A 3 Cam Panorama Time Lapse Of 1/12/20 Convergence Zone

Yesterday was an eventful weather day.  I put together a 3 camera panorama time lapse of the convergence zone that rolled through.  The panorama view makes it easy to see all the moving parts....

What Are You Doing In Preparation For This Coming Cold Weather?

With this extreme cold weather coming, I have been hoping I haven't missed anything that needs to be winterized.  In the past on Facebook I have started a list of items that need to be winterized in preparation for cold weather and asked folks to contribute their thoughts.  It was a good conversation.  We can all learn from each other.  So I'll start this with a simple list of 10 items....  (I have already done a lot more, but they are specific to my home).  Leave your comments and after my review they will be posted.

1. Drain all garden hoses
2. Cover outdoor faucets with insulated covers
3. Cover crawl space vents
4. Service and run generator
5. Fill all extra gas cans
6. Fuel up cars
7. Make sure cars are parked where they can get out if the snow piles up
8. Lift windshield wipers vertical so they don’t freeze to the windshield
9. Flush boat motors with environmentally safe antifreeze
10. Lower boat outdrives so they drain 

Rumors? .... Or Early Forecasts For Preparedness....

I have been watching comments from respected meteorologists around the area about next weekend for a while now.  The models and ensembles have been very interesting.  Some models have been promising a NASTY arctic flow and gobs of snow.  Most of the other models not so much or nothing at all.  

So, at this point we can classify the “snowmaggedon” forecast for next weekend as “rumor”.  Anything beyond 3 days out is a tough call and the accuracy can be questioned.  At 3 days they do become very accurate.

Personally I like these “rumors”….  I look at them as a reminder to prepare.  I really think the forecasters are doing us a service.  I leave a lot of the winterization projects to the last minute, because many years they are not necessary.  So, thanks to the “rumors”, I am going to prepare “progressively” to do some of the winterization projects that I wouldn’t have prepared for otherwise.  I’ll be reviewing all that needs to be done and restocking necessary supplies now instead of later when it could be too late….  (been there and done that)….  If this doesn’t happen, it is not a problem.  I’ll have extra supplies for next year.  

Key point here….  “rumors” can be good if it inspires us to be prepared.

Meanwhile, I think we all should be watching the upcoming forecasts closely.  I have a Twitter List on my site that includes many talented meteorologist comments from our area.  I use it daily to get a lot of my information.

Video Review of New Years Eve Storm 2019

Happy New Year to everyone.

2019 went out with some fanfare....  It was a very active weather day.  Our winds topped out at 40 mph and we had some brief heavy showers.  There were several rainbows and a long lasting, unusual cloud over Whidbey Island that almost looked like a roll cloud, but it's not.  There was so much to look at I decided to just put together a video summary of the day from the 3 cams.

Below is an image of Double Bluff on Whidbey Island that shows why the National Weather Service posted Gale Warnings....

Geminid Meteor Shower

We have had some pretty depressing weather lately with all the cloud cover.  Night sky photography has been hopeless.  I have not run my good night camera for quite a while.  I do run my other 3 cameras 24/7.  I do review the time lapses every morning and for the most part, they have been VERY boring....  Last night however, we had some freak clearing of the clouds with a full moon and it makes for a beautiful sky, especially when put into motion.  Then, as an added bonus, we had a very nice fireball (meteor) around 6:00am.  We are very close to the peak time for the Geminid meteor shower.  I verified with Robert Lunsford from the American Meteor Society that this is not a Geminid meteor.  Timing wise it is close, but it is coming from the wrong direction, so it is a random meteor.

The skies were beautiful for moments last night when the clouds parted...  Here is a time lapse from Cam 2 and Cam 3 that includes the fireball.

If interested in more information about the Geminid Meteor Shower, this is a very good link.  They will be peaking on December 14th.....

A Very Close Lightning Strike.....

This one was a little too close for comfort....

A Nice Fireball (meteor) and a Brief Aurora Show

Last night we had a "Two-Fer".....  A nice fireball and a brief Aurora show.  Very rare to get both in one night....

Here is a time lapse starting with the meteor and fades into the Aurora show....