Sunday, July 9, 2023

A high summer meadow near the Alburgh Dunes

Morning Observation:

This morning in North Hero at 7:25AM it’s currently 72 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 88%, dewpoint 68, barometric pressure 29.80”. We picked up 0.05” of rain yesterday evening as a series of thunderstorms rolled through. Yesterday’s high was 84, and yesterday’s low was 70. The overnight low got down to 67.

This morning in Huntington it’s currently 69 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 98%, dewpoint 68, barometric pressure 29.83”. Yesterday’s high was 88, and yesterday’s low was 60. The overnight low got down to 63.

There is a Flood Watch in effect for our region from 2:00PM today until 8:00PM Monday.

Forecast Discussion:

We’ve got the quiet before the storm this morning as we’re on the verge of a very impactful rainfall event that will be moving into the region this afternoon. Moisture laden low pressure moving out of the Tennessee River valley is expected to track northward during the day today bringing widespread soaking rains. Showers should move into the region this afternoon with rain becoming heavy overnight tonight and again on Monday as the aforementioned low tracks directly over the region Monday. The NWS has some pretty dire language in their forecast discussion with the North Country “under risk for flash flooding on a scale that has not been seen in many years.” Washouts, damage to culverts, and potential mudslides are discussed, and we are urged to take this storm seriously. The low is expected to lift northward out of the region Monday night into early Tuesday with wrap-around showers expected Tuesday. High pressure is expected to build back in later on Tuesday, but we’ll remain in an active weather pattern as the aforementioned low lingers over Hudson Bay rotating in a series of troughs into the region through midweek.

3-Day Forecast:

We’ll see mostly cloudy skies today with showers and thunderstorms likely this afternoon. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Highs will be near 82 with south winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60% with rainfall amounts between 0.25″-0.50″ possible. Tonight should be cloudy with showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8:00PM, then rain overnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Lows will be around 65 with southeast winds 3-6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100% with rainfall amounts between 1″-2″ possible.

Monday should be cloudy with rain and afternoon thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Highs will be near 74 with calm winds. Chance of precipitation is 90% with rainfall amounts between 1″-2″ possible. Monday night should be cloudy with showers. Lows will be around 63 with west winds 8-10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90% with rainfall amounts between 1″-2″ possible.

Tuesday should be mostly cloudy with showers likely, mainly before 9:0AM. Highs will be near 82 with southwest winds around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60% with rainfall amounts between 0.50”-0.75” possible. Tuesday night should be partly cloudy with a low around 65 and south winds 5-8 mph.

Almanac:

Last year on this date in Huntington we had a high of 72 and a low of 45.
Last year in North Hero we had a high of 73 and a low of 55.

Burlington averages for this date are a low of 62 and a high of 82.
The record low was 44 in 1969.
The record high was 97 in 1988.

The Lake Champlain lake level in Burlington is 96.15′.
The water temperature is 77˚.
Last year’s lake level was at 95.68′.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 5:16AM
Sunset: 8:37PM
Length of day: 15:20:12
Today will be 1:12 shorter than yesterday.

The Moon is in its last quarter, 21 days old with 58% illumination.
Moonrise: 12:09AM
Moonset: 12:45PM

About Today’s Photo:

We went for a walk on a piece of property recently added to the Alburgh Dunes State Park. The property includes an abandoned lakefront campground with crumbling buildings and the remnants of camping sites scattered about. Last year, there was a trail mowed through the property, but not this year. Part of the property includes broad meadows that have been left untended and offer some splendid habitat for a variety of species. We liked this view of one of the meadows with cumulous clouds building over the horizon.

Sony A7II, Sony 24-240mm lens @ 24mm, ISO 800, f/14, 1/800″ exposure.