Wednesday 4/13/16
Greetings and welcome!
Winter had one more shot in store for us today. This morning started with about an inch of snow, and it kept up until there were about three of them.
On the way to work the roads were wet where there was sun and they had thawed. Areas sheltered from the south held snow. One really sheltered area had close to 3″ on my way to work.
The closer that I got to Michigan on 180 the less snow that there was. Likewise, here in Silver Cliff had more snow than in Wausaukee.
By the time that I got home there was a lot of bare ground, but sheltered and semi-sheltered areas still held snow. Right up at the north side of the house where the sun never hits there are about 3″” of pretty sturdy snow built up. A foot from the transition zone the ground is bare.
On the way home I observed that there was a good blanket of snow in the south ditch, and none in the north ditch. The sun has no mercy on snow in mid-April.
The weight limits on roads is a spring ritual. The ground gets very soft and muddy when the frost comes out of the ground. The roadbed is no exception. At that point they ban big trucks and heavy vehicles while the roadbed firms back up.
Some roads are open, some are not yet. I saw them taking down signs in Athelstane earlier this week. North and west of here there are areas still holding snow and frost in the ground. It might be a week or two before those areas are ready.
Things should move fast now. My guidance is showing (at least) the next two weeks having temperatures in the 50s and 60s. Saturday and Sunday hold the promise of 68 and 69 degree highs with sunny days. Finally winter’s grip will be broken.
I expect that with the ground warming and the snow melting there will be some soggy graound and soft spots. Sunny areas should be fine.
Depending on the wind I am hoping to spend a little time out by the campfire and grill this weekend. Often on nice spring days a cold breeze will come along and chill things off. I am kind of expecting it, but in the context of a 70ish day I am not too worried about it.
More of concern is the dead vegetation from last year. It is a fire hazard, and with the spring breeze to fan the flames it is common to have spring wildfires. I don’t want to be that guy so I am pretty cautions about the conditions.
I don’t see any significant pressure gradients that might cause a windy day in my guidance, so right now the plan is a go. MMMmmmm. Brats & burgers on the grill, a fire and some stars, and the frogs in the pond will probably start getting noisy too.
Have a good weekend and thank you for visiting!
RJB
I will work on getting a better poster picture. For now if you click it the image will get much bigger and maybe a little more readable.
