Bear III

Late Friday afternoon, my daughter yells out that there is a bear in our back yard. Sure enough... I look out the ham shack window and there is a black bear walking around the premises.

This is my third bear sighting here at the WA1LOU QTH on the top of Compounce Mountain and I have seen evidence of other visits in the past. It sure makes life interesting and for the next few days, I will make sure that all is clear before I go outdoors.

Christmas in Connecticut

This is nuts! December 22, 2013, the temperature at 2PM is 64 degrees Fahrenheit here on Compounce Mountain.

Hummingbirds

We have a hummingbird feeder here that gets very busy this time of year. I took the Canon DLSR out this morning and took some shots of our humming visitors. Some of the best of the batch are below (click on an image to enlarge it).

Winter?

What winter?

This year, winter in southern New England has been the mildest I can recall in my 61 orbits around the Sun.

Not much snow at all lately: 3 inches on February 24, 2 inches on February 29 for a grand total of 14 inches for the season on Compounce Mountain. And when it falls, it is all gone in a day or two thanks to rain and/or warm temperatures.

Speaking of temperatures, today, the high was 57 degrees F and tomorrow, it is supposed to be warmer.

And I saw my first groundhog today. Last year, my brown furry friends didn't come out of hibernation until March 17, ten days later than this year.

Smells like global warming!

Snow IV

The weatherman predicted 8 inches, but only 4  inches of snow accumulated on Compounce Mountain yesterday. Total snowfall this winter is 10 inches.

Snow III

One  inch of snow accumulated on Compounce Mountain last night. Total snowfall this winter is 6 inches.

Snow II

It snowed overnight for the second snow event this winter. Three inches accumulated on Compounce Mountain, but heavy rains are in the forecast for this afternoon, so there may not be much snow left after the rain.

Total snowfall this winter is 5 inches, which is 30 inches less than one year ago.

Snow

First snow of the season fell overnight. About 1-2 inches at the top of Compounce Mountain followed by heavy rain and rising temperatures, so the snow will not last.

In comparison, on this date one year ago, we had a 17-inch snowfall, which added up to 35 inches total for the winter at that point (there was lots more to come).

Lucky 13

For the past two years, I have kept a running total here of the amount of snow that falls at my home on Compounce Mountain. I start the count on December 1 and end it whenever the last snow falls in the spring.

So what do I do with the 13 inches that fell here October 29-30?

Although most of the leaves had fallen from the trees in my neck of the woods, that was not the case in the surrounding area. The heavy wet snow that landed on the trees still full of leaves caused tree branches, as well as whole trees to fall and damage the power infrastructure.

As a result, my house has had no power, no telephone, no Internet access, no weather station, and no ham radio since Sunday morning. My electricity pimp has not dared to estimate when it expects to restore power, so the prospects for a quick fix look bleak.

The little woman says that we should buy a generator. I wonder how well that will go over as her Christmas gift?

Probably not very well.

Surfin’: I Can See For Miles

This week, Surfin’ considers elevation, weather and propagation.

Spring Snow IV

The temperature only got down to 36 last night, but it snowed enough to coat everything outside. The rain since then has made that snow coating disappear.

70 With Snow

The temperature hit 70 about ten minutes ago, but as I type this, I can still see a pile of snow sitting on the curb across the street. The accompanying photo juxtaposes that snow pile with the daffodils that are ready to bloom in our front yard.

Spring Snow III

It snowed again with a 1- to 2-inch accumulation on the ground and roads. That's 76 inches total snowfall since the first day of winter!

Spring Snow II

It snowed overnight with a 1- to 2-inch accumulation on the ground and roads. That adds up to 74 inches total snowfall since the first day of winter!

Enough already!

Spring Snow

First full day of spring yesterday and it snowed, sleeted, and rained most of the day with a 1- to 2-inch accumulation of snow on the ground, but not the roads.

The weather guys promised more of the same tomorrow.

Snow Summary

This was the worst winter I ever experienced in my six decades of existence.

I measured 70 inches of snow this winter on Compounce Mountain. The last of the snow on the roof of the house disappeared on Monday, March 7, but the yard is still full of snow. There are many bare spots in the yard, but there are also many places where the snow is still one to three feet deep!

Meanwhile, skunk cabbage shoots have broken through the ground in spots where there is no snow.

Snow XII

Three more inches of snow fell last night; 70 inches is the total snowfall for this winter on Compounce Mountain. Compounce Mountain, snow, Stan Horzepa, WA1L

Snow XI

Three more inches of snow fell last night and this morning bringing the total to 67 inches for this winter on Compounce Mountain.

No Snow

On the contrary, instead of snow, it was a beautiful sunny day with the temperature topping out at an unseasonable 52° F on Compounce Mountain. It hit 55° at BDL, which broke the record for February 14 high.

Snow X

After some major melting the past three days, two more inches of snow fell last night and this morning bringing the total to 64 inches for this winter on Compounce Mountain.