Testing 1-2-3 photo uploading in WP; today, snow photos from January 1st

In our last chapter, we saw that photos, perfectly fine ones here on the computer, were ending up corrupted when they arrived at WP for some reason.  Unlike many computer problems, re-booting my own computer did not cure it.  The next best thing to do, of course, is to wait and see if it just… Continue reading Testing 1-2-3 photo uploading in WP; today, snow photos from January 1st

An unforgettable snow day in Catalina, Arizona

Three separate bands of snow in one day?  Unforgettable, if not unbelievable, for Catalina, Arizona, made more so because its late February occurrence.  Here at the top of Wilds Road we received a total of 5.5 inches from those three bands, with a peak amount of 4 inches on the “ground” (actually it was measured… Continue reading An unforgettable snow day in Catalina, Arizona

FROPA! (plus some corrections in red….)

2:26 AM, Catalina:  S- (light snow), 33.9 F, 0.01 inches so far.  Precip not registering on Wunderground map site for some reason. 3:20 AM:  S– (very light snow), 34.8 F.  Temperature beginning to recover following precip, snow almost over, just a “skiff”, 0.3 inches. 6:20 AM:  Total now a measly 0.02 inches, less than expected,… Continue reading FROPA! (plus some corrections in red….)

Plethora of storms ahead; Catalina snow day still being foretold for Feb. 25th which is only nine days away now!

To help understand that odd word, “plethora” in the title in case you are befuddled by it, I have added a YouTube teaching module to help you out:   “What is a ‘plethora’?” Well, one of the great model runs of our time has come out once again last night after yesterday’s great model run of… Continue reading Plethora of storms ahead; Catalina snow day still being foretold for Feb. 25th which is only nine days away now!

Cumulus with Stratocumulus; hold the ice

Mr. Cloud-maven person hasn’t said much about clouds lately, which is kind of ironic since he deems himself a “cloud maven” and not much more.  Rather, he has been obsessing about POSSIBLE storms in AZ 15 days away which is kind of futile anyway. So, as an excuse to show more cloud photos from that… Continue reading Cumulus with Stratocumulus; hold the ice

“…goin’ down in the first round”

As Muhammad Ali might say, referring to the Climate Prediction Center’s three month outlook that was for dry conditions in Arizona from November to January.  So, the first round, November into early December, has delivered quite a punch against drought with another 0.40 inches here in Catalina last night.  Our December total is already 0.82… Continue reading “…goin’ down in the first round”

The Twelve…rain drops in Catalina, that is

Well, maybe there were about 27, but anyway….not very many; still,  those drops were to be treasured after not seeing a single  “hydrometeor” display in SE AZ in so–ooooo LONG A TIME! ———————————- PG-13 advisory; DRIZZLE is discussed I have to warn you at this point.  That rain event yesterday WAS NOT DRIZZLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will… Continue reading The Twelve…rain drops in Catalina, that is

Exit right (or to the east)

Here’s what happened on top of us yesterday, that gorgeous snow day with so many wonderful sights to see. These maps below,  courtesy of San Francisco State University , for 500 millibar pressure level, about 18,000 feet above sea level, for 5 AM LST as the snow band moved through Catalina, and then 5PM LST,  a… Continue reading Exit right (or to the east)

“Smells like desert snow”

Seattle’s Curt Cobain might have said something like this if he had lived in the desert.   Alluding, of course, here to the SEATTLE teen angst band, Nirvana, and their big hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. BTW, a song covered later by Bill Nye the Science Guy in an educational ditty,  “Smells Like Air Pressure”.  But… Continue reading “Smells like desert snow”

“Send in the clouds”….then the wind, the rain, the cold front, the snow

Too bad Steven Sondheim wasn’t a meteorologist.  He might have written some great weather songs.  Instead, he chose to write about “clowns.” Hmmmm.  Perhaps he WAS thinking about some weatherman in those days when he used the word “clowns.”  Who can forget that the LA Times  headline about weather forecasting in 1981;  the headline that… Continue reading “Send in the clouds”….then the wind, the rain, the cold front, the snow