Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 12021 Location: zombie horde wonderland
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:13 am Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Byron100 wrote:
But 62 degrees on the inside isn't too tough to take, and the bright sun will heat up the house just fine. I'll fire it up when it gets below 60 in here and see how it does then...in the meantime, I want to make the most of "no climate control needed" for as long as possible.
We usually start having a fire in the woodstove when the house gets down in the 50s, but that's a little too cold for me. I'm such a weather wimp, I'm really dreading winter (what little winter we have down here)! _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6150 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Byron100 wrote:
Heineken wrote:
Yes Shanny, this is incredible! Our rain gauge suddenly has 1.75 inches of water sitting in it, after standing virtually empty for the past 40 or so days. It's been raining torrentially all evening and has only just let up a bit. Earlier today it was raining lightly to moderately.
It's so wonderful that you're getting so much rain...now it's my turn to be jealous of you! Didn't quite make an inch this event, but then again, we've had rain several times this month. Just hope this is part of a genuine pattern change and not just a one-off.
It rained more overnight, and total rainfall for this event at my location is now 2.65 inches. More coming; another precious inch, maybe.
It looks to be completely dry all next week, though temps will be normal, finally. I obviously share your hope that the pattern is changing, but there's no way to tell, yet . . . that forecast of a "warm, dry winter" (due to La Nina) remains disturbingly in place.
Either way, I feel that we've bought ourselves some serious time with this big rainfall! _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Aug 07, 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Columbia, MO
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Not doing too bad in central MO (USA). We are perhaps 3 inches down for the year, and we seem to be getting some regular rain now to replenish the subsurface. Good corn and soybean crop this year. Local veggies (mine) seem happy and prices at the farmer's markets are reasonable.
We are entering a slow decline in temps which is just what the doctor ordered for my new trees. All are losing their leaves in an orderly and expected fashion. Fall colors leave a lot to be desired, but they're still coming on, just a little late.
Pretty OK here - just wait till next year though. Still remember the freeze that killed all the peach and apple blossoms...
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6150 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
The sun came out this morning, beaming on a dripping world. We received a total of 4.75 inches from this storm over a period of about four days. Puts a big dent in the drought!
Only last night did our stream begin to run again, and only weakly. The severely dehydrated forest absorbed a massive amount of water before finally beginning to release a little as runoff.
My pond is full of tea-colored, woodland-filtered water! Thousands of gallons of it. And the dam is working just as I planned. I took pictures this morning and hope to post them next week. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 12021 Location: zombie horde wonderland
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:19 am Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Hooray! What a good feeling it is to see that water, isn't it?
Our soil is still moist enough that the creek runs again after each small rain. This is an intermittent or what they call seasonal creek, not a year-round creek. Though I think if everyone in the watershed restored their rangeland, it might become year-round except in drought years. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy
Joined: Sep 16, 2004 Posts: 4279 Location: Southwest WI
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Thats a really good amount of rain! Get 1 or 2 more of those this winter and you'll be right back into it. _________________ "Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07
Joined: Apr 05, 2005 Posts: 1620 Location: Springsteen Country (NJ)
Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
This is for Heineken and all of Virginia -
_________________ Joe P. United Political Debate
"Only when the last tree is cut; only when the last river is polluted; only when the last fish is caught; only then will they realize that you cannot eat money." - Cree Indian Proverb
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6150 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Thanks all. I'm singin'. I'm deliriously grateful that my thousands of trees have had a good drink.
But a deeper voice, without, is intoning that we're not out of this drought. The long-range forecast has resumed that relentlessly sunny look I know all too well . . . _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6150 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
No POer, I have not started drinking purified rainwater, although that certainly sounds very doable should it come to that. They have some pretty effective and quite simple filtration devices these days; I guess you're referring to those?
Also, my roof is not metal, although I sure wish it was. The roof will need replaced soon, and I'll look into the metal option, if it isn't too pricey (which it probably is).
I don't plan to remain here for the rest of my days, which is why I've been dilatory about some PO-preparatory steps. My general situation is greatly complicated by the presence of my elderly parents, who probably shouldn't be moved. I'm in a sort of limbo. It's difficult at times and may even threaten my life, but I wouldn't be around at all if it weren't for them, so I feel I owe them this. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1058 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:23 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Heineken wrote:
No POer, I have not started drinking purified rainwater, although that certainly sounds very doable should it come to that. They have some pretty effective and quite simple filtration devices these days; I guess you're referring to those?
Also, my roof is not metal, although I sure wish it was. The roof will need replaced soon, and I'll look into the metal option, if it isn't too pricey (which it probably is).
I don't plan to remain here for the rest of my days, which is why I've been dilatory about some PO-preparatory steps. My general situation is greatly complicated by the presence of my elderly parents, who probably shouldn't be moved. I'm in a sort of limbo. It's difficult at times and may even threaten my life, but I wouldn't be around at all if it weren't for them, so I feel I owe them this.
If I had received 4.75 in of rain like you did recently, I would have collected ca. 4,750 gallons of water for household/garden use.
Of course, you can always use the untreated rainwater for irrigation of nearby plants or trees, or even just watering house plants, where ever you end up living. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Last edited by PeakOiler on Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:40 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: Sep 14, 2004 Posts: 6150 Location: Rural Virginia
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:35 pm Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Sure makes sense to me, although here we're still getting used to the possibility of lasting water scarcity.
I did build a dam, which offers an alternative for impounding water. However, the pond it creates is about 900 feet from my house, which means a 1,800-foot round trip with the water bucket!
Update on dam and pond: I took and developed some pictures, but they didn't turn out very well. I guess there wasn't enough light when I practiced my horribly amateurish photography. Also, with the pond full, much of the dam structure was hidden by water.
The water level is falling, I think because the formerly parched basin in which is sits is absorbing some of it. The dam does not appear to be leaking at all.
If the water level falls low enough I'll be able to start "phase 2," which will involve the use of wire and concrete to reinforce the dam structure, and further excavation of the pond.
Anyway, I'll take more pics in better light and see if they're worth posting. _________________ "Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog
"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother
Joined: Sep 08, 2005 Posts: 597 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Autumn Weather 2007
Update from the ATL here: It looks as if we're going to close out October with 2.33 inches of rainfall, so Heineken's got me beat...hehe. While our trees have been getting the drinks they so badly need in the past 2 months from the bit of rain we have been getting, there simply isn't any runoff whatsoever, so Lake Lanier continues to fall, day after day.
Good thing the state of Georgia has $800 million laying around, as we're going to need that money real soon for emergency water projects...starting with the plumbing of Lake Lanier all the way down to the bottom. I suspect this will start in about 30 more days if we don't get any big storms. Next up will be the running of pipelines further up into the mountains...but who knows how long that would take :/.
As for the change of season, I finally have the furnace going (temps in the 30's...woot!) Might as well as burn gas while it's still quite cheap, and save my trees for later, when the cost of gas is going out of reach. The days continue to shorten, with the noonday sun reaching ever further into the house with the ever-increasing wintertime slant. I have never before eagerly awaited the coming winter as I am now, seeing all the trees and vegetation finally go into a much-needed dormancy, and letting whatever rains that do fall build the soil moisture back up and maybe finally able to generate some runoff once again.
I've done some studying over on the Eastern US Wx forum, and it does appear that the ridge will hold in place for the most part in the SE to about March...with relief finally coming in spring. There is the hope of some big storms, however, like the one that gave NC and VA so much rain...just two or three of these spaced out over a period of six weeks or so could be what could save us from draining the lake all the way down to a mud pit. Keeping my fingers crossed, that's for sure. You should see the local news these days...the "Drought Watch" thing they're touting 24/7...LOL. Well, they need do some bitching about those damned pro-growthers, as we simply cannot take on any more people than we have now...even if the rains do come back. _________________ Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide...
...and the meek shall inherit the Earth!
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