Ending Blue Sky Thinking

Contrails, cirrus clouds, and a lovely setting sun
Friday 11/23/2012; 5:00 pm, Amherst
Photo by Mindy

It's been a few weeks of mostly sunny, blue skies and mild temperatures, at least up until the weekend. And while there are plenty of people who would love day after day of "blue sky" weather, we here at Head in the Clouds Amherst are not among them. A cloudless, blue sky is just about the most boring sky around, second only to a uniform gray sky (stratus opacus uniformis).  Is there anything more beautiful than clouds illuminated by the setting sun? And we will never understand people who don't feel some spark of excitement at seeing that first snow of the season. So here's to the end of blue sky thinking - and today's first bona fide dusting of snow in the Valley.

Taking Flight

Puffer's in Fog - morning 11/23/12
(if this photo included sound, you would also hear
loud trumpeting of geese emanating from the fog)

Anyone who follows our "On Puffer's Pond" sidebar has read about the ever increasing duck population congregating near South Beach over the past few weeks. By Friday, we guess that more than 100 ducks had formed a tight community on the water by the bridge, and even in the thick fog that morning they could be identified by their sound - a noisy chorus of quacking and wings flapping. A small gaggle of about eight geese had even joined the lake population by Friday, and around mid-day they seemed to have staked out the center of the lake, with the ducks remaining closer to shore. And then a cold front blew in yesterday morning, and by mid-day, there wasn't a duck or goose in sight. Our Thanksgiving house guests took flight yesterday, too. It's quieter, of course (in both places), but we miss the spectacle.

More Top Ten Gifts for the Weather Obsessed

This second installment of our “Top Ten Gifts for Weather Watchers” includes five unique gifts ranging in price from the fairly affordable to very pricey. We don’t own and haven’t experienced numbers 6-9, but we would certainly like to! For the first five picks on our list, refer to our 11/19/2012 posting here. Also, check out our updated all-new gift list for 2013 for more great gift ideas! And if you think there are other items we should know about, please add your thoughts in the comments section below – we are always on the lookout for tools that will enhance our weather watching.

6.  Heat Index and Wind Chill Gauge. Most standard weather stations report the temperature indoors and out, barometric pressure, and often some other readings, but most do not record wind child or heat index. So if you want to know what it really feels like outdoors, this Heat Index and Wind Chill Gauge for $58 seems likely to do the trick. This instrument is described as “a comfort meter mechanism (crisscrossing thermometer/hygrometer) with the addition of an accurate heat index gauge and wind chill chart.”

7. Advanced-Level,Pocket Sized Wind Meter. For $124, you can hold a complex weather station in the palm of your hand. An internal "wind vane" ensures all readings are on the wind's axis, and the specially designed case keeps hands away from affecting sensors. Measures temperatures ranging from -20° to 158°F; wind speed from .8 to 89 mph; and wind chill from -50° to + 50° F.

8. Dancing Leaves Iron Wind Spinner. For fans of the movie Twister who long to have one of Aunt Meg’s kinetic, wind-powered sculptures in their backyard, this is the next best thing. While much smaller than Aunt Meg’s work, this 25”W x 75”H kinetic spinner is sure to evoke similar feelings. And at $99.95 it’s happily also more affordable than Aunt Meg’s sculptures would be.

9. Storm Chasing Adventure. At $2,600, this high end gift vacation could well be unforgettable (in a good way, hopefully!). Perhaps it’s already on your bucket list? This particular company is the first site that popped up in our Google search, and while it seems to have a long list of endorsers, be sure to weigh the many different “storm chasing tour” options out there before you sign on. This tour company provides a tornado guarantee, and it's also been covered on National Geographic Television & Film, NBC Nightly News, The Discovery Channel, BBC World TV, CNN News, The Weather Channel, and many other media outlets. It offers a variety of 6-day tours which travel across the Great Plains, and it uses vehicles equipped with mobile broadband data connections, up-to-date radar software, and state-of-the-art communications equipment. Several years ago, I saw a special on one such tornado chasing tour – not only were the sights and sounds simply amazing, but the tour group, which included 10-12 interesting and eclectic people from all over the world, was an experience all by itself.

10. Weather Desktop Max. [NOTE ADDED 12/2013 - this item has recently been discontinued; the Weather Channel now provides apps free of charge.] Brought to you by The Weather Channel for $30/year, this desktop application provides a mini screen mode for viewing detailed weather forecasts for your local area and four other locations around the country. In addition to relaying information about present conditions, including a "map in motion" showing your local real-time radar (essential if you want to know where that thunderstorm you hear is located exactly), Desktop Max also provides extended forecasts (45-hour and 10-day), interactive maps, dining and travel conditions, pollen and allergy report, weather trivia and more. Even when “minimized,” it will “thunder” at you when a weather advisory or alert is issued. You can try this out before purchasing through their 7-day free trial offer.

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* For the record, with the exception of the "Weather Desktop Max," we have no direct experience with the other items listed here, so do your own research before purchasing. And if you do purchase any of these items or go on a storm chasing tour, please send us a review!

Gifts for the Weather Obsessed

It’s that time of year, and we here at Head in the Clouds Amherst have been looking around at what’s out there, and what we ourselves own, to compile a list of “Top Ten Gifts for Weather Watchers.”* While we sometimes enjoy “storm in a tube” toys, fake snow in a can, and depictions of the weather on paraphernalia like caps, t-shirts, and jewelry, we vastly prefer equipment, tools, and guidebooks that enable us to get closer to the real thing.  So with that in mind, here are the first five of our top 10 picks - we will post the other half of the list later this week (see the second half of the list here). And PLEASE add your own recommendations in the comments section – we LOVE new ideas!

      1. WeatherStation.  [Note added 12/8/2013: The station we featured here in our 2012 posting is no longer available.Check out other Oregan Scientific stations now available here, or see our 2013 gift list for a more affordable option.] There are lots of varieties of weather stations out there, but we quite like the look of this one, which is on sale right now through Oregon Scientific for $169.99. Any good weather station comes with at least one outdoor sensor that sends information (usually temperature, humidity, and sometimes wind speed and direction) back to your main display at home or in your office.  Each model’s price tends to depend on how much information is provided, but not always – you may also be paying for brand, style/size, color, etc.  This particular weather station provides weather forecast, Atomic time, wind speed and direction, indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, barometric pressure with bar graph, and rainfall reading with bar graph. Best of all, it also comes with three Thermometer and Humidity Sensors so you can monitor temperature and humidity of three different locations from your Main Display. I have owned a basic weather station for years, and refer to it multiple times each day.  If price is not an issue and you are interested in tracking minute weather changes over time, check out the Davis Vantage Pro2 Weather Station ($430-$536) and other models that allow you to organize data through your computer.

      2.   Stablicers.  LL Bean sells these for $21.95, but you can undoubtedly find versions of these all over the place this time of year. I swear by these (I call them my "ice cleats") – not only are they invaluable for hauling garbage cans down an icy driveway and walking the dog on icy days, but they enable you to walk out after an ice storm with camera in hand and capture some amazing scenes. Clueless people will occasionally make some comment about not needing these, as though only people of a certain age would wear them to keep from falling. That lasts until the first glaze of ice confines them to their house (or they fall while hauling a garbage can to their curb). Weather watchers who like to follow the weather will probably have two sets, one in the car and one in the house.

      3.  NationalAudobon Society Field Guide to Weather (North America).  This guide is the most popular reference to every type of weather system, cloud formation, and atmospheric phenomenon common to North America. The 378 dramatic photographs capture cloud types, precipitation, storms, twisters, and optical phenomena such as the Northern Lights. Essays with accompanying maps and illustrations discuss the earth's atmosphere, weather systems, cloud formation, and development of tornadoes and many other weather events. You can purchase it through this link for $19.95 from Mount Washington Observatory, and you can also order this online from a vast array of sellers. 

      4. Self-powered NOAA Weather Radio.  This is one of the more inexpensive versions we’ve seen (at $32.99) – but do check out the features on different varieties before you buy.  A NOAA weather radio is an important piece of equipment to have as part of your weather emergency kit. These radios function as a dedicated receiver to alert you 24 hours a day to hazards in your area, even when the power goes out.

      5.      Membership to the Cloud Appreciation Society. For the weather watcher who has everything except this, treat them to a bit of pure fun. For about $14.00, they will receive a membership certificate, enamel “cloud” badge, occasional emails about cloud watching (from a decidedly quirky and fun crew), and that great feeling of belonging to a group that understands. You can also find other unique and affordable gifts here, including the annual Cloudspotting Calendar (for $16), and the ultimate Cloudspotter Gift Box ($60), which includes a life-time membership, badge, window sticker, Cloud Collector’s Handbook, Society window sticker, and Society mug.

Please add your own suggestions in the comments section, and go to our second "gift list" posting from 2012 and our updated all-new gift list for 2018 for more great gift ideas!

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* For the record, we have not tested most of the equipment listed here, so do your own research before purchasing – and we also don’t work with anyone who makes or sells these items, so our only ulterior motive in recommending them is our hope that our family and friends are paying attention!

Look to the East Tonight

I've already seen two meteors tonight, and I was just driving at the time. Tonight promises to be clear, dark, and cold for a great viewing of the "Leonids," a meteor shower that will be peaking between midnight and especially before dawn, at about 4 am. Expect to see 10-15 meteors per hour. Sure, you will be half asleep and cold (bundle up), but trust me, it'll be worth the view!

Pumpkin Bread Cupcakes

It's that time of the year, of course. Crisp, cool days, and frost on the pumpkin overnight (those pumpkins that haven't been harvested yet, anyway). We've added a new recipe to our "Weather Cooks" page - an easy, incredibly moist pumpkin bread, or, for a decadent twist on the classic pumpkin bread, pumpkin bread cupcakes. Don't let the simplicity of this recipe fool you - people simply go crazy for these delectable treats!

Venice Under Water

People sit at a table in a flooded Piazza San Marco in Venice, on November 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)

Over the past few weeks, while we have been watching Sandy here at home, the people of Venice, Italy have been experiencing some of the worst flooding in decades as a result of heavy rains and high tides. Although "acqua alta", or high water, is common in Venice this time of year, right now 70% of the city is at least partially under water and water levels are now among the highest ever recorded. The photos of this year's flood show both the vast extent of the deluge as well as the ability of many residents to take it all in stride. Of course, part of what makes many of these scenes so bizarre to non-locals is just how "normal" they seem. Is this just another face of global warming worldwide? For more photos of flooding in Venice, click here.

Swimming at Puffers - in November!

Lone swimmer at Puffer's Pond - 11/12/2012

Ducks paddling at Puffer's Pond - 11/12/2012

Anyone who’s been visiting this blog regularly knows that we post updates, just about daily, on conditions at Puffer’s Pond, including air and water temperature. Today – with the water temperature at an even 43° F – we actually spotted a man swimming. No, it wasn’t some accidental slip on the rocks that sent him into the frigid water, but a determination to get into shape. He insists that cold water swims are essential to his training and weight loss regimen. The one caveat he provided – just don’t stay in the water too long or you might risk nerve damage. Needless to say, I won’t be putting that to the test anytime soon. As soon as I told him what the thermometer was reading, he jumped back in – apparently knowing it was all of 43° F made it that much easier to bear!

A blue and gold mistake

These are the days when birds come back,
A very few, a bird or two,
To take a backward look.

These are the days when skies put on
The old, old sophistries of June, --
A blue and gold mistake . . . .

Oh, sacrament of summer days,
Oh, last communion in the haze,
Permit a child to join,

Thy sacred emblems to partake,
Thy consecrated bread to break,
Taste thine immortal wine!

Whatever we might say about the upcoming warm days we are about to experience here in Amherst, Emily Dickinson said it better in this poem. And while the weather we are having does not qualify as the "Indian Summer"* Emily is describing here (at least, that's how we read this poem's meaning), this still seems like a perfect time to offer up this seasonal literary gem. For more such gems, and for local resources on Emily Dickinson, visit our popular "Emily's House" page.

* An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather (above 70 degrees F) occurring after a hard frost - in our area this would normally occur between late-September to mid-November. Since the temperature is not expected to go above the mid-60s, these next few days do not technically qualify as Indian Summer.

Occupy Sandy

Thousands in New York City remain without clean water, food, heat, or power. Relief efforts by locals offer continuing direct aid to the neighborhoods most affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Please visit: interoccupy.net/occupysandy

Video by:
Alex Mallis | @analectfilms
Eric Phillips-Horst
Nicodemus Nicoludis

Music by:
Loscil

brooklynfilmmakerscollective.com | @brooklynfilmny
analectfilms.com

Wind on the Water

Given the gloomy, cold, and blustery day we are experiencing, it may be hard to imagine a sunny, warmer, and dry weekend. Temps are heading into the 50s on Saturday and Sunday – and even the mid-sixties by Monday, Veteran’s Day. It’s shaping up to be a great final week to the season at Cherry Hill, our “golf course for everyone” here in Amherst. Keep in mind that Cherry Hill closes for the season on November 15^th, so this weekend would be a great time to get in a last game or two before winter. On the other hand, if you are tempted to squeeze in one more swim at Puffer’s Pond, you may want to reconsider. How many degrees did the water temperature off South Beach drop over the last 4 days?  10 degrees! Look to our Puffer’s Pond mini-report (right sidebar on the Head in the Clouds Amherst home page) for the more or less daily water temperature number.

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory Sky - 11/7/2012  4:15 PM

Although I hate to intrude on all the post-Election Day festivities (and let’s face it, the vast majority of folks in Amherst are festive today), this weather blog would be remiss not to point out the obvious - there is a storm coming, and if the sky is any way to judge, we are going to get at least some amount of snow. Or, put another way, let's hope it's snow. The temperature is hovering just above freezing right now - at 33° - and that always means precipitation could come down as freezing rain. In fact, the Amherst area is currently under a winter weather advisory, with the forecast predicting snow accumulations of 2-4 inches.  But it’s the glazing of ice you need to watch out for (6 inches of snow is possible at higher elevations). Snow should be overspreading the region from south to north late this afternoon into early evening, at which point we are likely to get some freezing drizzle, which may last overnight.  We also have that tell-tale gusty northeast wind (hence another nor’easter). I’m planning to do some laundry and wash the dishes . . . just in case the power goes down.  How glad are you that this storm didn't hit yesterday?!

Jupiter in the Northeast

We haven't had many clear nights to see the stars, but this is one of them. Cold, crisp dark skies. Even if you can't stay for long, I highly recommend stepping outside your door right now and looking up. You can't miss the really bright star-like object rising in the east-northeast (moving overhead towards the west if you are reading this later in the evening). That's the planet Jupiter. If you have a pair of binoculars, you might even be able to pick out several of Jupiter's moons (small points of light around the planet). In the midst of the election eve barrage of messages, it can be very soothing to look up into a dark quiet, and brilliant night sky.

New Storm on the Way

As we posted a few days ago, a significant East Coast storm appears likely for Wednesday and Thursday this week with gusty winds, rain and inland mountain snow. Just to be clear, this is NOT a hurricane and not expected to be anywhere near the intensity of Sandy. Although the strongest impact is likely to be felt along the coast, the European computer model (which early on predicted Sandy and Irene accurately) is also forecasting snow on the back end of this week's storm, probably at higher elevations to the west and north of the Pioneer Valley. Of course, small deviations in the storm track can significantly change where the impact is felt, so keep an eye on the weather forecast - and this blog - over the next few days. For coastal areas that are still recovering from Sandy, this is not good news. Falling temperatures are making life even more miserable for folks still without power, and no one needs another nor'easter now. The one positive note here is that Election Day is unlikely to be impacted in Massachusetts. For more on this storm, see this video from The Weather Channel.

Cider Donut Run

Cider Donut Runners, 11/4/2012

It's hard to imagine a charity run with a more enticing name! Although it was a cold start to the day, hovering at freezing at 6 am, it's warmed up to a comfortable 50° F, the sun is shining, and the sky is mostly blue dotted with sporadic altocumulus clouds.  (Note how we just rolled out some fancy cloud terminology there.) Perfect weather, we assume, for the Cider Donut Run 10k and 4k walk/run for the Amherst Survival Center. The route winds through the more scenic roads of North Amherst, ending up at Mill River Recreation Area.  We assume there are cider donuts at the finish line, which (along with the fine weather, lovely scenery, and great cause) should make it all worthwhile.

Voting and the Storm

Please pass along this information to anyone you know who is not able to get to their polling place because of Sandy.

New York: The board of elections has approved an extension of the deadline for completed absentee ballots to be received (until November 19), but they still must be postmarked no later than this Monday, November 5. (After Friday, you can write a letter authorizing a representative to pick up an absentee ballot application and ballot for you at your county board of elections.)

Connecticut: In-person voter registration deadline was extended to Thursday, November 1, at 8 pm, but applications may still be faxed as long as the original arrives prior to the close of the polls on Tuesday.

New Jersey: To vote electronically, displaced voters may submit a mail-in ballot application either by e-mail or fax to their county clerk. Once an application is approved, the clerk will electronically send a ballot to the voter by either fax or e-mail in accordance to the voter’s preference. Voters must return their electronic ballot – by fax or email – no later than November 6, 2012, at 8 p.m.

Pennsylvania: Absentee voters in counties where election officers were closed this week have until 5 p.m. Monday, 11/5 to submit their ballots, either by mail or in person. The extension applies only to counties where the office of the board of elections was closed due to the storm.

The Daily Show Takes on Sandy

Those who turned to The Daily Show last Wednesday in the hopes of finding a reason to smile in the wake of Hurricane Sandy were not disappointed.  This segment, which exposes the great divide between the “haves” and “have nots” (those who have power on Manhattan and those who don’t), had us laughing out loud. 

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Hurricane Sandy's Aftermath
www.thedailyshow.com
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It is strange and unsettling, how fast these distinctions (haves and have nots) become a reality. When we saw The Daily Show team in action, we immediately thought about last year in Amherst, when even people in the same community, on the same street, were divided by access to power. Some people were out and about looking all clean and scrubbed, buying frozen food without a second thought, and going about their day as though nothing unusual had occurred. And then there was everyone else (that would have been us for about four days), clothes layered without regard to style, hair barely combed, dazed look on our faces as we searched for a shower and a power outlet, and resenting the “power possessors” just a little (except of course for the “power possessors” who helped us).  

Storm in the Forecast

That's right everyone. Setting up for next Wednesday/Thursday, a nor'easter looks to be advancing on our region, taking a swipe at New York first. Not expected to be a huge storm, by any means, but enough to hinder relief efforts in an already storm-weary New York.

Weather Politics

It’s official. With election day a mere four days away (it’s Tuesday, November 6 for anyone who’s been living under a rock), local chatter about the weather has shifted from storms and winds, where Sandy is/was, and when the power will come back to lower Manhattan, Staten Island, New Jersey, etc. to speculation about how these recent weather events will impact the election. That’s not to say Amherst residents have moved on and forgotten about the huge number of people still suffering or the enormous recovery going on immediately to our south - far from it. Many of us are in contact with or helping out friends and relatives in these areas, some of us are volunteering with rescue efforts, and many others are donating to relief efforts. But in this proudly political town, which also tends to turn out a significant Democratic majority (87% of voters cast ballots for Obama in 2008), the worry is not only that people in devastated regions won’t be able to vote, but that even if they were able to vote, they just might not care. Many of us went through our own extended power outage during last year’s Halloween weather catastrophe, and it’s easy to imagine the search for basic necessities (heat, fuel, food, hot water, plumbing, shelter, someone to help clear your property) driving everything else off the radar. Of course, the pundits are endlessly reflecting on the impact of Obama’s and Romney’s responses to the storm, how this or that nod will influence voters, and what the polls are doing. The two big stories leading every headline: the aftermath of Sandy and the election.  It may seem that “weather talk” is always a safe bet, never included in the “do not talk about” categories of religion, sex, and politics. But the truth is, from Sandy to Katrina, climate change to FEMA, politics and weather collide all the time. So until Tuesday, expect to hear a lot more about weather and the election. And after that - maybe finally? - some meaningful dialogue and action on climate change. In the meantime, we encourage anyone and everyone to vote – no matter what side you come down on, your voice matters.

(By the way, speaking of climate change, we highly recommend this New England Aquarium site for how climate change is already impacting New England. Also see, from 2008, "Exploring the link between weather and elections," by NPR.)

Sandy "Gives Up the Ghost"

This video animation of Sandy’s life cycle is an incredible view of just how far this storm traveled. The NOAA’s GOES-13 satellite imagery (released by the NASA GOES Project) runs from October 23 through yesterday, when Sandy was officially downgraded to a remnant low pressure area. The fact that the storm “gave up the ghost” (so to speak) on Halloween has provided great fodder for the twitterverse, apparently.