The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Thursday, December 04, 2008

Don't let mild temps fool you!

Howdy Dew, folks!!! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I played SWF hookie last week since I had no sky shots at my location at the time (even though, my wonderful gtb suggested I just go out and take one), I just decided to sit it out a week... but Thanksgiving is over, and once again, it's time for a Sky Watch "Friday" post! Please visit Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Louise and Fishing Guy's SKY WATCH BLOG to participate in Sky Watch Fridays, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Thanks to Dot, the mother of this fabulous blogging event, and to the "retired" Tom, who brought it to full bloom. It is so fascinating to see skies from all over the world!!! You should definitely climb aboard the SWF Express!This morning, I decided to post this really cool altocumulus mackerel sky from back in March of last year. It is the closest I have to this morning's sky, when I actually had a beautiful bed of stratocumulus that almost resembled mammtus clouds which I caught a couple of weeks ago (big grin), but they weren't nearly as amazing. They looked like a pile of cotton balls stuck to the sky creating a ceiling or like a heavily quilted blanket, all puffy and full... mostly grey with a little pink as the sun rose under them. I didn't grab a picture... it really wasn't all that photogenic. I should have tried, but eh...

Stratocumulus lenticularis are separate flat elongated seed-shaped clouds. They are typical for polar countries or warmer climate during winter seasons. They also can be formed by winds passing hills or mountains, and in this case they can be very regularly shaped.
Locally, the big story is the flooding of the Withlacoochee River around town as a result of this weekend's abundant rain. We desperately needed the rain, but the river wasn't quite ready for that much, that fast. With a flood stage at 13ft, yesterday's 16.6ft stage rose water high onto properties surrounding the river. My picture to the left (sorry about the less than great quality... twilight shots are not so hot on my camera), shows water from the Withlacoochee, rising well into a parking lot. The parking lot usually extends to the tree line (click on the image to enlarge). In fact, the van in the picture was driving toward that side of the parking lot, when they suddenly noticed the water and slammed on their brakes. Smart move, you should NEVER drive into flood water!
WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER NEAR VALDOSTA AFFECTING LOWNDES COUNTY... MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND EXPECTED TO CONTINUE

SAFETY MESSAGE...ALL PERSONS WITH INTEREST ALONG THE RIVER SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS...AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT DRIVE CARS THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. IF YOU SEE FLOOD WATERS... REMEMBER TO TURN AROUND AND DO NOT DROWN.

...FLOOD WARNING EXTENDED UNTIL LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER NEAR VALDOSTA.
* AT 2:30 AM THURSDAY THE STAGE WAS 16.6 FEET.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 13.0 FEET.
There is another line of showers moving across the eastern US headed this way. The abundant dry air currently planted over the southeast should deplete most of the squall line of its rain, but we could still see some showers in Georgia today, mostly in north Georgia where severe drought is still a concern. Its not a drought buster, but every drop counts, right? With the mild temperatures preceding the rain, people might be caught off guard by the arctic blast that will move in on the other side of that squall line rain event. We aren't looking at severe weather with this one (sigh), but you can expect things to get downright cold after the rain! Speaking of cold, I asked my dear friend, Christine to give me some ideas to write about to help me with a little bit of bloggers block I've been battling. She suggested this (among many other topics):
What are some of the differences between how bad weather up north was dealt with compared to down south? Do people react differently if it snows? What are some basics to always keep on hand (home) - not emergency kit - but... food staples, etc.?

It's funny, that's one of the things that struck me when I moved to Georgia. I had never experienced a winter without a heavy snow, and several of them, while I lived up in Massachusetts. Snow in Boston is a common occurrence, nothing too exciting, just a nuisance because of the shoveling and de-icing. It wasn't unheard of for me to walk home from school often in thick snow (yeah, yeah, up hill both ways and bare feet -- lol, oh wait, that's my grandfather's story), seriously though, snow drifts over my head, at times. People don't react near the same way up there as they do down here. It's a part of life up there... now, in Georgia, if there is a hint in the forecast of a possibility of a snow flurry, the schools close, businesses close, people buy up all the milk and bread (why always milk and bread?!)... It's total mayhem. Cities literally shut down. When the snow falls, children run outside wearing oven mits and garbage bags, scraping together every flake of snow they can to make a 3 inch snowman. In addition, with folks in the south not really knowing how to drive in snow, you see fender benders galore.

So, how should you prepare for snow in Georgia? I would recommend keeping a box of cold weather clothes... no, you won't use them often, but at least when you want them, they will be there... gloves, hat, scarves, ear muffs, heavy coats (or just lots and lots of layers). Snow is very wet as it melts and you want to have a layer that is water resistant if you plan to play in snow for any amount of time (if there is any accumulation). Food-wise, skip the bread and milk... if you haven't lost a lot of your leaves and have a heavy wet snow with ice, you're liable to lose power lines as the trees snap under the weight, and subsequently lose your power. Don't stock up on milk, stock up on hot chocolate mix! Heat up water for that over the fire... stock up on canned goods--chili, beef stew, spaghetti O's, fruit, vegetables, non-perishables that you can heat up over the fireplace. I guess bread would be ok, in case roads are closed for a while (likely in the south--read on) and you can't get to the store, or like in every other scenario, everyone bought it all up... usually, in Georgia, they don't have the salting machines and snow removal equipment like up north so road closures are likely. Be prepared to just hunker down, lots of blankets and candles, possibly some battery back up heaters, but be very cautious with those things... they can start fires. Don't forget the bottled water either, 3 per person per day, for a few days worth. Stay warm.

Enjoy whatever weather you got, cause it'll most likely change in a minute...
~Dewdrop

47 comments:

  1. Love your ceiling of clouds there. Fantastic shot. I did sit out last week too, was busy chopping for the stuffing. Anyway, glad you had the rain you needed, just too bad it all come at once.

    Snow flurries, we get that sometimes here in the bay area in the higher elevations and we rejoice when that happens. Its not where I live since I live so close to the bay.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dew... I am in Little Rock, AR currently and this morning the temps were below freezing. It was a cool, crisp morning. I, being from WI, know to have my chook and gloves on. People down here may talk about the cool temps and at times complain a bit... but seriously, why did I only see 99% of everyone I laid eyes on this morning NOT have "cold" weather gear on to keep the body warm? Regardless, your GA description of Winter weather preparedness is fantastic. :)

    Have a great day, I am stuck in the LR airport until 3:40pm :)

    FREE INTERNET. Which is nice.

    ReplyDelete
  3. you know I would laugh when I lived down there and it was icey and my in-laws would freak out when I would go somewhere. I love to drive in the snow. Up here the main highways are salted and the side roads not so much. it's part of the fun of having 392 inches a year(snowfall record)

    ReplyDelete
  4. How come the most unusual and terrific cloud formation is always on your part of the world???? Hrmmm...I sense favoritism here...lol.

    Thanks for always providing additional info, always appreciated. Dewrrific!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great clouds
    Troy

    Ps: nice post and photos

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awesome photo's!! Wonderful post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It has been so cold here in Chicago, as for preperation, we don't really do all the things we should, but we have never really needed to. The most we do is carry some cat litter in the car as well as an ice scrapper :) I love your cloud shot, very cool textures.

    ReplyDelete
  8. love all those clouds. looks so peaceful; to me

    ReplyDelete
  9. How come you're getting such lovely clouds and we're mostly overcast. Boring overcast, actually!

    Very nice photos and lesson, Jennifer!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful mackerel sky, love it.

    Thanks

    Ray

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great skies - whiter than mine - scroll down from my skywatch to view some new photos from Tom Wigley.

    ReplyDelete
  12. One of my favorite kinds of clouds, so I'm really enjoying this post - glad you're back!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for such good information.
    It helps me to know the correct terms to apply.
    The picture is lovely, wall to wall cotton puffs.
    Have a good week.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dew: Glad you are back with this neat cloud formation, you were missed.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Just a wonderful shot of the cloud ceiling!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your altocumulus is stunning, I've nener seen them quite so thick, like one of our fleeces off the sheep's back when thrown onto the wool table.
    Floods are not so nice though, I hope all were safe.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Lovely shot of a beautifully clouded sky

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for your report and lecture.

    In Brazilian Southern a lot of rain (118 deaths and 80.000 homelees people). In Brazilian North-eastern a year without raining. Crazy Weather or what?!

    Thanks for share your knowledge.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hey, Dewdrop, sorry to hear about the flooding but I know you guys need the water. What's a girl to do? I love your knowledge of clouds. You would think by now we would all know the names for different clouds.

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a fab cloud feature for skywatch.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Altocumulus mackerel, what an interesting name, and so beautifully captured! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow! That's quite a dramatic cloud cover. I love the photo of the pine branch too. Actually, I scrolled down the whole page to catch up on skies past. Lots of beauties, but that one at the bottom of the page is magnificent.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dear Tom would love your mackerel skies Dewdrop! I think they were some of his favorites.
    Lots of good info as always.
    Stay warm and dry.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a snow cover you offer us!
    Rarely seen such vision in our latitude! Now I understand why.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great photos of the clouds and sky

    ReplyDelete
  26. Check out that sky! WOW! It's Great!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great photos for sky watch friday, all kinds of interesting things going on in your horizon. Thank you for sharing your view of the sky with us all.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm sorry about the flooding. That can be so scary. I love the first shot and it does look like a mass of cotton and so beautiful. We may get some snow in NC in the morning but I think it will change to rain. They usually do get salt and other trucks out on the main roads here but when we get a rare big snow it takes forever to get the secondary and neighborhoods cleared if it sticks around.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Nature is truly beautiful! Happy weekend! Hope you can have time to visit my corner too...

    ReplyDelete
  30. I moved the opposite direction, Virginia to Michigan, and observed the same thing in reverse.

    Great photo and advice for the winter storm season. I think people use bread and milk as an excuse to go to the store, so they can buy chips and beer. Nobody wants to get snowed in and not have fun.

    Happy skywatch!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Your weather changes make our look so lame. Terrific info again and the images are surreal.

    ReplyDelete
  32. a fantabulous sky...thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love all your photos.
    Happy sky watch Friday

    ReplyDelete
  34. that's very beautiful! It looks like a roof. :)

    happy SWF!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love those kind of clouds, we had some here yesterday that looked a bit like yours, I didn't get a photo of them wish i had. Weather here is cold but no snow in site yet, i guess when it decides to snow it may never stop. Such beautiful warm weather for this time of yr for us.

    ReplyDelete
  36. As usual another wonderful shot from the Weather Queen!!! I find your posts so interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  37. love these skies..never seen anythg like this before here..

    ReplyDelete
  38. Very beautiful "autocumulus mackerel" ;) (it is even hard to pronounce)
    I am sorry about the flooding, hope things goes better tomorrow...


    My blog

    ReplyDelete
  39. fantastic sky...i love it! so mesmerizing!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hey, who stuck cotton balls up in the sky? ;)

    Glad I could help with the topic - I know the feeling of blog block.

    The only thing I would add to it - is hand and feet warmers (hot hands & hot feet) - they help tremendously. Use them all the time if out doing astrophotography and when I go out in early mornings to shoot images. I keep hot hands in my jacket pocket - keeps my hands warm, but also keeps my extra camera batteries warm.

    :D

    ReplyDelete
  41. Lovely to see your post today and enjoy your wonderful photos. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Dew - cool skies and good info as usual. Love the "bad weather preparedness" advice too. WHAT do people do with all the batteries they buy right before bad weather?! I swear - stores go out of stock several times a year on that stuff. Just at the THREAT of inclement weather. Good, sound advice. Now - if you could just advise the people on their driving, we'll be in good shape. Happy SWF!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Awe! That's neat! Snow! Woah! Well we had a night of frost last week. That's as far as it gets! :)
    Didn't even had to scratch - at 9pm the ice on the windshield was gone.
    Cheers, Klaus

    ReplyDelete
  44. i love those clouds!!! coming from the frozen northlands, (ottawa, canada) i am always amused at the fear of snow in the southrn statea.thanks for all thinfo about couds, too. i like a bit of education with my fun!!

    ReplyDelete

Dew comment, please...