Robert Frost Trail After Snow

Fence by House - Amherst MA, 12/30/12

Ski Tracks on the Robert Frost Trail -
Amherst MA, 12/30/12

More pics - these taken Sunday morning - from the Mill River Conservation Area, Robert Frost Trail and Puffer's Pond. Early morning after a snow storm is often the best time to take photographs. Generally, the branches are still laden with snow, and the trails are pristine. I made my way to several trails near Puffer's Pond on Sunday morning, which had already been visited by one early rising cross country skier. On Saturday into Sunday, we got 5 more inches of snow on top of the 6 inches from Wednesday/ Thursday. Even without skis, I was able to easily traverse the terrain, a base of dense packed snow, with a fluffy layer of powder on top. The sun was just rising above the treetops and casting sharply contrasting areas of light and shadow across the glittering white surface. Simply breathtaking.

Following the Ski Tracks,
Robert Frost Trail -
Amherst MA, 12/30/12

Tree Branches Over the Trail,
Robert Frost Trail -
Amherst MA 12/30/12

Where Cushman Brook Meets Puffer's Pond -
Amherst MA, 12/30/12

Where is the Window Into Summer?

Mackenzie (the cat) at the Window - N. Amherst MA, 12-30-12

Snapped this photo earlier today of our cat Mackenzie gazing out the window and taking in the new snowscape outside. Another 5 inches of snow fell yesterday and last night. It is cold, beautiful, and sunny.

Jim Cantore Calling (aka Storm Warning in the Air)

Sky Over Amherst - 12/29/2012; 10:00 am

A short while ago, my phone rang, and who should be on the other end but Jim Cantore (famed Weather Channel meteorologist) informing me that a “severe weather alert” had been issued for my area. Friends who are not weather obsessed are often wowed by the fact that Jim Cantore calls on a regular basis to warn me about impending weather events. I mean, who am I to get such preferred treatment? One night earlier in the fall, as thunderstorms were marching in succession across the Valley over the course of several hours, Jim actually called me about a dozen times. To be honest, since our gathering could hear the thunderstorms all around, the warnings were hardly necessary. But I think it made all of us feel just a little more secure knowing Cantore was on the job, looking out for us. Those of you who follow the weather (heck, Cantore may actually call you, too) know that, in actuality, the phone calls I am receiving are completely automated. So far anyway, Jim Cantore has not placed an individual call to my phone. “Notify” by the Weather Channel provides the service, and Jim Cantore is the voice on the line. Those of you who receive these calls can testify to their effectiveness. Jim Cantore’s affect is serious and urgent, calm, and clear about the need for the listener to “take all appropriate precautions.” Or something like that anyway.

All this to say that, according to Jim (and as you probably already know unless you’re vacationing on a tropical island somewhere), a Winter Storm Warning is currently in effect for our area through 6 am Sunday morning. Expect between 4-6 inches of snow (possibly more, as predictions have been inching up since this morning). The area in and around Boston will get the most snow, but Amherst will also get a “plowable” amount of the fluffy, white stuff. At the moment, it’s coming down at a good rate. Skiers will be happy, as will anyone who enjoys going outside in snowy weather. My walk to Puffer’s Pond earlier today was especially beautiful in the falling snow.  I crossed paths with Millie, an adorable, 12-week old labradoodle puppy, and her new owner, both of whom paused to greet me. Millie was absolutely giddy with excitement - about me, about the outing, about the snow on the ground, about the snow falling from the sky. And I could completely relate! Enjoy the weather everyone - and stay safe out there.

Black Ice Morning and Gilliflowers

As I suspected, our driveway is a glittering, sun-soaked sheet of ice this morning, camoflaged only slightly by a quarter inch of snow on top of that treacherous ice (oh, joy!). This is what happens - even if you clear away the snow - when freezing rain is followed by more snow and cold temps. The scene outside is so pristine and silvery that I almost hate to muck it up with sand and salt. Almost. As much as I appreciate the frozen landscape, it's nevertheless necessary to go out - and the temps don't look to be rising significantly above freezing anytime soon. News stations were reporting some black ice on the local roads earlier this morning and especially last night, but between the road treatments and the sun, travel is fine now, except possibly on the most remote roads.

For the first time since the infamous October 2011 Halloween storm, our garden is blanketed with snow. As Amherst's resident poet Emily Dickinson wrote to Louise Norcross in 1861, "My garden is all covered up by snow; picked gilliflower Tuesday, now gillflowers are asleep. The hills take off their purple frocks, and dress in long white nightgowns." To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't know a gilliflower if I tripped across one (feel free to send photos if you grow them), but the sentiment resonates just the same.

Enjoy the sun while it's here - another snowstorm arrives on Saturday midday and continues into early Sunday, bringing along with it another 3-6 inches of snow!

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Morning

State Street Towards Puffer's Pond by Railroad Overpass - 12/27/12

Trail Unbroken, Robert Frost Trail/Kevin Flood Accessible Trail - 12/27/12

The snow changed to rain earlier this morning in most parts of the Valley, but at least here in North Amherst, the snow has only just changed to something more like sleet/snow, evidenced by the gentle pinging sound of ice crystals hitting the ground, fences, roofs. I measure between 5-6 inches of snow on the ground, and the temperature is holding at 31.1, as measured from my outdoor sensor. The official Amherst temperature is 32, but right here near the border of Amherst and Leverett, where the elevation is slightly higher, the temperature is often just a tad lower. In this case, that may have kept us in snow longer than expected. We are still likely to experience a turnover to rain, freezing rain, and sleet, and I hear the roads are treacherous, so go slow if you have to drive out at all. (We'd love reports about what's happening in other parts of Amherst and surrounding areas.)

If you have snow shoes or cross country skis, you may still have some time to make use of them. But be aware that the snow is heavy and wet, so keep that in mind. I trekked down to Puffer’s Pond this morning wearing boots and was beautifully rewarded for the effort. It is pretty rare to be the first person to break trail at Puffer’s, but that was me this morning. And there is nothing like falling snow against fresh snow to paint a landscape.

Robert Frost Trail - 12/27/12

Robert Frost Trail, Bridge Over
Cushman Brook - 12/27/12

Cushman Brook (which feeds Puffer's Pond) - 12/27/12

And, yes, the title of this posting is a bit of an homage to Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" - seemed only right as the trail I was traveling is called the "Robert Frost Trail." Enjoy the snow, everyone, and stay safe out there.

Head in the Clouds Amherst Also on Twitter and Facebook!

Just in case you haven't discovered this yet, Head in the Clouds Amherst is also posting occasional "short" messages (tweets and quick updates about the weather) to Twitter @cloudsamherst and Facebook at Head in the Clouds Amherst. "Follow" us on Twitter and/or "Like" us on Facebook to get the full "Head in the Clouds" experience. During storms and power outages, we particularly appreciate receiving frequent updates about what's happening where you are. We've got over an inch on the ground right now, snow falling steadily and temperature hovering just around 31 degrees in N. Amherst. (Up .2 degrees in the last hour.) Barometer continues to fall and is now at 29.22 Hg. Do you have snow?  And if so, how much?

Winter Storm Euclid Headed Our Way

If you've been caught up in holiday festivities over the past few days, now would be the time to watch the weather more closely. A "winter storm warning" is currently in effect for our local area including interior parts of southern New England from 7 pm this evening to 1 am EST early Friday morning. Named "Winter Storm Euclid" by the Weather Channel, this storm wreaked havoc to the west and south of us yesterday, with snow, ice and sleet over the midwest and an unprecedented number of tornadoes in the south. Exactly how much precipitation we will get as snow in Amherst seems to be a moving target - last night, local estimates had us getting a few inches of snow starting tonight, with precipitation turning over to sleet/freezing rain/rain by tomorrow. As of this morning, the snow accumulations are higher, with forecasts predicting as much as 6 to 10 inches overnight, with a mix of ice, sleet and rain by tomorrow mid-morning as temperatures jump above freezing before dropping back below freezing later tomorrow afternoon and evening. With the temperatures hovering just below and above freezing during this storm, it's easy to see how even a slight shift in either direction could make a big difference in how this plays out. Whatever snow does fall will be heavy and wet, and anything else that comes down on top of that will only make things worse. Of course, the forecast will continue to be refined as we get closer to the main event - and regardless of how much comes down and in what form, it's clear we are in for a major storm, with snow, sleet, wind, ice and rain. Expect hazardous driving conditions tonight into Thursday, high winds (15-25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph), and visibilities down to a quarter mile or less in areas of heavy snow.

Dusting of a White Christmas

Snowing on the Robert Frost Trail - 12-25-2012

Robert Frost Trail/Kevin Flood Accessible Trail - 12-25-2012

Snowing at Puffer's Pond, South Beach - 12-25-2012

Although conditions may not be ideal for breaking out the snow shoes or cross country skis (in Amherst anyway), nature has brought us a lovely, gentle dusting of snow this Christmas morning. It’s expected to continue snowing lightly until around noon today, so we may even come close to accumulating an inch of the white stuff. No complaints here, however. My morning walk to Puffer’s Pond and along the Robert Frost Trail was beautiful. Except for the snow falling gently, everything else was still, with every tree and stone etched in white.  Enjoy the view, everyone - and to those who are celebrating, have a very merry Christmas!

The Year in Weather 2012 - A Video Retrospective

What could be more appropriate on the solstice (in my opinion the only true demarcation between one year and the next) than the year in review via satellite? Our friends at Weather Underground have put together this 4 minute video, comprised of some 8,000 satellite images, showing the most significant meterological events of the past year, including Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Isaac, droughts, and more. It is - in a word - mesmerizing.

Our Bridge of Concrete and Pine Barricades

Mill Street Bridge barricade festooned with pine and other natural decorations

Anyone who lives in or drives through North Amherst has undoubtedly discovered by now that the Mill Street Bridge, which is located immediately downstream from the Puffer’s Pond waterfall, is closed to vehicles. It’s been closed, in fact, since July, when state inspectors discovered that rust had compromised the integrity of the supporting beams. After the closing was announced, it took me about three weeks to remember not to use that road, and for a few months beyond that, it was interesting to watch as motorists blithely ignored the “Bridge Closed” signs only to have to make a U-turn when they reached the bridge some 50 feet later. Cars still take a run at it from time to time, but most of the locals know enough to navigate around the structure.

Being forced to take the detour has ruffled some feathers - and we’re talking about people, not the ducks or geese that frequent the pond. Some residents who live on the far side of the bridge (including folks from Leverett) are frustrated about this ongoing state of affairs since it means they can no longer use Mill Street to shorten their ride into town. Instead, they are now forced to loop back onto Route 63 up to Pine. I’m guessing, maybe, that’s a 10 minute detour. And while that doesn’t seem so taxing to me, to hear others tell it, the detour, in traffic, takes them more like half an hour out of their way. (This may be a bit of a stretch - since you can go end to end in Amherst in under half an hour - but I live on the “town side” of the bridge, so what do I know?)

It seems pretty clear that there is no money in the budget to fix the bridge (our town manager is reported to have said there are “two and a half or three and a half million reasons” why the bridge cannot be fixed).  Meanwhile, as some folks chew over what this indefinite bridge closing says about where North Amherst sits on the town’s priority list, and others continue to ignore signs about the bridge being closed (only to have to turn back), a most interesting thing is occurring on the bridge itself – or, more specifically, on the concrete barricades that now block off both ends of the bridge.

At least one person (and by now it may be more than one) has taken it upon herself to festoon the barricades with pine branches, garlands of berries, and other assorted natural decorations. I have to assume the goal is to soften the unsightly concrete barricades, to make them blend a little more with their surroundings. I’ve heard one neighbor express concern that hiding the barricades under pine might actually encourage motorists to plow right through, sending them crashing into the concrete, but between the warning signs and the wall of pine/concrete, you’d have to be pretty clueless/inebriated to continue anyway (a wall of pine/concrete should be as much of a deterrent as a wall of concrete).

Last week, I went to check out our “Bridge of Flowers” as it has been dubbed by some, and while it doesn’t come close to living up to its Shelburne Falls namesake, there is nonetheless something charming about the attempt to take the unsightly concrete and return it (if only just a little) to nature. You can still walk out on the bridge, and now that there's no traffic you can even linger for a time without stressing about being run over. If you plan on taking a trip over there, however, be careful about the ice near the waterfall side of the bridge – no one is treating the surface with sand/salt/gravel anymore, and when the spray from the waterfall hits the bridge in subfreezing temperatures, it forms a treacherous sheet of ice on the road.  Wear your stablicers/”ice cleats” - and if you bring a little garland to add to the scene, so much the better.  Of course, with tomorrow’s wind/rain nor’easter, it’s anyone’s guess whether any of the decorations will still be in place by the weekend.

Weather Advisory Extensions and the Sound of Ice

Ice on trees at Puffer's Pond - 12/17/2012

Today has been a study in weather advisory extensions.  As of this moment, the freezing rain advisory we've had since yesterday continues right through 2 am Tuesday. The temperatures really are supposed to rise out of their current state of hovering around freezing, but they are taking their sweet time going anywhere. Right now, in North Amherst, the temperature is 32.5, which is only about 2 degrees higher than it was four hours ago. The roads have been well treated, but side roads may be another story. Also, if it keeps drizzling like it’s supposed to over the next 3-4 hours, some of those surfaces will be refreezing.

At the same time, while no one loves freezing rain, it did paint a beautiful picture for most of the day – everywhere we looked, the trees and fields were brushed with silvery white. At one point, as I was walking (with my ice cleats) on a path near Puffer’s Pond, I suddenly heard a soft crackling/rustling sound all around me. Not able to identify what was causing it, I turned around a few times before realizing it was the sound of ice falling gently from all the tree branches at once. Apparently, exactly at that moment, the temperature outside must have climbed just high enough to melt the ever-so-thin casing of ice over everything and send countless tiny pieces shattering to the ground.

Afternoon of Light Freezing Rain and Potassium Soup

As I wrote yesterday, a few degrees lower, and we have a completely different forecast. Indeed, yesterday's forecast for today - rain with ice pellets - has morphed into an afternoon of on and off freezing rain, with some sleet and snow. We are under a weather advisory starting at noon today all the way through 9 am Monday. Precipitation will start out as light snow and then transition quickly to light freezing rain and sleet. The temperature, at 31.8 right now, should stay around that all day. Though accumulations are expected to be light, if you don't have to travel, so much the better. My plan is to stay in and make Potassium Soup (see our Weather Cooks page for the recipe) - how about you?

Ice Pellets in the Forecast (along with everything else)

As most of you will have heard by now, a nor’easter as well as a second storm behind that are on their way, bringing a whole mixed bag of weather over the next week, but probably not a lot of snow. Located as we are on a line between northern and southern New England (and different weather forecasts for each area), of course things could change, but for now it looks like snow, ice, rain, thunderstorms, and more rain. Tomorrow morning starts off with snow showers in the morning, rain/snow in the afternoon, and all rain by evening. The UMass weather station, which is a great go-to authority for our local forecast, is also predicting “ice pellets” tomorrow and tomorrow night. However, if the temperature drops even a few degrees lower than is being forecast, it could be an icy mess out there. By Tuesday, as the second storm rolls in, look for temps in the mid-50s, with the possibility of a thunderstorm. We may get a little snow/rain on Friday for Winter Solstice, but otherwise, a “white Christmas” seems unlikely, sorry to report.  But you never know – storms around here have a way of surprising us fairly often. I remember about 12 years ago entertaining some friends during a forecasted “no nothing” bit of weather that turned into a major ice storm – a fact we discovered only when our guests went to leave. So, keep a close eye on the weather this week, stay safe, and avoid ice pellets whenever possible.

Weather Networking

Head in the Clouds Amherst is now on Facebook and Twitter! Find us (and like us please!) on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. During weather-related power outages Twitter will be our primary avenue of communication. And come back to this page soon for new updates on our impending nor'easter, starting late tomorrow into Monday - and beyond.