No doubt you are saying to yourself, "so what's got GrannyJ all uptight about everyday weather?" Unless you are an Arizonan. In which case, you are well aware that through the last half of May and most of June, the skies in our state are supposed to look like the picture above. Blue. Cloudless. Even a mile high in the central mountains, we can expect to fry in June. The normal schedule calls for the summer rains to arrive early to mid-July.
But in the year of our Lord 2009, our late spring skies have looked more like this,,,
...this...
...and even this. What is more, at our elevation, the temperature is pretty directly correlated to the cloud cover. Meaning that our late spring has been unusually cool. We haven't fried as we are meant to.
I shouldn't complain, really. But in one's old age, one secretly likes things to be orderly. I wouldn't be so concerned if the sunspots hadn't nearly disappeared. Furthermore, the earth' magnetic field is diminishing, and the solar wind is slowing down or thinning out or something untoward. Such matters tend to make me nervous. Tell me I needn't worry.Time for Links: Another local blog for the likes of me -- the Retiree Connection, primarily featuring volunter opportunities. Ron at Walking Ft. Bragg took a four day hike along an excursion railroad line up in NoCal; way to go, Ron! Tombo was up near Seligman, where he caught a picture of an unexpected grazing animal. And s.weasel who recently moved to England has a public icon puzzle she invites you to interpret.
The main thing you have to worry about, if we go by Old Wives' Tales, is that early monsoon-y weather portends a short monsoon, an early drying, and an early fire season.
ReplyDeleteThe sun spots are coming back--some really nifty cool science stuff related to solar magnetic flow beneath the surface of the sun has been studied courtesy of an array of satellites for studying the sun. Seems that there's a magnetic current similar to the jet stream on the sun, and when that current reaches the "magic latitude" of 22 degrees, sunspots start appearing. Lo & behold, that happened, and the sunspots are back. Phil Plait (Bad Astronomy) wrote about it today, and I'm feeling too lazy to get the direct URL for you...
Our weather has been unusually cool and wet this year, but that is not new to Germany.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is that I want my 100+ degree weather! I had to take a sweater when I went out last night! In June! In the desert!!!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I was cold in June.
I will be curious to see how this weather affects the monsoon though. I am under the impression that the monsoons are helped along by the rising waves of heat hitting a moist, cold jet of air coming from the southish? If we've got no heat, will we still get the awesome storms? Or will they be meek little showers like we are getting now?
Hubby says, back in the day, he has seen freezing temps in June. And he remembers this because he worked outside all of his life. So not to worry, odd weather is expected around these old mountains.
ReplyDeleteAs Omegamom says - no need to worry - sunspots are a'comin' back. In fact just peeking around the sun's edge. I got my info from the NASA news site. Actually we've been on the down side of the 11 year cycle for the past two tears and we're right on time to start on the up side again.
ReplyDeletedotter -- yes, I read that article. They appear to back -- sorta -- but they do fade fast.
ReplyDeletesteve -- my company-paid visits to Germany were always off=season, so I have no picture of your spring/summers. However, I do know about chilly, dark autumns.
tombo -- I recall being told that per the old wives, if the monsoon comes early, it'll be short, sweet and a summer drought will follow.
jarart -- I like your hubby's report better than the old wives tales!
jeanw -- I just checked in at spaceweather.com and they reported that: "Tiny sunspot 1021, which appeared yesterday, is already fading away." The number of spotless days is higher than it's been for nearly 100 years.
Love those flat bottomed clouds in a big landscape...
ReplyDeletelucy -- aren't they impressive?
ReplyDelete