January 2017 Monthly Weather

Wow. We've sure had a warmer than average January. The average high is 27F and the average low is 8F. We rarely got down to those temps. and our average high is 34F with our average low being 18F. I know that we have a few more days to go, but the predicted temps for the next 5 days will probably be right on. Crazy!

Snow Day # 3 (Ice storm)

Weather Map at 5:18 am

One heck of a Nor'easter, with sleet and freezing rain, is passing over us. It will last all day long and change to rain into the overnight hours. We might get up to 1" of sleet and ice covering everything. I am staying indoors... how about you? Stay safe...

Weather Map at 12:48 pm

We are still getting some slight freezing rain, but it is lessening. Drew is going to have to snow throw the driveway as the sleet that covers the ground is incredibly dense.

Weather Map at 12:52 pm - Broad view showing the entire storm.

And, here is an overview of the wider picture of the storm as it downgrades. We are still cold enough, inland, to have freezing rain for the next 4 hours before our outdoor temp warms up to 33F, whereupon the freezing rain will turn to just plain rain.

A wee bit of snow

We got 1.5" of snow from a quick moving storm.

Black Ice Season

Icy road warning sign used in Quebec, Canada (courtesy of Wikipedia)

I refuse to call this season "Winter" because it seems as if we are barely having any winter-like weather. But, we are having black ice coating the roadways on many mornings. Hence, I have renamed it "Black Ice Season."

Why black ice, you might ask? Well, I think that if we've had rain early in the evening and just into the overnight hours, or if we have fog and the early morning temp. has risen into the low to mid 30's, the road surface may end up coated with a very thin sheen of ice, often impossible to see, if it is colder than the air. I did some researching and even if the roadway looks dry, the tiny spaces in the pavement may contain small amounts of water that freeze causing loss of traction for tires.

Well, looking at the morning temp. for the next 15 days, I think we are in for a lot of black ice. I love winter, but I do not like Black Ice Season. Cross your fingers that we make it through unscathed...

Weather Update

Look at this crazy weather. Here it is in early January and we are having temperatures over the next few weeks that we would normally see in March!

A bit more snow before it warms up

Snow Total thus far: 31.5 inches of snow.

Well, we got 2 more inches of powdery snow. If only it would stay around and build up over time...but warmer weather is just around the corner again!

Snowy Owls have been sighted in Brunswick

Note to self: 'Tis the year that I will see a snowy owl. I have yet to see one, but I feel confident that it might just happen. Now, I must get my rear in gear and cruise the old Naval Air Station in search of them. Here is what one birder, Stan DeOrsey, had to say (on Jan. 2nd):

The Snowy Owl Tom Hayward found yesterday (Sunday) at the Brunswick Landing Executive Airport (ye olde Navel Air Station) was still present this morning. It was best seen from the left side of the terminal building (not the Kestrel Building but the next one with the flight tower). This morning it was on the ground by a paved runway or taxiway just beyond the parking lot. There is a "Gate 3" sign and there were two parked fuel trucks nearby the other side of the parking lot fence. 

Hey, Shannon! Let's go owl hunting with our binoculars and cameras:-) Let's make this one of our New Year's resolutions!

Mind you, we must adhere to good birding ethics and not get too close, or stay too long if we do see an owl. We should stay hidden either in our car or behind it and use a long lens to snap some shots. About 10 minutes maximum is the amount of time we should hang out so as not to disturb the bird.

Snow Day # 2 (due to ice)

We got rain overnight that turned the streets into skating rinks, so schools were closed over large parts of our area. The outdoor temp. rose into the 40's today. In fact, as I write this post at 8:30 pm, the outdoor temp. is 37F.

More Snow

Snow Total Thus Far: 29.5" of snow.
We got a tiny snowstorm that yielded 2 more inches of snow. Drew was able to go snowshoeing and got some nice photos (which I'll add when I have time to process them.)