Category: Altocumulus clouds

“And I think its going to rain today”

Well, how can we forget that mournful Leonard Cohen song?  And the sweet rendition of that tune by Judy Collins?  It was played a lot in Seattle, of course, where I’m from.  But, it also looks like it might be apt for late today right here in Catalina.  Check out this “incoming” here from the… Continue reading “And I think its going to rain today”

Near miss on rain; pretty clouds and a nice sunset

Here are a couple of scenes from pretty yesterday, a day that the phony numerical models had rain predicted for us one to two weeks in advance, and then dried that system out as far as we here in Catalina are concerned as the days got closer.  This happens all the time in the models,… Continue reading Near miss on rain; pretty clouds and a nice sunset

Twice as nice; 0.53 inches in Catalina (0.58 inches as of 6:39 AM AST)

What a superb rain that was last night.   It just kept coming until finally we piled up an astounding-to-me 0.53 inches by 4 AM this morning.  The regional rain reports from around Tucson can be found here.  As you will see, the upper regions of the Catalina Mountains got around an inch (1.22 inches at… Continue reading Twice as nice; 0.53 inches in Catalina (0.58 inches as of 6:39 AM AST)

Pretty and eerie skies yesterday; let the rain begin today

Here are some examples from yesterday’s pretty, then toward evening, eerie skies with sprinkles, the latter due to backlit Altostratus opacus mammatus, to go the whole nine yards, an icy cloud with downward hanging protuberances that resemble something.  I’ve reduced the size of that image accordingly.  Below, in sequence, 1) Cirrus, 2) Altocumulus, 3) the… Continue reading Pretty and eerie skies yesterday; let the rain begin today

Models warming up to rain; some cloud shots from yesterday

Been kind of sitting around waiting for the billions/trillions of numerical model calculations to get it “right”, that is, to come back with some decent rain SOMEWHERE in Arizona after some pretty sad  dry model results over the past couple of days. Today,  the great USA WRF-GFS model (rendered by IPS Meteostar) finally got it… Continue reading Models warming up to rain; some cloud shots from yesterday

While waiting for a “better” numerical model output….

As we say, “if you don’t like the model run now, wait 6 h and get a new one with different results.” Last night’s model run based on global data taken at 5 PM Arizona time, was truly mediocre in rain in Arizona in the week to two weeks ahead.  Sure, great storms bash northern… Continue reading While waiting for a “better” numerical model output….

“(the reviewers)… are still unconvinced by these controversial claims.” A science story.

Alternate titles, choose one or all:  1) The story of APIPs (Aircraft-Produced Ice Particles)  2) They said it couldn’t be done, but they did it anyway  3) ‘An embarrassment for the airborne research community’–Dr. John Hallett, 2008 OK, “baby I’m bored” with the lack of clouds and precip,  and so I thought I would share my boredom… Continue reading “(the reviewers)… are still unconvinced by these controversial claims.” A science story.

Low spin cycle continuing off Baja; water being added

That enfante terrible now dawdles over the coastal waters of California and northern Baja today, adding some water to its central system as seen here from IPS Meteostar.  Note, too, a scruff of Stratocumulus clouds racing northwestward in the Gulf of Baja abouit the latitude of the border between north and south Baja.  This is… Continue reading Low spin cycle continuing off Baja; water being added

Grandson of “Frankenstorm” knocking on Heaven’s door (Catalina, Arizona)

Well, I think Catalina, AZ,  being next to the Catalinas, is “Heaven’s door”.   I think, too, to have a second consecutive thought,  that we’ll get more than an inch out of this Big Boy which is rare here in Catalina for a storm in the wintertime.  Not close in areal extent to the original… Continue reading Grandson of “Frankenstorm” knocking on Heaven’s door (Catalina, Arizona)