Another mighty wind…

Mother Nature has been at it again.

She left a smattering of snow late on April Fool’s and another 3-5 inches—depending on how the wind blew—late Saturday night.

Sister wind has been blowing fierce these past two weeks.

Last week…

 Second time it’s happen since we moved here. 

Put the teenager in a mood! (He doesn’t like the weather here.)

This afternoon…

 Had blown half away across the driveway by the time I got home.

Getting mail can be a bit of challenge…

If a strong gust comes—at just the right moment—and snatches those precious pieces of junk mail right out of one’s hand.

I will say this…

The sun is strong and bright (per most days) and the temp—forgetting the wind chill—a toasty 61 degrees.

Who can complain! 

FRIGID—Redux

I did NOT sign up for this.
 

Photo of my TV (Doesn't take wind chill into account!)

Cold, snow and (even) wind—okay.

Negative 35 degrees—okay, as long as the mercury begins to inch upwards after a few days.

But THIS!

One of the teachers over at the ECEC (where I was observing this morning) told me it was -65 when she woke up at 5 am! 

Geeze….

Again, I did not sign on for this!

Did you?

Say What? It's HOW cold?

The temp this morning when we awoke was -27º with a wind chill of -47º.

The high for today will be -8, if the mercury actually reaches that high.

I believe this a first for us—the -47, not the -8.

The frigid air freezes, not only, the nose hairs, but then glues them together (sorry!) a mere second after stepping outside.

I didn’t see any kids walking to school today.

Of course I drove the teenager—he who refuses overcoat, hat or gloves—to school this morning. 

Actually, he stuffed a pair of gloves in his backpack.

Hallelujah!

One tiny step forward for motherhood…

It’s off to class I go. 

Please stay safe out there…

NOW we're gonna pay for it...

clip art

 Parent Winter took pity on us the end of last week, providing a warm respite from the many long months that are winter in Wyoming.

No need for winter gear Friday and Saturday as the air, under the warm and blazing sun, reached what felt like 50+ degrees.

Ice and snow melted, leaving dried dead grass peeking through where once only “that white crusted stuff” had been visible lo these past months.  

 Colder weather began to move in last evening. 

This morning, thousands of tiny icy flakes are falling from the sky (although the sun is trying to peek through).

And there is this, from the underground weather:

Much colder. Lows 25 below to 30 below zero. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow is 70 percent. Wind chill readings 40 below to 50 below zero.

For Pete’s Sake—did I REALLY sign up for this?

My Chicago peeps: I hear you are in for a really BIG one.  Stay safe and warm.

My D.C. peeps: I hope whatever hits the Northeast stays far enough North.

Be warm, be safe and be thankful though if you don’t have wind chill readings of 40 to 50 below—or colder!!

It happens, I guess...

Though not often.

Yesterday UDub closed at 1 pm due to inclement weather.   

First time since we’ve been here and who knows when it last happened—if ever

With below freezing temps—again, nothing unusual—and snow falling all day long, UDub shuttered its doors and let everyone go home.

I guess even the “hardy state” has it breaking point.

Throws in July?

While The Washington Post headlines read...

"Forecast: Blistering heat takes hold Near 100 for at least the next three days"

it was a nice chilly 58 degrees or so in Laramie and rather "cool" in the house

So it's a good thing my mom made several of these throws for us for gifts last Hanukkah.

Who knew, though, that I would be employing mine in July!

Oh for Pete's Sake...

This, directly from the Laramie Underground Weather site when I went to take a gander...groan!

Tonight

Widespread rain showers in the evening...then occasional rain and snow showers after midnight. Colder. Locally heavy rainfall possible after midnight. No snow accumulation. Lows 35 to 40.  North winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Saturday

Rain showers likely. Cooler. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Highs 45 to 50. East winds 10 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Chance of showers 70 percent.

Saturday Night

Rain showers likely and isolated thunderstorms in the evening...then rain and snow likely after midnight. No snow accumulation. Lows 35 to 40. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Okay, this weather stuff may finally be getting to even me...

Light Show...

I’m sitting here in the dark, with all the blinds up, watching the magnificent light show that is the lightning storm over Medicine Bow National Forest just a few miles east of here.

Before the lightning, there was thunder and hail.

Now the lighting, pure bolts of static electricity, is flashing horizontal across the sky, like a giant strobe or black light, pulsating from high up in the sky.

I tried to take photos, but of course my camera—or is it the user—just isn’t up to the job.

Changing it to high sensitivity mode, I was able to get these shots, but no matter how often I tried—there’s always a few seconds delay—I wasn’t able to get any good shots of that electric bolt blazing across the sky.

No thunder with this lighting show

A constant parade of light

I did manage to capture some ligthing to the left and far right

Awesome, and very Halloweenish 

A bolt of lighting just above the middle house 

I know the photos are grainy, but they just might make a nice backdrop for Halloween cards next October.

btw: I’m much happier with the Celtics this evening then I was on Tuesday.

It would be nice if they could win the whole enchilada, but I’m just happy this evening didn’t end lopsided with the Lakers heading into the fifth game with a 3-1 lead.

Makes things more interesting this way...

Zeus bowling…

Today’s pop quiz for all you Mid-Atlantic folks:

What do Arlington and Laramie have in common?

Answer:

Not much—surprise, surprise—except for afternoon thundershowers.

The post "Hot, Dry and Glorious" is one I had planned to put up today and still holds true.

Anyway, like clockwork, the sky turns dark around two or three in the afternoon and then if we’re unlucky, the clouds blink and let forth their tears and Zeus, or whoever is up there, starts tossing around lightening bolts and bowling bowls.

I don’t mind the weather, except I’m told that lightening here can be pretty hazardous—open plains and all that—and I don’t like the prospect of hail damaging the paint job on my car, let alone the roof.

Someone recently told us that May 2009 was unusually rainy and therefore, the mosquitoes overstayed their annual June visit.

The cooler May and June temps thus far have kept them at bay, but I don’t know—with little rain storms here and there these past few weeks, I’m not looking forward to being outside in a few weeks.

We have been warned that the mosquitoes here are “more aggressive” than their east coast cousins.

What—are they are steroids or something?

Par for the course, the storm has since moved eastward and the western sky is now bright blue, with those white fluffy clouds I love so much and the sun is starting to shine, all in the time it has taken to pen (keyboard) this.

It ain’t over though, more storms predicted for tonight.

Hot, Dry and Glorious

Since I’ve gone on and on about the wind, the snow and the cold for a goodly portion these past ten months, I figure I should give equal time to these next few glorious months.

So let me tell you about this past week.

Actually, the title sums it up quite nicely.

Even with the potential and/or frequent severe storms—and possibly hail—every afternoon.

The trees are finally in full bloom and as the title so aptly states, it is positively Glorious, with a capital “G” here in little ole Laramie.

I love the feeling of zero humidity—although the locals might not agree with me on that point—and the hot, dry air with the cool Wyoming breeze.

As I’ve said, it’s Glorious!