Thunderblasts after midnight awaken sleeping Catalinans with 50 mph winds, graupel, and R++; latest storm total now 1.38 inches!

In case you don’t believe me that over an inch fell, this digital record from Sutherland Heights with writing on it: Probably a little more to come, too.  Got some blow damage, I’m sure.  Will be looking for roof shingles around the yard today. And, as everyone knows from their favorite TEEVEE weatherperson, “New Storm… Continue reading Thunderblasts after midnight awaken sleeping Catalinans with 50 mph winds, graupel, and R++; latest storm total now 1.38 inches!

System vanquishes sun for three days! Produces 2.28 inches in The Heights!

While on the first day, January 29th, the sun was only blocked by mid-level clouds, the rainy ones on January 30th and 31st provided a rain amount to remember here in the Sutherland Heights (and elsewhere–numerous records broken),  2.28 inches recorded over 24 h ending at 7 AM for the past three days,  beginning with… Continue reading System vanquishes sun for three days! Produces 2.28 inches in The Heights!

1.77 inches in Catalina and counting

….as of 6 AM. And we might even end up with TWO inches total for this storm!  Amazing!  I couldn’t imagine it, even as a precipophile with a known bias,  that more than 1.5 inches would fall from this situation (10% chance of more than that I wrote), with a best guess of only about… Continue reading 1.77 inches in Catalina and counting

Another big day; scattered amounts around us of more than THREE inches again; we only got 0.18 inches!

Trying to be excited for those around us who got all that rain yesterday while we received a paltry 0.18 inches here in the upper reaches of Catalina.  Still it was another good little rain for our local desert. The 24 h rolling archive from Pima County rainfall gages is here.  Most seen here?  2.01 inches… Continue reading Another big day; scattered amounts around us of more than THREE inches again; we only got 0.18 inches!

Altostratus: a misunderstood cloud and for good reason

Yesterday afternoon the clouds thickened and dimmed the sun, and our high temperature struggled only into the mid-50s.  What cloud was that?  Here it is, with Twin Peaks on the horizon. Our names for clouds, originating with English pharmacist, Luke Howard, are based on visual attributes from the ground.  Here, “Altostratus”  (As) does RESEMBLE its… Continue reading Altostratus: a misunderstood cloud and for good reason