Special weather to usher out 2016

A "SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT" has just been released for our general area (including Eastern Hampshire County/Amherst) for snow starting later this evening between 7-10 pm and tapering off between 1-4 am. This is not the forecast one generally wishes for on New Year's Eve. Lower elevations (like here) may get a snow-rain mix at the beginning. Expect a coating of snow to 2 inches, more at higher elevations. In addition to the usual hazards of New Year's Eve travel, add slippery roads to the mix. Enjoy your evening, everyone - and stay safe out there.

Something (snow) stormy this way comes!

A WINTER STORM WATCH has now been posted for Amherst - and really all of Western and Northern Massachusetts - beginning Thursday morning, December 29, through Friday morning. If that sounds like a long period, you are correct. Computer models have converged around the fact that this is likely to be a significant snowstorm, but they are less decisive on timing. Somewhere between 4-8 inches of heavy, wet snow is currently forecast, with a high likelihood of at least 6 inches around here. Models currently have the snow starting up on Thursday morning, intensifying Thursday afternoon and early night. It all should taper off after midnight on Thursday. Expect hazardous driving conditions and poor visibility -- and increasing accuracy with respect to amounts and timing as we go through Wednesday.

December 26 Freezing Rain Advisory

Black Ice Driveway
(see how deceptive black ice can be?)
Photo by S. Vardatira, Amherst MA

A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY has been issued for 3-11 pm Monday, December 26, the first day of Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, third night of Chanukah, and generally busy shopping day around these parts. Location of the advisory includes Western and Central Massachusetts, encompassing Hampshire County and the surrounding areas. A few hundredths of an inch of light freezing rain is forecast, possibly with sleet mixed in. Although patches of light freezing rain may break out mid-afternoon Monday, it is more likely to occur early Monday evening. The main impact will be a light coating of ice on untreated roadways and sidewalks, which can be dangerous for anyone out and about at that time. Slow down and use caution while driving. Better yet, finish up early and spend the evening playing board games, lighting candles (if that's your tradition), or reading a good book. After about 11 pm, temperatures will have warmed to above freezing. And Tuesday will dawn soon after.

Interstellar Christmas Tree

This photo of the Christmas Tree Cluster was taken with the Wide Field Imager at ESO’s La Silla Observatory, 2400m high in the Atacama Desert of Chile in the foothills of the Andes. The image shows a region of space about 30 light-years across.

Just as weather clouds breed rain, molecular clouds breed stars. They are a form of interstellar cloud, and this one in the Monoceros constellation is known as the "Christmas Tree Cluster." It has a triangular arrangement of stars that is shaped like a Christmas tree, and it was so nicknamed by amateur astronomers who noticed the resemblance. Buried within the constellation is a compact group of red protostars. These newborns, swaddled in the surrounding molecular cloud, form the pattern of a snowflake. Perhaps not surprisingly, astronomers have nicknamed this part of the Christmas Tree Cluster, the "Snowflake Cluster." (Posting courtesy of the Cloud Appreciation Society)

Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating today from Head in the Clouds Amherst!

The Icing Cometh

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is now in effect from 1 AM to 3 PM Saturday for Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties (as well as parts of Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island). Locally we are expected to get 3-6 inches of snow and up to one tenth of an inch of ice. With temperatures this cold right now, it stands to reason that we can’t go from a major snow event to all rain without some icing in the middle. Freezing rain and ice accretion is nothing to mess around with – best to hunker down and ride this one out.

If you don't like the weather, wait a minute

Hadley Farms in Snow - Photo by S. Vardatira

The next 48 hours looks to typify that saying, "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes." (Attributed to Mark Twain)

We had sub-zero temperatures earlier this morning, followed by high pressure building over the region during the today, which will diminish the wind as the day progresses. The high quickly moves off to the east tonight, making way for a warm front to bring approximately 3-5 inches of snow to our local area late tonight and Saturday morning (higher amounts at higher elevations). The warming air should then change the snow to rain during the day on Saturday. Rain continues through Sunday, with the warming trend continuing along with blustery southerly winds. A shot of Arctic air then moves in Sunday night into Monday, followed by a warm front which will usher in more seasonable conditions for most of next week.

And, of course, what would the holidays be without the chance of a "late-week" storm right before Christmas? But there's still a lot of uncertainty about that, so no need to panic yet. And in the meantime, don your best "New Englander" identity and enjoy our weekend weather roller coaster ride. 

Freezing rain and sleet

High likelihood of freezing rain and sleet Monday morning. Especially as the temperature is hovering just around 31 degrees at midnight Sunday. In other words, check your driveway before you step out on it.

First "plowable snow" storm of the season arrives tonight

First storm of the season, 2011 - Amherst, MA
Photo by S. Vardatira

Yes! Snow coming!

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY is in effect for our area from 7 PM this evening to 1 PM Monday afternoon for much of Southern New England, including Eastern Hampshire County and Amherst. Plowable snowfall is expected for much of interior Southern New England overnight, with a slow transition of snow to ice north of the Mass Pike and west of I-495. In other words, expect the morning commute to be challenging. 2-5” of snow is forecast to fall locally, with as much as 6” across the hill country and the Berkshires. Computer models are are varying on how long cold air will hold in the region, and this may result in snow accumulation adjustments and possibly ice accumulation adjustments. Key considerations for this storm first storm of the season include:

1) Timing of the onset of the storm. It will initially be cold, and if snow is able to reach the ground Sunday Evening, it will be a lighter, fluffier snow, which could allow for more accumulation. If it is too dry, it may take time for thing to moisten up to allow snow to reach the ground.

2) How long the cold air is able to remain entrenched in the region and how deep the cold air will be. This will determine if snow is able to last longer, particularly in interior locations (like Amherst) and how much any ice accumulation could be in the area. It should be noted that temperatures were colder than expected this morning, and how much warming occurs during today could affect snow and ice amounts.

3) Storm track and how quickly the secondary low formation occurs and where it tracks. This could also impact the amount of cold air in the region.

And now onto the important question – have you got bread and milk?

Stay safe out there everyone. For new drivers, the first storm of the season always presents a steep learning curve.

Born on this day, 1830

"We have had fatal weather - thermometer two below zero all day, without a word of apology. Summer was always dear, but such a kiss as she'll get from me if I ever see her again, will make her cry, I know...." (Letter to Frances Norcross, 1862)

                                       - Emily Dickinson, born in Amherst on this day in 1830

Photo of the Dickinson Homestead by S. Vardatira
(This was the September photo in the 2014 Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar)

Below December Clouds

"Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. There is always something to make you wonder in the shape of a tree, the trembling of a leaf."

- Albert Schweitzer

Cumulus clouds over Hadley farms - Hadley, MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, 12/2/2016

Day's End in November

Day's end in November - Mt. Pollux, Amherst MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, 11/27/2016

 “It is also November. The noons are more laconic and the sunsets sterner, and Gibraltar lights make the village foreign. November always seemed to me the Norway of the year.” 

                                       Emily Dickinson, Letters, 1845-1886

Nightfall from Mt. Pollux tonight was more eventful than anticipated, as the clouds closed in with the darkness, eventually giving up their moisture in the form of rain at first, then sleet and a brief interval of hail. A chilly, biting, true November evening in Amherst.

Simple Gifts

Sunset tonight over Simple Gifts Farm, North Amherst.

Photo by Sharon Vardatira, 11/10/2016

Daylight Saving Time Ends Tonight (and why it's not about the farmers)

Sun in Winter, Photo by S. Vardatira

Ben Franklin did not invent it, nor does it have anything to do with helping farmers - just a few things you may have wrong about Daylight Saving (not Savings) Time. And while we're on the topic, it ends tonight, so set your clocks back one hour. And enjoy today's last sunlit late afternoon until next spring.

Click here to learn eight things you probably don't know about Daylight Saving Time

2017 Head in the Clouds Amherst Wall Calendar - Now Available!

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Actual calendar photos and daily entries are high resolution, 
much sharper than the images shown here

If you are looking for a unique Amherst gift that will keep giving all year round, look no further than our new Head in the Clouds Amherst 2017 Wall Calendar. This year's calendar features:

• Beautiful, seasonal nature photos taken in Amherst by twelve different photographers (scroll down for their names). 
• Over 100 daily entries highlighting: astronomical events visible from Amherst with the naked eye (full moon, new moon, meteor showers, and even a solar eclipse this year!); anniversaries of catastrophic weather events that occurred in Amherst and New England between 1660 and 2016; and pivotal dates in Amherst history. 

This is that perfect gift for Amherst residents and tourists, expatriates, college students here or away, writers and poets, and nature lovers. This calendar will have them (and you) falling in love with Amherst month after month. Full size when open is 17" high and 11" wide. 

Price is $14.00 per calendar purchased through this website (higher at local stores).

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ONLINE NOW: 

You can also purchase our calendar at Hastings, Amherst Books, Atkins Farms, and the UMass Campus Store. Call before you go over just to make sure they have calendars in stock (we do our best to keep the stores supplied, but it's not unusual for them to run out several times during a season). Hastings is downtown at 45 South Pleasant Street on the Common. Amherst Books is located at the center of downtown Amherst at 8 Main Street.Atkins Farms now has two stores, the flagship store near Hampshire College, at 1150 West St., and Atkins North at 113 Cowls Road in North Amherst. And the UMass Store, where anyone can shop (not just students), is located in the Campus Center at UMass Amherst.

For questions or special requests (including arranging for pick up in Amherst), please mail Sharon at CloudsAmherst[@]gmail[.]com. 
The [at] and [dot] are done to keep email addresses from being collected by spammers and harvesting robots. You just have to replace them for [@] and [.] when you write your e-mail.

Between Woods and Frozen Lake
Cushman Brook, North Amherst ~ Photo by Sharon Vardatira

Snowy Sunrise Over the Holyoke Range
Station Road, Amherst ~ Photo by Pamela Berwald Bingham
(also featured on calendar cover)

Almost Spring
South Amherst ~ Photo by Mindy Domb

Small Ones Farm
Bay Road, Amherst ~ Photo by Elisa Campbell

Morning Fog
UMass Campus Pond, Amherst ~ Photo by Stephanie O'Keeffe

Spring in Amherst
Sweetser Park ~ Photo by Kathie Sullivan

Nature's Fireworks
Amherst, July 4, 2016 ~ Photo by Marian Wolfsun

The Dragon of Moody Bridge Road
Border of Amherst and Hadley ~ Photo by Brian LeClair

Rainbow Over UMass
Amherst ~ Photo by Joshua R. Wolfsun

Heron on Puffer's Pond Dam
North Amherst ~ Photo by Anna-Beth Winograd

Fall on Bridge
Robert Frost Trail, North Amherst ~ Photo by Meg Rosa

Forever
Hickory Ridge Golf Course ~ Photo by Ben Harper

Shutesbury's Northern Lights "Crown of Pillars"

Northern Lights "Crown of Pillars" - Lake Wyola, Shutesbury
Photo by Susan Adams Panlilio, taken just after midnight last night, 9/2/2016

Wonderful pic of aurora taken in Shutesbury last night by friend of Head in the Clouds Amherst, Susan Adams Panlilio. There has been a good amount of geomagnetic activity over the past week which can lead to aurora sightings even around here. Thanks so much for sharing, Susan!

First sign of fall

Twilight through Pines - UMass Amherst facing west, 2015
Photo by S. Vardatira

A line from this afternoon's Southern New England SKYWARN email (National Weather Service) definitely caught my attention: "A cold front will move through Southern New England overnight into early Monday Morning and will bring the first fall-like temperatures of the late summer for a couple of days to start the new work week."

And just like that the season begins to change. ‪#‎Winteriscoming‬

Amherst Institutes Mandatory Water Restrictions

MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS AS OF MIDNIGHT.

Those of you who were alarmed by our 8/14 photo of Atkins Reservoir (namely the low water level) were not alone. The Reservoir is at 50%, and use spikes around the corner when the students return. In a move designed to be proactive, on Monday the Amherst Select Board voted to institute mandatory residential water restrictions starting at midnight tonight. The following activities will be prohibited: watering lawns, washing vehicles at non-commercial locations, washing building, sidewalks, and patios, and filling swimming pools. Residents are also encouraged to conserve water in other ways.

If only there were a way to distribute some of the 30" of rain that inundated Louisiana to other parts of the country that are dry and scorched.

Statement from the Town, as well as related resources follow below.

2016 Mandatory Water Restrictions

The Select Board, acting in its capacity as Water Commissioners, has authorized David Ziomek, Temporary Town Manager to implement Mandatory Water Restrictions for the Town of Amherst effective at 12:01 AM on Friday August 19th. Theses restrictions will stay in place until further notice. These restrictions are the result of a continued period of low precipitation and recent downgrade of the Connecticut River Region from drought advisory to drought watch status by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

The Town of Amherst asks residents to comply with these restrictions to help address the impacts of drought conditions. This is an urgent situation- water conservation steps taken now will preserve water supplies in coming months should drought conditions continue. The Town has been working closely in partnership with the major institutional users in the community- the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, and Hampshire College- to reduce overall water consumption. The community is very grateful for this collaborative effort as we enter a new academic year and as our population increases. Temporary Town Manager David Ziomek emphasized, "I'm asking all residents to work together to help the community thorough this difficult period. We all need to do as much as we can to conserver water now, so we have adequate supplies in September and October."

Mandatory water restrictions apply to all residential customers of the Amherst public water system and include the following prohibitions:

1. Watering lawns by any method.

2. Washing cars or trucks at non-commercial vehicle washes.
3. Washing of buildings, sidewalks or patios.
4. Filling of swimming pools.

The following water uses are allowed under these mandatory restrictions:

1. For the production of food and fiber for personal use or commercial sale.
2. For the maintenance of livestock.
3. To meet the core functions of a business (for example, irrigation by plant nurseries as
necessary to maintain stock).
4. For health and safety reasons.

The Town is also asking residents to conserve water in a variety of ways, including taking
briefer showers, avoiding letting the tap run while brushing teeth or washing dishes, and 
other simple behavioral changes.

Resources

• Please follow these tips to save water
• Commonwealth of MA's guidance on municipal water restrictions
• Commonwealth of MA's drought declaration, July 6, 2016
• Amherst 2016 Water Usage Compared to 10-Year Average
• Amherst 2016 Rainfall Summary Compared to 10-Year Average

Witchy wonderful moon

It's cooler out there than it's been, but still short sleeve warm, with a witchy wonderful moon above. Lunar corona (rainbow halo around the moon) caused by tiny ice crystals in the drifting high, thin cirrus clouds. The August full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, as well as the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon. But go ahead and make up your own name - dare to be different!

Full "Strugeon" Moon with corona through clouds, Amherst MA - 8/17/2016
Photo by S. Vardatira

Lightning over Lake Wyola

Incredible photo of lightning over Lake Wyola last night - taken by friend of Head in the Clouds Amherst, Susan Adams Panlilio. Thanks so much for sharing, Susan!

Lightning over Lake Wyola, Shutesbury MA - 8/13/2016
Photo by Susan Adams Panlilio

Seeking Photos for the 2017 Head in the Clouds Amherst Calendar!

Your photo could be featured (kind of like this) in our upcoming 2017 calendar!

CALLING ALL AMHERST-AREA (and AMHERST VISITING) PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Head in the Clouds Amherst is seeking photo submissions for our 2017 calendar. Back by popular demand, this year's calendar will once again feature monthly photos taken by 12 different photographers. You can see last year’s calendar, here. 

The deadline to submit is September 1, 2016. Submissions can be emailed or uploaded via Google Drive to CloudsAmherst@gmail.com. Please enter "HITC 2017 Calendar Photo Submissions" in the subject line.

Along with your photo(s), please include: a caption or title; who is in the photo (unless it's a crowd scene or taken from a distance), where it was taken, the photographer's name, and your contact information.

All submissions must have been taken in Amherst or feature a scenic view of Amherst. And photos must also depict scenes that evoke the seasons and the intersection of life and weather. In addition to those qualities, if your photo also captures one or more of these themes it will get special consideration:

• Amherst landmarks (popular gathering sites, university/colleges, museums, etc.)
• Amherst annual events and happenings 
• Clouds formations and weather phenomena (over or around Amherst)

Click on this link for additional tips on submitting winning Head in the Clouds Amherst photos. And keep in mind that we will not consider photos that are low resolution, low quality, or that contain inappropriate material. 

We welcome photos by professionals and amateurs, in color or black and white. And we’re also counting on friends of Head in the Clouds re-submitting photos you’ve already sent to us over the year. You can submit as many photos as you like.

If your photo is selected for the 2017 calendar, you will receive a free calendar and reduced rates on any additional calendars you opt to purchase. 

So what are you waiting for??? Start flipping through your photo collection – or grab your camera and make some new memories. We can’t wait to see what you’ve got!

Threat of Severe Weather this Afternoon

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH has just been issued for our region through 8 pm. The forecast is calling for isolated to scattered thunderstorms and severe weather in localized areas across Western and Central Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut, including damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. There is a secondary threat for an isolated tornado. On the plus side, the severe weather is coming as a cold front swings through the area later today into Monday night. So for the next few days at least, temperatures should dip into the lower 80s, making it much more tolerable.

If you are outside or on the water this afternoon, keep your eye on the sky and be ready to take cover inside.

Amherst on July 16th, Then and Now

Summer afternoon cumulus, Hadley MA - July 16, 2016
Photo by S. Vardatira

On this day in 1879, a disastrous tornado swept across Massachusetts from west to east. Local and regional newspapers called it "the storm of the decade." Two people in Pittsfield were killed, and lightning struck the almshouse in South Amherst as well as many other buildings across town.

I always feel it helps, when lamenting the weather (today's insanely high temps for example) to remember that it could be worse. Although, in truth, extremely hot weather can be just as lethal if you don't have somewhere to cool off. Speaking of cooling off, I just drove past Puffer's Pond and have concluded that at least half the town is parked on State Street. Best approach on foot if you feel called to the water.

Tornado Watch Posted for Western MA (including Amherst)!

View looking west from CT River (Hadley), Photo by S. Vardatira (from July 2015)

TORNADO WATCH just posted for our region through to 10 pm tonight, though the greatest threat is for an isolated tornado for late afternoon and especially this evening across Western MA.

Isolated and widely scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and evening. A few of the thunderstorms early this evening have the potential to be strong to severe. Damaging wind, dangerous cloud to ground lightning, and heavy rainfall are the primary threats. However large hail and a brief isolated tornado are also possible. Timing of the strongest storms will be 6-9 pm across Western MA. Take appropriate measures and stay tuned for updates.

Hmmm. Can I be done with work in time for a little storm spotting and chasing action? (Always done cautiously and with eye on radar, of course!)

Revisiting the Tornado of June 14, 1877

139 years ago today, a tornado swept through the Pioneer Valley, damaging much of Northampton and destroying the covered bridge which crossed the Connecticut River to Hadley. Eleven people and six teams of horses (or was it 15 people and 10 teams of horses?) went down with the bridge. Read all about it here, in a prior Head in the Clouds Amherst post from 2013....

Pioneer Valley Weather History: The Tornado of 1877

Sundown over the Valley

Tonight's sunset was brief but spectacular. Here's one view, sent to us by friend of Head in the Clouds Amherst, Joshua Wolfsun. Wow!

Sundown in the Valley - Hadley, MA, 6/13/2016
Photo by Joshua Wolfsun

Noctilucent Cloud Season Starts Today (to our north)

Noctilucent clouds over Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, by A.J. Hidding
(originally posted by The Cloud Appreciation Society)

June 1st is not only the start of hurricane season, but it is also the start of Noctilucent Cloud Season in the Northern Hemisphere. Meaning ‘night-shining’ in Latin, noctilucent clouds are only visible after dark, when they shine out against the night sky as eerie, bluish ripples. They are visible primarily in the higher latitudes, between 50˚ and 70˚ from the equator. Although this is north of Amherst (and the entire U.S. for that matter), look for them if you are vacationing this summer in Canada or other northern climes (U.K, Europe, China, Mongolia, etc.).

At altitudes of around 50 miles, these are by far the highest clouds in the sky, forming in a very cold and dry region of our atmosphere, the mesosphere. Being so high up, they still catch the light long after the sun has dipped below the horizon and the lower atmosphere is in shadow. Look for these clouds during summer in the hours after sunset and before sunrise, when the lower sky is clear.

Eye on the sky

Keep your eye on the sky as today unfolds...

Weather Cooks Hadley Asparagus (Tart)

Asparagus at Amherst Farmstand (aka Hadley asparagus?!), Amherst MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, 5/15/2016

Weather Cooks entry by Marian -

Spring has arrived in the Happy Valley…lilacs are blooming and farmstands offer Hadley asparagus everywhere you drive!  Personally, my favorite way to enjoy asparagus is steamed and tossed in some butter with salt and pepper, although roasted is delicious, grilled is tasty, and I’ll confess to enjoying a few servings of decadent deep fried asparagus.  But maybe you feel inspired to experiment with something more…extraordinary? 

The recipe below is SO simple, it’s really worth the 5 ingredients and 5 easy steps.  It is absolutely elegant enough for a dinner party but so easy that you can make it any evening.  It’s delicious hot, warm, room temperature and even cold.  Enjoy!

Hadley Asparagus Tart

Flour, for work surface

1 sheet frozen puff pastry  (yes, use store bought, it’s delicious)
5 1/2 ounces (2 cups) Gruyere cheese, shredded
1 1/2 pounds medium or thick asparagus
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a floured surface, roll the puff pastry into a 16-by-10-inch rectangle and place it on a baking sheet.

With a sharp knife, lightly score pastry dough 1 inch in from the edges to mark a rectangle. Using a fork, pierce dough inside the markings at 1/2-inch intervals. This will create the edges of your “asparagus pool.” 

Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.

Remove pastry shell from oven, and sprinkle with cheese (gruyere or fontina works best). Trim the bottoms of the asparagus spears to fit crosswise inside the tart shell; arrange in a single layer over the cheese, alternating ends and tips.

Brush with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until spears are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

For more seasonal recipes, see our Weather Cooks Page...

Cumulus and steam at Yellowstone

Friend of Head in the Clouds Amherst, to be known as "smf," sent us this amazing photo of Yellowstone from her recent journey out west. Those are cumulus clouds in the sky (background), with steam rising off (I am now guessing) Grand Prismatic Hot Spring. Thanks so much for sending this our way!

Cumulus and Steam, Yellowstone National Park,Wyoming
Photo by SMF, Spring 2016

Cloudspotting a Red Tailed Hawk

Red Tailed Hawk looking back, Hadley MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, 5/14/2016

Late afternoon cloudspotting drive, crossed paths with this red tailed hawk swooping across the sky and then alighting roadside. About 100 feet away, I exited my car and approached by foot. And got closer. And closer. And closer. Stopped at about 8 feet away because, well, talons and beak. Still, s/he seemed completely unperturbed by my presence and the camera.

Also enjoyed some amazing cloud vistas.

Sky ahead of front, looking west from Amherst MA
(Cumulus, altostratus, cirrus - maybe also cirrostratus or altocumulus?)
Photo by S. Vardatira, 5/14/2016

Lilacs now in the dooryard bloom

If only I could somehow post the scent of lilacs to this blog....

Lilacs Bloom - North Amherst MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, 5/11/2016

Clouds Calling

Truly, I was having a hard time looking anywhere but up today. The clouds were calling...

Clouds on the move (Light and Dark)

Providing a counterpoint to Amherst's annual UMass graduation frenzy (yes, this is that weekend!), we offer up 'Light & Dark’, a calm-inducing 50 second cloud video by Hong Hu, from Singapore. Here in Amherst, we've got a uniform gray sky without variation (stratus clouds, if you are keeping track). Just dreary.


Cloudspotting #001 / Light & Dark from Hong Hu on Vimeo.

Click here if the video does not display automatically:
https://vimeo.com/152128989

Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Today

More minor geomagnetic storm activity is predicted for today due to effects from a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream. Which means greater potential for aurora borealis (northern lights) at higher latitudes, to our north, and even possibly northern parts of Western MA over the next few nights.

Watch the video to learn more, but disregard the bizarre accompanying music - in fact I advise turning the sound off entirely. For those of you who cannot access the video from this page, click here. 

April Rain Song

Rain drops on window, Amherst MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, 4/22/2016

Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain. 

- April Rain Song, by Langston Hughes

Oh, I should probably mention that it's going to be a stormy afternoon and evening, as a cold front moves through Western Massachusetts, bringing much needed rain along with thunder and lightning, and occasional hail.

Snow in the Woods (in April, not January!)

Spring stream in snow, April 5, 2016
Photo by Laura Eve-Cowles, S. Deerfield MA

  You may be cursing the darkness, or rather the "whiteness" if you will, but moments like these don't last. Try to enjoy this late spring snow. It's beautiful out there! Fortunately, friend of Head in the Clouds Amherst, Laura Eve-Cowles, graced us with more beautiful photos of the woods in snow. The bottom photo on this page is the same vernal pool she photographed on Sunday (posted by us yesterday), only this time with even more snow. The sun is out now, and by Thursday this will all be fast melting away.

Snowy April Sunrise, April 4, 2016
Photo by Laura Eve-Cowles
S. Deerfield MA

Vernal Pool in Snow, April 4, 2016
Photo by Laura Eve-Cowles
S. Deerfield MA

Not exactly spring peeper weather...

Vernal pool in snow, South Deerfield MA - 4/3/2016
Photo by Laura Eve-Cowles

Hang on peepers, spring really is here - it's just gone into hiding at the moment. I wonder if peepers are stressed by this strange (early then absent) spring we've been experiencing?

Thanks to friend of Head in the Clouds Amherst, Laura Eve-Cowles, for this photo from yesterday - we love it when social media lights up with photos of unusual weather. Enjoy today's continuing snow, everyone, along with this unexpected snow day! (Yup, Amherst-Pelham schools are closed today.)

Winter Weather Advisory (yes, you heard that right)

Spring night sky with snow

What fun - snow in April.... !

Yes, indeed, a Winter Weather Advisory has just been posted for 3 am to 11 am Sunday (that would be overnight today into tomorrow). Areas to be impacted include all of Southern New England except for the South Coast, Cape and Islands. We are likely to experience 1-3 hours of heavy snow during that period, strong winds, and near whiteout conditions. Accumulation will probably be between 1-3 inches around here, all the way up to 5-6 inches at the higher elevations. 

Along the way, we’ll be treated to a whole range of weather phenomena (thank you, New England), starting out with high winds and maybe a rumble of thunder (isolated power outages possible), followed by rain spreading over the region, probably in the wee hours of Sunday morning around here. Snow will quickly come to an end by late Sunday morning.  NWS is calling this a potentially “high impact” but “short duration” event. So all you Saturday night revelers might want to head home early or plan to stay the night wherever you might be.