Happy Spring - now prepare for snow!

Daffodils felled by snow - North Amherst, MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, April 16, 2014

Happy first day of Spring, everyone - now prepare for snow!!

On the upside (if you don't want winter in earnest), we are only looking at 1-4 inches around here, probably more like 1-2 inches in Amherst. Most of it will fall between midnight and rush hour Monday morning, although flakes may start to fly as early as 8 pm tonight. Eastern Hampshire and Hampden counties will likely see the higher end of that range, with snowfall amounts decreasing as you head west (Eastern MA and Rhode Island will feel the brunt of this storm).

As for daffodils felled by snow, our own home-grown daffodils haven't even budded yet, so this scene seems unlikely. But it could be in our future - this photograph was taken two years ago on April 16, so don't assume tonight's event is winter's last gasp. Although, given the odd earliness of the season, it could well be.

"Models are struggling..."

Models (of a different sort) were struggling here!
Photo of photographer setting up wedding attire
fashion shot for Celia Grace, a fair trade wedding
dress business headquartered in Amherst.
(Model's coat came off for the real shots)
ON Puffer's Pond, 1/26/2013

"Models are struggling . . ."

No, not the start of a comedic sketch, or a battle of memes, or photo caption for a fashion shoot on a frozen Puffer's Pond (above), or a dark exploration of the underbelly of the fashion industry. Just another day in New England weather forecasting, as noted in this morning's missive from NOAA's Skywarn office: "[Computer] models are struggling with the different waves of energy and their expected track. Model runs through the day today should get a better handle on the storm situation for Sunday late Afternoon into Monday Morning."

In other words, no one is totally sure (at this moment) what the storm will do tomorrow. That being said, all indicators right now point to "our" winter storm actually being "their" winter storm (meaning down east, Cape and Islands). The models continue to show the storm tracking to our east. So it looks to be another coastal event, with us getting very little.

Sigh. I wouldn't mind just one big snowstorm before winter officially departs.

Peepers at Puffer's (and some geese)

Dusk at Puffer's Pond in the spring sets off a dependable (and very loud) chorus of peepers. This is my recording of about 60 seconds of tonight's concert, right before nightfall. Listen for the honking of geese flying overhead starting at about 0:15. Our very own symphony of sound. (And trust me, it was a lot louder in person.) 

If the video does not open for you here, just click on this link to see it on YouTube.

Getting lost in Ireland

Getting lost in Ireland -
Somewhere after descending from Healey Pass on the Beara Peninsula
Photo by S. Vardatira (2007) 

There's nothing quite like getting lost in Ireland - always with your head in the clouds - to absolutely make your day. Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone. Erin go Bragh!

Connemara Pony - Connemara, Ireland - Photo by S. Vardatira

Flowers by doorway - Connemara, Ireland
Photo by S. Vardatira

Castle ruins - Kerry, Ireland
Photo by S. Vardatira

Weathered fencepost - somewhere in Ireland
Photo by S. Vardatira

Healey Pass, Ireland - Photo by S.Vardatira

Rainbow over the Beara Peninsula - Ireland

Photo by S. Vardatira

Global warming on an early spring day

Cushman Brook by Puffer's Pond - Amherst, MA
Photo by S. Vardatira

Global warming may be the last thing you want to think about on these deliciously warm and springlike days. But at the same time, I'm guessing it's been in the back of your mind all along. Tell me you haven't had some variation of this conversation about a dozen times this past week:

     "What a beautiful day!"

     "Oh, I know, gorgeous."

     "Weirdly early, right?"

     "Yeah, SO early."

     "That can't be good."

     "Yeah, but I'm not complaining."

     "You've got that right."

     "I'll take this any day."

Right?

If you haven't already left for a walk outside, you may want to read this:

Dangerous global warming will happen sooner than thought - Study (The Guardian, 3/9/2016)

The last sap run has (probably) begun

Snow-less maple sugaring season - North Amherst MA
Photo by S. Vardatira, February 21, 2016

Although the sap run of the past several weeks has been excellent in Western Massachusetts, with near perfect conditions (above-freezing days and below-freezing nights), we may well be coming to the end of the maple sugaring season. With the temperature soaring into the 70s by Wednesday and no below-freezing nights for the foreseeable future, this is probably it for the year. Contrast this to last year's run, which only started in the second week of March and continued through the end of March/early April. Yet another indicator that this winter has been anything but typical.

Sugar houses will continue boiling for at least the next week or so - and serving up breakfasts through March (or later - check their schedules), even after the last of the sap has been boiled down. Spring is knocking on our door in earnest now.

Above freezing days, below freezing nights

Just in case you have been hearing rumors of something coming this way tomorrow afternoon/ evening, don't give it a second thought. A coastal storm is moving up the coast, but it's tracking even further off shore than previously predicted, so even the Cape and Islands will only see 2-4" of snow. And around here we probably won't see any snow. Winds may pick up slightly overnight Friday into Saturday, with temps on Saturday in the 40s. After that, temps will climb slightly each day, reaching a high in the 60s on Tuesday! Lows drop below freezing at night, however, setting up another spate of awesome maple sugaring weather. (It's been a boom season to date!)

March coming in like a lion (winter weather advisory)

Winter weather advisory in effect for our area from 8 p.m. tonight to 4 a.m. Wednesday morning. Expect snow, sleet, and a trace to one to two tenths of an inch of freezing rain / ice accretion. Higher amounts of icing especially likely at higher elevations and in the hill towns. Do I need remind you that these conditions can make for hazardous travel? Stay safe out there.