Thursday, September 7, 2023

A cormorant tree in Carry Bay

Morning Observation:

This morning in North Hero at 7:10AM it’s currently 74 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Winds are out of the south at 7-9 mph. Relative humidity is 94%, dewpoint 72, barometric pressure 29.71”. Yesterday’s high was 85, and yesterday’s low was 73. The overnight low got down to 74.

This morning in Huntington it’s currently 66 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Winds are calm. Relative humidity is 98%, dewpoint 65, barometric pressure 29.76”. Yesterday’s high was 90, and yesterday’s low was 63. The overnight low got down to 65.

The Heat Advisory remains in effect for our region until 7:00PM tonight.

Forecast Discussion:

After a dry and once again hot’n’muggy start to the day today, clouds will be on the increase as a slow moving disorganized trough and attendant frontal boundary approach from the Great Lakes this afternoon. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to push into the region by this afternoon with some storms capable of strong winds and heavy downpours. Storms should wind down by evening as diurnal heating shuts down, but showers are expected continue overnight on gusty south winds. Unsettled conditions will continue into Saturday as the aforementioned frontal boundary becomes quasi-stationary over the region with showers and thunderstorms expected to redevelop in the afternoon. Some storms may produce gusty winds and brief downpours. Showers will persist into Saturday night with a renewed chance of showers on Sunday into Monday as a trough lifts northward out of the Tennessee River valley into the Northeast. Unsettled but seasonable conditions are expected heading into the middle of next week.

3-Day Forecast:

We’ll see increasing clouds today with showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3:00PM. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Highs will be near 90 with south winds 5-8 mph in Huntington and 10-13 mph over Lake Champlain. Chance of precipitation is 60% with rainfall amounts between 0.25″-0.50″ possible. Tonight should be mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms. Lows will be around 67 with south winds 7-14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60% with rainfall amounts between 0.25″-0.50″ possible.

Friday should be mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers, with thunderstorms possible in the afternoon. Highs will be near 81 with south winds 6-10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than 0.10″ are possible with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Friday night should be mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Lows will be around 67 with southwest winds 5-7 mph. Rainfall amounts between 0.10″-0.25″ are possible.

Saturday should be mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers. Highs will be near 78 with north winds 3-6 mph. Rainfall amounts between 0.10″-0.25″ are possible. Saturday night should be mostly cloudy with showers likely. Lows will be around 62 with north winds 3-6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60% with rainfall amounts of less than 0.10″ possible.

Almanac:

Last year on this date in Huntington we had a high of 77 and a low of 53.
Last year in North Hero we had a high of 78 and a low of 63.

Burlington averages for this date are a low of 56 and a high of 76.
The record low was 36 in 1962.
The record high was 94 in 2015 (we had a high of 89 in Huntington). Burlington set a new record high yesterday of 92˚.

The Lake Champlain lake level in Burlington is 97.56′.
The water temperature is 72˚.
Last year’s lake level was at 94.25′.

Sky Notes:

Sunrise: 6:21AM
Sunset: 7:17PM
Length of day: 12:56:10
Today will be 2:59 shorter than yesterday.

The Moon is a waning crescent, 22.5 days old with 46% illumination.
Moonrise: 11:35PM
Moonset: 3:30PM

About Today’s Photo:

We spent a good part of yesterday’s hot’n’muggy day out on our boat with friends. Part of our journey took us through the cut in the old Island Railway line between the Broad Lake and Carry Bay here in North Hero. It seems that the cormorants have taken a liking to several of the trees along the old rail bed. There were several in this particular tree that had been coated with cormorant poop through the season. We noted that the birds were all panting in the branches with their bills open and their throats pulsating. Unlike most aquatic birds, cormorants lack the water repellant oil coating of their duck cousins, so they need to periodically dry out in the sun. You’ll often see them perched with their winds extended to dry.

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