

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 59 and a low of 36. We picked up 0.09″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 64°F and lows of 42°F.
Record high was 89°F in 1944.
Record low was 27°F in 1952.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:37 AM EDT
Sunset: 8:01 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 28m
Length of Day: 14h 24m
Tomorrow will be 2m 31s longer.

The Moon is a waning crescent, 25d 3h old with 19% illumination.
Moonrise: 3:15 AM EDT
Moonset: 3:49 PM EDT

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Our resident pair of bluebirds poses for the camera…

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 7:30AM it’s currently 49 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 93%, dewpoint 47, barometric pressure 30.32″. Yesterday’s high was 73 and the overnight low was 41.

Forecast:

With high pressure still parked over the region we’ll continue to enjoy sunny days with above normal temperatures clear through Wednesday. Today we’ll see sunny skies with highs in the mid 70s and light and variable winds. Tonight should be clear with lows in the lower 40s and light and variable winds.

Sunday should be sunny with highs in the mid 70s and light and variable winds. Sunday night should be clear with lows in the mid 40s and south winds around 10 mph.

Monday’s looking, well, sunny with highs in the upper 70s southwest winds around 10 mph. Monday night should be clear with lows in the upper 40s.

Some forecast, huh? Next chance of rain will be sometime Thursday and think by then we’ll be wanting it!

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 66 and a low 55. We picked up 0.40″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 63°F and lows of 42°F.
Record high was 89°F in 1944.
Record low was 27°F in 1946.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:38 AM EDT
Sunset: 7:59 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 26m
Length of Day: 14h 21m
Tomorrow will be 2m 33s longer.

The Moon is a waning crescent, 24d 2h old with 29% illumination.
Moonrise: 2:47 AM EDT
Moonset: 2:43 PM EDT

Friday, May 3, 2013

The subtle colors of spring up on Shaker Mountain Road.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 7:20AM it’s currently 50 degrees under clear skies. Winds are out of the southeast at 0-3 mph. Relative humidity is 59%, dewpoint 36, barometric pressure 30.45″ and rising. Yesterday’s high was a balmy 81 and the overnight low was 43.

Forecast:

The fine albeit dry weather continues! With high pressure continuing to build into the region from the northeast, we’ll see sunny skies with slightly lower temperatures. Highs will be in the lower 70s with south winds around 10 mph. Tonight should be clear with lows around 40 and south winds around 10 mph until midnight, becoming light and variable.

Saturday should be sunny with highs in the lower 70s and light and variable winds. Saturday night should be clear with lows in the lower 40s and light and variable winds.

Sunday’s looking sunny with highs in the upper 70s and light and variable winds. Sunday night should be clear with lows in the upper 40s.

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 62 and a low of 48. We picked up 0.05″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 63°F and lows of 41°F.
Record high was 89°F in 2001 (we had a high of 86).
Record low was 24°F in 1966.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:39 AM EDT
Sunset: 7:58 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 23m
Length of Day: 14h 18m
Tomorrow will be 2m 35s longer.

Moon is a waning crescent, 23d 1h old with 39% illumination.
Moonrise: 2:17 AM EDT
Moonset: 1:36 PM EDT

Thursday, May 2, 2013

A phoebe perched on the buckeye out back. These busy little birds are one of my favorite spring harbingers.

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 6:00AM it’s currently 44 degrees under clears skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 87%, dewpoint 40, barometric pressure 30.39″ and rising. Yesterday’s high was a fine 78, and the overnight low was 44.

The National Weather Service has released a Special Statement regarding open fires due to continuing dry weather. There is currently a fire ban in effect for northern New York and fire permits are now required in Vermont for backyard burning. Be careful if you kindle!

Forecast:

High pressure continues to build into the region from the northeast setting us up for more fine spring weather through the weekend. We’ll see mostly sunny skies today with highs in the mid 70s and light and variable winds, becoming northwesterly around 10 mph this afternoon. Tonight should be partly cloudy with lows in the mid 40s and southeast winds around 10 mph until midnight, becoming light and variable.

Friday should be sunny with highs in the lower 70s and light and variable winds, becoming southerly around 10 mph in the afternoon. Friday night should be clear with lows in the mid 40s and light and variable winds.

Saturday’s looking sunny with highs in the lower 70s and light and variable winds. Saturday night should be clear with lows in the mid 40s.

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 60 and a low of 44. We picked up 0.26″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 63°F and lows of 41°F.
Record high was 86°F in 2001 (we had a high of 86).
Record low as 27°F in 1966.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:41 AM EDT
Sunset: 7:57 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 20m
Length of Day: 14h 16m
Tomorrow will be 2m 37s longer.

The Moon is in its last quarter, 22 days old with 51% illumination.
Moonrise: 1:43 AM EDT
Moonset: 12:27 PM EDT

With the warm weather spring is stepping up her pace! We’ve got carpets of spring beauties blooming on the west facing hillsides up on the woods behind the house, along with trout lilies, hepatica, wild oats, Dutchman’s breeches, and purple trillium all in bloom. And I took the first dip in the pond yesterday afternoon!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Willows flowering along Taft Road.

Rabbit-rabbit!

Morning Observation:

This morning in Huntington at 7:35AM it’s currently 49 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 87%, dewpoint 45, barometric pressure 30.40″ and rising. Yesterday’s high was 70, and the overnight low was 41.

Forecast:

With high pressure building into the region from the northeast, we’re in for a string of pleasant, sunny spring days clear into the weekend. We’ll see sunny skies today with highs in the mid 70s and light and variable winds. Tonight should be clear with lows in the mid 40s and light and variable winds.

Thursday should be partly sunny with highs in the lower 70s and light and variable winds, becoming northerly around 10 mph in the afternoon. Thursday night should be partly cloudy with lows in the mid 40s and light and variable winds.

Friday’s looking sunny with highs around 70 and light and variable winds. Friday night should be mostly clear with lows in the mid 40s.

Almanac:

Last year on this date we had a high of 51 and a low of 43. We picked up 0.18″ of rain.

Burlington norms for this date are highs of 62°F and lows of 41°F.
Record high was 86°F in 2001 (we had a high of 84).
Record low was 25°F in 1961.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:42 AM EDT
Sunset: 7:56 PM EDT
Length Of Visible Light: 15h 17m
Length of Day: 14h 13m
Tomorrow will be 2m 37s longer.

The Moon is waning gibbous, 21d 2h old with 61% illumination.
Moonrise: 1:04 AM EDT
Moonset: 11:17 AM EDT