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AgentOrange
02-12-2021, 07:51 PM
I have had a weather station on the lake for many years. I believe Chuck saw it on the internet and that is how we met.

I have an abnormal interest in weather as I am outside more than some. It is good for a Fisherman or a Gardner to have some clue.
I check many weather sites, but by far have found Wunderground to be the most accurate, and most complete.

https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/sc/westminster/KSCWESTM39

For years I had a station there. After a computer replacement a couple years back, could not get me back on line. I have played with it a few times for hours, no luck. Today I am back up.
Now I need to rebuild my weather web page as it has deteriorated.

I enjoy that kinda crap as I get to do it from my porch chair with good music and good beer. Some prefer things like games, but for me, the computer and web are a puzzle type game. I know nothing, do trial and error. I stumble about and some times win -> like today.

Maybe this time around I will hook in a web cam from the dock to my weather page and yall can see my lake birds (if they show while you are looking).

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Marty Gass
02-13-2021, 02:49 PM
I have thought of getting home weather station but I find it just as interesting to try and guess if the forecast will be anywhere accurate. It changes so much it is almost funny. I am pretty sick of all the rain. Looks like things greatly improve after next Friday so I hope that is true. I head to Florida again the week and it looks like the Orlando area will be warm and mostly sunny.

AgentOrange
02-14-2021, 03:37 PM
Been working on the weather web page.
Since I have no idea what I am doing, it is slow going.

I want to show the current conditions at my station, but for now best I can do is a click. I'll work on it.

I was able to steal/borrow a SE radar map as the old one has not worked for a couple years.
Borrowing a photo or image is easy, but a map that must constantly update is very difficult, at least for me.

Code from a page for weather service is a billion characters, and my knowledge of stuff beyond simple html is lacking. Things in the head tell things in the body what to do, so you have to figure what works what and delete the right things. Just borrowing one small map and getting it to work is a real puzzle to me. You get one digit wrong and you have a mess.

My eyes can't take anymore code reading today:beaten:. This is not the end product, but a good start. Any comments are appreciated.

I pull these type radar maps up daily as they show what is weather is about and what is on the way. It is handy to have them on one page. This is not a forecast, but the coming reality about to hit your yard.
Most weather moves up from the south. Good for Mike and Tony is their yards are on these maps.
Right now you can see there is a rare ice/snow storm in Alabama and Lou. That will not effect us much as that will likely go to the west of the Blue Ridge. Those mountains protect us from a lot.

http://tugalooriver.com

Tony Presley R.I.P
02-15-2021, 12:21 PM
Looks very good and useable for us. You have put in some good work here! Anthony Lampros is also big into weather.

AgentOrange
02-15-2021, 02:01 PM
Got the banner centered and the current weather from my dock posted.

Tony, here is a link to find your nearest station:https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ga/clayton

Look at this map and find one near your yard. Most get weather from some distance airport. Your yard might be very different from that.

https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap?lat=34.878&lon=-83.401

AgentOrange
02-15-2021, 02:26 PM
I have thought of getting home weather station but I find it just as interesting to try and guess if the forecast will be anywhere accurate. It changes so much it is almost funny. I am pretty sick of all the rain. Looks like things greatly improve after next Friday so I hope that is true. I head to Florida again the week and it looks like the Orlando area will be warm and mostly sunny.


A weather station does not forecast, it gives current conditions. From the radar maps on my web page one can see what is coming.

Weather does change. The experts forecast (guess) and do a good job. They constantly update their forecast. I am kinda impressed at how good they do.

Marty, the weather that hits Mike, Chuck, Tony, and me is headed your way. The maps on my page can help you. The jet stream tends to move most of our weather from Atlanta toward Charlotte.

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Tony Presley R.I.P
02-16-2021, 02:23 PM
Got the banner centered and the current weather from my dock posted.

Tony, here is a link to find your nearest station:https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ga/clayton

Look at this map and find one near your yard. Most get weather from some distance airport. Your yard might be very different from that.

https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap?lat=34.878&lon=-83.401What is the approximate cost for me to put in a weather station compatible with wunderground in my back yard?

AgentOrange
02-16-2021, 04:44 PM
What is the approximate cost for me to put in a weather station compatible with wunderground in my back yard?

It is a fun hobby, and useful.

It is a mistake to ask me a question:teapot:. I am wordy and on the porch with no one to talk to. I can see wind gusts have reached 22mph. It really rips coming across the lake to my dock. I could surf today.

Costs differ. Some cost less. More cost more. I have this one for $58 I look at first thing every morning. The temp and the rain is is good, no complaints.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0791B6B48/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I like it, very accurate.


A more inclusive "hobby station" costs more. Some stations you can get online with are cheap.
Most agree that Davis is more accurate, and more durable. That is all I have experience with. Davis is also more expensive. There are many Davis models. My old one is the Vantage View. It is compact, accurate and durable. You might find a used one on ebay.

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You can get it with and without he monitor, but most likely you need the monitor. The monitor is a tiny computer.

You can get it stand alone for $188.
With monitor it is $304.
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With the new Wireless Data Collection Hub and no monitor, it is $361 and with monitor is $446.
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https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Instruments-6250-Vantage-Wireless/dp/B002LLVFK0/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=davis+weather&link_code=qs&qid=1613502104&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-5&tag=mozilla-20

I have had one for over ten years. I have really enjoyed it. For most of that time also had it up on the web, and now do again. You could hook it to a page on your Hiking South, or start a new one.

It sends a wireless signal to the monitor. It works with solar. It works really well. Mine is on the dock about 300' away. It updates constantly and the signal has never gone down in ten years, no matter the weather. I find that impressive. The signal is strong.

As with most things, the devil is in the details.

It works fine with just station and monitor.
If you want to hook to computer and download the data, you need the software and the data logger $132. The software is a pain, but I like having the data stored in computer. The software provides many charts and etc, lots of fun. The logger hooks to the monitor and usb to a computer. The monitor also has a battery, so keeps working and storing if power goes down.
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The computer can put the weather station on line so you can see it from TV or anywhere you have a computer. You can see it on smartphone (not mine but yours).

You can upload data to Wunderground for a small fee. I enjoy that. Wunderground is the best weather site.
Davis now has a place for free, very good site, so Wunderground for data storage is no longer needed.
https://www.weatherlink.com/ (http://Davisweatherlink.com)
I am now sending my data there first and from there to Wunderground. From Weatherlink you can access all your data on line from anywhere. It is kinda like the Garmin watch site. It adds to the value of the Davis Station.

Keep in mind that I have a tiny, mini, fanless computer that sits on the porch and runs all the time. To upload, the computer runs all the time or catches up when you log in. The monitor stores data so no data is lost if the computer is down. The weather station can upload from constantly to just every 15 minutes.

This new Wireless Data Collection Hub for $200 does not require a computer or monitor, so $361. Your data is stored on Weatherlink. I guess you need to decide where you want to access your data. I rarely look at my monitor, but need it to get data on line and in the computer. I like this new item as I have good wifi. https://www.amazon.com/Davis-Instruments-WeatherLink-Collection-Alexa-Compatible/dp/B07PVCV8Q6/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Wireless+Vantage+Pro2&link_code=qs&qid=1613507949&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-3&tag=mozilla-20
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========


The reason I discovered Weatherlink.com and was able to get back on Wunderground was I saw the latest Davis Weather station and was researching it. I kinda wish my old one would break so I could buy the new one.:dog:
It is the Vantage Pro2 ranging from $524 to $1400 depending on your needs. These can do things like UV or even monitor your ground temps and moisture for crops. Maybe I need that to monitor my tomato pots:unconscious:.
https://www.davisinstruments.com/vantage-pro2/
7800

These are all cheaper on Amazon, so check there. I already have a monitor, would not need that, but would add the wifi logger. Actually, I might add the wifi logger to my current station.

Tony Presley R.I.P
02-16-2021, 08:40 PM
It is a fun hobby, and useful.

It is a mistake to ask me a question:teapot:. I am wordy and on the porch with no one to talk to. I can see wind gusts have reached 22mph. It really rips coming across the lake to my dock. I could surf today.

Costs differ. Some cost less. More cost more. I have this one for $58 I look at first thing every morning. The temp and the rain is is good, no complaints.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0791B6B48/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Lots of great information.... I will study up on it and decide what I want to try. I put up a station at school when I was still teaching and we enjoyed keeping up with weather data. Looks like the technology has improved quite a bit since those days!

Mike Kelly
02-16-2021, 10:22 PM
Wow! Lots of great information. I have a lot to look forward to when I retire in 19 more months

Marty Gass
02-17-2021, 10:22 AM
Yes. Seems like that is usually the case especially when it comes to snow and ice. I always looked at the weather in Atlanta and Greenville and it was snowing there we got it too.

An old friend of mine living in Asheville retired as a meteorologist working for the state. He has a nice weather station or at least he did and when I went to Asheville for work during the 80s and 90s we would go run together and often off the parkway on trails. He would show up to pick me up and let me know where the rain was and how long we had to squeeze in a run. He was not a forecaster but in the department where they collected and stored the data for future use. I guess that is how they created the computer models.

These days in Charlotte it is easy to know what is going on as it rains damn near every day. My weekend runs have been nasty on several occasions this winter. The cold bothers my back quite a bit so anything I do outside in the cold just hurts. As it warms up my back does well. Last Sunday it hurt almost all the way. Started to get warmed up at about 5 miles and I quit at 6.3.

I was in Orlando Monday evening and Tuesday morning. Monday evening it got to 88. I storm came thru and dropped it to 70 for a while. Glorious

AgentOrange
02-17-2021, 11:00 AM
I see I posted a bad link above -- sorry.

https://www.davisinstruments.com/weatherlink-cloud/

Stout Dog
02-20-2021, 10:09 PM
My brother in law put up a weather station between our 2 houses a couple years ago and it's fantastic. I don't bother messin with my rain gauge any more cause I've got the app on my phone. We had well over 6 feet of rain in 2020 and had to have my roof replaced finally. Storms washed my driveway out and fixed I it by dumpin 16 bags of Sakrete off my tailgate into tread line ditches. Killer job but it worked great. If the waters not comin from the sky it's comin from the ground. Even through the trees. The great equalizer

AgentOrange
02-22-2021, 05:20 PM
My brother in law put up a weather station between our 2 houses a couple years ago and it's fantastic. I don't bother messin with my rain gauge any more cause I've got the app on my phone. We had well over 6 feet of rain in 2020 and had to have my roof replaced finally. Storms washed my driveway out and fixed I it by dumpin 16 bags of Sakrete off my tailgate into tread line ditches. Killer job but it worked great. If the waters not comin from the sky it's comin from the ground. Even through the trees. The great equalizer

History here is the monthly average in "my yard" is about 5". There is no real rain season, over years it averages about the same each month. It is common to go dry for months and lots of rain for months. It would be great to get an inch every week, but it is always feast or famine.:hopelessness:

I just checked with the experts, and Clemson (where they study this type thing) officially gets 52 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

In the last 20 years have seen Lake Hartwell go way up and way down, but always there is lots of water running out of the Blue Ridge. I got .59 this morning, but could see it was heavy in the mountains. http://tugalooriver.com/

The deal is not often rainfall, but how the Corps manage the lake. Right now it is down about a foot. They will bring it up the next couple of weeks. Politics manages the lake, not the weather.
I don't care as to the level, just wish they would leave it at one level so I don't have to move the dock in and out, have to move "in" tomorrow:Oh Hell. I am getting too old for that crap.

Marty Gass
02-22-2021, 06:21 PM
It has rained so much here that the park has areas of standing water that I have never seen before. We got more rain last night and today and now the sun has been out for a few hours. Now when it rains even a little part of my yard is a puddle. There is no place for the water to go. It does drain down the side of my house but my sump pump will run off and on for another day as the water moves. We will have 3 very nice days now and then rain Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday.

Tony Presley R.I.P
03-10-2021, 04:37 PM
Got the banner centered and the current weather from my dock posted.

Tony, here is a link to find your nearest station:https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ga/clayton

Look at this map and find one near your yard. Most get weather from some distance airport. Your yard might be very different from that.

https://www.wunderground.com/wundermap?lat=34.878&lon=-83.401 After studying up on your weather post, I finally decided to purchase a weather station for my yard in Clayton. I bought the Logia 5-in-1 and I like it. After struggling to try to get it to sync I finally got it and it is working well. It took me a few days but I got it added to Weather Underground. My address is KGACLAYT34

This is a neat thing to add as a hobby and everybody is interested in weather conditions before going outside!

My station was a little more than $100 and it seems to work very well.

https://logiaweatherstations.com/products/5-in-1-wireless-weather-station-with-wi-fi

and this is the link to my yard.
https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ga/clayton/KGACLAYT34

AgentOrange
03-10-2021, 04:53 PM
After studying up on your weather post, I finally decided to purchase a weather station for my yard in Clayton.

Welcome to the club:congratulatory:. You will find it money well spent as it is very interesting. After collecting data for a few years, you can see trends.

I have booked marked your station on Wunderground. We can compare weather.:EXCITED
We don't live too far apart as the Crow flies, but our elevation is different, and you have more mountain shielding.

My elevation is 665. and weather crosses over about a mile of lake to reach my station which is mounted on the dock.
You can check your station by comparing your readings to those nearby.

Now all on YC want you to share info about your Generator.:Question

Marty Gass
03-11-2021, 12:50 PM
Ok. I may have to buy one of these.

AgentOrange
03-15-2021, 12:26 PM
Governor McMaster has proclaimed this week “South Carolina Citizen Weather Observer Week”. The week recognizes observers. Across South Carolina more than 80 volunteer their time to help track daily conditions and relay critical information.

Tony Presley R.I.P
03-16-2021, 10:12 AM
We got our first rainfall since installing our home weather station! It works!

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KGACLAYT34?cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash

AgentOrange
03-16-2021, 11:54 AM
We got our first rainfall since installing our home weather station! It works!

https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KGACLAYT34?cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash


Yeah, and I see nearby stations have similiar readings so you must have mounted it in a good location.
So far we have recieved much less rain. You are at 1.38 and I am at .37.
You can see the moving weather maps of the rain over on my page.

http://tugalooriver.com

AgentOrange
03-16-2021, 01:27 PM
I started redesigning my weather page and got distracted. I'll get back to it one day.
Tony, the weather maps there cover your area. If you ever put up a page (say on Hiking South), feel free to borrow the code for the maps from my page.

Those maps show what is coming to you.

AgentOrange
03-23-2021, 09:27 PM
30 miles apart --

Today Tony had high of 64 and low of 42. His high wind was 11.
Here -- high was 68 and low was 49. High wind was 18.

That is not similar.

AgentOrange
03-25-2021, 10:08 PM
Tony, just checked your page. I see you will not have to water your grass tomorrow as a little rain fell today. Y ou may need a boat if you are going out.

Tony Presley R.I.P
03-26-2021, 05:02 PM
Tony, just checked your page. I see you will not have to water your grass tomorrow as a little rain fell today. Y ou may need a boat if you are going out.
Yes, we went to Tallulah Gorge State Park to run / walk this morning and the flooding there was amazing! There is a hiking trail that is paved there and the portion at the parking lot was completely under water. The Tallulah River was roaring! At the lake, the dam flood gates were wide open and roaring.

https://youtu.be/vB5jpdjzTJ8


https://youtu.be/C-MtjGZqIOA

AgentOrange
03-26-2021, 05:07 PM
Great chance to check how good your weather station is. Check the ones nearby, and if yours is similar as to this storm you are good to go. If not you have a problem.

Tony Presley R.I.P
03-26-2021, 05:09 PM
30 miles apart --

Today Tony had high of 64 and low of 42. His high wind was 11.
Here -- high was 68 and low was 49. High wind was 18.

That is not similar.
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KGACLAYT34?cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash

The significant difference is elevation. We are at 2182 ft and you are less than 1000 ft I think.

AgentOrange
03-26-2021, 05:48 PM
Great chance to check how good your weather station is. Check the ones nearby, and if yours is similar as to this storm you are good to go. If not you have a problem.


https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KGACLAYT34?cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash

The significant difference is elevation. We are at 2182 ft and you are less than 1000 ft I think.

I know, our yards and most yards are different. I did not mean compare to me, but stations near you, a couple are near Clayton.

Tony Presley R.I.P
03-26-2021, 07:37 PM
I know, our yards and most yards are different. I did not mean compare to me, but stations near you, a couple are near Clayton. Yes, I was just responding to your comment that these are not similar. I do compare mine to those in my general area.

AgentOrange
04-10-2021, 03:01 PM
At 3PM see Tony has had .56in and temp is 59.
I have .32 and it is 64.

Tony Presley R.I.P
04-10-2021, 07:54 PM
At 3PM see Tony has had .56in and temp is 59.
I have .32 and it is 64. Yes but you caught up with me by the time the rain ended. I had 1.25 in and you had 1.32! Temp at 7:50 for me is still 59 and you are 62. Hoping for dry weather for the coming week!

AgentOrange
04-10-2021, 08:40 PM
Yes but you caught up with me by the time the rain ended. I had 1.25 in and you had 1.32! Temp at 7:50 for me is still 59 and you are 62. Hoping for dry weather for the coming week!


I am up to 1.49.
The deal is if weather comes over the mountain, you get more. Most times it comes up I-85 and while I get less than Anderson, you get less than me.
Most weather swings below the Blue Ridge and up though Atlanta.
The fun weather breaks over the Blue Ridge.

Marty Gass
10-04-2021, 11:46 AM
Rain is finally on the way. We have been very dry for the past month or so. We have only had a few days of rain. Looks like we may have a few days of steady rainfall now.

AgentOrange
10-04-2021, 02:15 PM
Rain has been good here, this has been a nice wet Summer.

On the porch watching rain fall playing the Blues. I am not blue, but in a good mood. Funny how playing the Blues can do that for you. During every lull the birds come for a snack and some turtles hit the log. One big one don't mind some rain on him, seems to like it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JttvoGmGijU

Marty Gass
10-05-2021, 11:40 AM
We were doing well here until September. We had good rain in June and July and well into August and then it mostly stopped. The trees and grasses etc in McAlpine have grown like crazy the past two years with mild winters and lots of rain. The main bike way from Monroe to Sardis is now mostly shaded until around 10:30 am. Even in late July and early August there was a lot of shade. I remain amazed at what great job was done a few years ago to raise the level of the trails and bikeway and fix the creeks and put in bridges. Flood damage has been non existent. We just get some mud on the asphalt and they come in and clean it off. Now that a ton of grass and other ground cover has grown back the mud flow has been dramatically reduced.

Marty Gass
11-05-2021, 12:11 PM
Finally started to get cold. I don't much like cold weather even though I have all the gear I need to stay warm. The weather has been really nice although we need a lot more rain, a lot more rain. The current weather is about a cold as I like. It will warm a bit next week and then turn cold. The wooly worm as predicted a cold start and a cold end to winter. It has been pretty much on the money for the several years I have made note of the worm forecast.

Sunday we leave for Nassau. Not happy about it. We made the arrangements early may when we thought all of the covid BS would be in the rear view mirror. The crap we have to go through to get on the plane and then do every day while there would have stopped us from every going. My wife has to take 22 hours of CE every year and she picks places where the speakers and topics are really good. We had a choice of New Orleans or Nassau and my wife thought Nassau would be good. We have been there in the past for my job so we thought it would be a good trip.
If you get caught not wearing a mask in a specified mask area you can get a $250.00 fine and jail time. We will get an e-mail every day to fill out a health form and if you miss a day....$100.00 fine. WE had to fill out a several page form with all kinds of data just to get a health passport. I have documents to carry to the airport to get on the plane. Also had to buy insurance to be there incase I get sick while there. None of this was in place when we made the arrangements to go or we would not have decided to go there. Never again. We also have a trip planned next April to go back to the Dominican Republic and If they start that crap I will cancel. This stuff seems to change every few months and will drive you crazy.

Chuck Farley
01-15-2022, 08:37 PM
Well, it looks like winter is finally coming to NE Georgia. The forecast says snow will begin at midnight. Snow till 7 AM and then turning to wintry mix and wind for four hours, and then back to snow for the rest of Sunday. With freezing rain, we'll probably lose power. I have electric heat, so I've got dry firewood nearby in case we have to use the fireplace for warmth. I also have a non-vented gas heater.
This happens enough that I am somewhat prepared. I have a small generator, and a bank of charged boat batteries hooked to a 2KW inverter. I'll survive. AO, you'll probably get the same as me.

Mike Kelly
01-15-2022, 10:59 PM
Just started a cold rain here. I have gas logs and and a full tank of propane(truck came yesterday @ $3.99 per gallon). Got out the Coleman camp stove & filled the tank & tested (works). I have 50 lbs. of charcoal in case we need to grill. If all comes out as predicted (snow, freezing rain, & high winds) power will go down. Also have batteries for flashlights & portable radio. We have all the basics, so we is ready. I will be disappointed if we don't get to use some of these. Let it snow and whatever else comes along.

Chuck Farley
01-15-2022, 11:44 PM
We used to go camping and did without all the conveniences on purpose. We're at least as well off as we were on any of our camping trips.

Marty Gass
01-16-2022, 01:07 PM
We now have a good bit of ice covering everything. It is still coming down and building up. Power has blinked off several times and then come back on. don't know what will happen over the next 3 to 4hours when this ends. I will have to scrape off my SUV windows later so I can leave early to get new tires.

Started coming down with a cold on Thursday but so slight I didn't notice until late Friday night and then Saturday morning. Here it is noon on Sunday and I already feel better. Never had a fever or anything but just sinus and cough with a bit of slight muscle soreness or tightness that I get with a cold.

First time sick since the end of March 2020. No running etc until Tomorrow. Two days of rest will do a great deal to heal up.

Mike Kelly
01-17-2022, 10:26 AM
We lost power at 8:58 am on Sunday. Power came back on at 6:22 this morning. Roads are terrible, so will not venture out. MLK holiday today, so didn't have to work anyway. It was nice and peaceful with no power. Gas logs kept us warm. Transistor radio provided music. Cooked chili on Coleman gas stove late yesterday afternoon outside. That was very enjoyable also. We took chili, cheeze, & crackers to our neighbors across the street with two small kids. I enjoy it when the power goes out! If the wind picks up, power may go out again.

Chuck Farley
01-17-2022, 02:53 PM
We were lucky this time and didn't lose power. You made the most of it Mike, as I would if I had not been spared this time. I'll have to go unload my fire wood back to the wood shed. I quit having fires in the fireplace several years ago. I don't want embers to pop out on my fairly new floors.

8463
Here's the JD Gator loaded with well seasoned firewood.

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Mike Kelly
01-17-2022, 06:07 PM
Ventured out this afternoon. Main roads okay, secondary roads mostly okay. Other roads looking off secondary not so good. There were a lot of trees that had fallen over the secondary roads and were now cleared. We saw a lot of trees blown over in yards with root balls (mostly pine). There will be black ice in the morning for sure. Windy outside now, but not as bad as yesterday. Powerline crews from everywhere here in the county. They do a great job under harsh conditions. The name of this storm was Izzy.

AgentOrange
01-18-2022, 04:55 PM
My power went out at 6:30am and was out most of the day.
We got about 4" of snow. It was pretty great! :eagerness:
Even on low, the gas fire logs will heat my home. K had her book and could watch movies on her laptop.

Temps hung around 28-30 here all day. Winds were around 18 gusting to 35. My ponds were frozen over.
I made it to my porch chair around 11 with my FiiO player and my Tiger Demmer box (no power, no problem).
8466

https://www.amazon.com/Indestructible-Bluetooth-Speaker-Waterproof-Portable/dp/B076FBZ53W/ref=asc_df_B076FBZ53W/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=242015686760&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14930907499844712674&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010664&hvtargid=pla-455338019922&th=1

I was here until 5 with great beer, then I got hungry and went inside.
I was able to use some of the great cold weather gear I have collected over the years and was very comfy out here. I had tacked up some cardboard to the North East the day before to keep the wind from blowing it all on me.

It was not just beautiful, but very exciting out here:applause:. My head was on a swivel as things were afoot.
Birds were thick as thieves stealing my food. It was non stop action, best bird day in a long time.

The Finch returned so that added 50 birds. The Chipping Sparrows doubled to about 80.
My first Juncos of this Winter appeared.
A Towhee appeared, first one in a year.
I see I took 122 photos, so will go through those soon to see if any are OK.

K's cats played in the snow chasing the birds, one curled up on my lap to just help me watch the yard.

Just up the road a famous "snow sledder" who makes $9million a year was proving why he deserves it:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1482828507617144837


https://twitter.com/i/status/1482828507617144837

Marty Gass
01-19-2022, 11:12 AM
We got a good inch to 2 inches of snow and ice. I am still trying to get rid of what is left so it does not build up more over this weekend. No telling what the weather will be as it changes daily but looks like some snow and ice Friday and into early morning Saturday. Once again there will be no run in the park unless the snow melts during the day Saturday but that looks bleak.

Finally got the new base layer and it is quite warm as I reported on another post. I am still upset that it came from China.

It is fun to sit where you are able to look at what is going on in the snow. The birds and squirrels are running all over the place looking for food. I need to go refill the feeders. When it snows Friday I can sit on my back porch as it is glassed in and watch the snow fall. Interested to see what February weather looks like. The rest of this month will be rather cold as is typical. I can deal with the cold but the snow and ice just screws up everything else. That's why I got a treadmill in the first place.

Marty Gass
08-19-2022, 04:23 PM
This has been a bit odd of a summer around here. It got hot and humid but we have had regular rain and everything is lush and green. We have had so many dry summers that this feels pretty good. By now we normally see leaves on the ground from the dry weather and the trees stressed out but not this year. Golden rod is already out in some areas. I think we might have a cold winter again this year.

AgentOrange
08-19-2022, 05:58 PM
I think we might have a cold winter again this year.



As a porch guy, cold weather gear is a hobby of mine.
Last Winter was so mild I had little use of it.
I hope this one is colder.

Marty Gass
08-20-2022, 05:05 PM
I think we may be due for a shit storm of a winter this year. I don't mind winter except when it comes to running. When younger and fit it didn't matter as I just ran. These days it is tougher but maybe I will be more fit and my legs will work better and it will not be as tough. I also hate that it gets dark early. Right now is about perfect. It is light out from 6:30 until around 8 and that is good. I know when it is 9pm as it is mostly dark. I get up with the sun and down with the dark.

I have lots of good cold weather clothing. The tough part is having the right mix for when we head out west to the Rockies and it is cold in the morning but can be 75 or 80 by 3pm. I got a new ultra light back pack for clothes for hiking. I can add or remove and just tuck it in and have hands free for my hiking poles. My legs don't get cold while hiking. I have several pair of long pants with removable bottoms so I wear the pants to start out and then take off the bottoms and I am good to go.

Sitting outside and not moving is very different. I need everything I own if I have to sit outside or stand outside for a long time.

I ran in a 50k in the Virginia mountains back around 2006 or so and it snowed. I was ok with the weather but parts of the course were on fire roads and you had to sort of balance up on the hump in the middle as the ruts were full of rocks. I slipped so many times that I eventually pulled a groin muscle and had to drop out at 19 miles. I could not lift my left leg. I felt great and would have had a nice finish but if I had gotten into trouble between aid stations they would have had to come get me so I stopped at an aid station and drank some soup and they ran me back to the start area. It really sucked.

AgentOrange
08-20-2022, 05:12 PM
don't get cold



I have started Marathons below freezing. Most are AM so less wind.
If it is 20 or 120, the best for all is to go naked (unless there is wind).
I just needed my silk gloves.

Marty Gass
03-13-2023, 12:47 PM
Well someone had to comment on the weather so I guess it will be me. After all that nice warm weather we get hit in the face with December for a few weeks. I know it was warmer than normal for weeks but I was hoping it would just stay that way. Looks like it will not really warm up much for the next few weeks. I hope we don't have a killing frost. Our peach tree has blossomed and I don't want the peaches to get killed off. We/my wife had trimmed back the branches about 6 or more weeks ago as they were so long last year that the peaches nearly had the limps drooping down to the ground. She has sprayed the tree and we are hoping for the best.

AgentOrange
03-13-2023, 02:56 PM
I used to like the heat, not sure I can still deal with it.
The La Nino is done. The El Nino may arrive in Fall. From now till Fall weather will be harder to predict than normal as the experts don't know.

Yeah, the main thing with peach trees is to spray early and spray often.

Here in the UpState, it is normal to expect a frost up until about April 10. No real need to plant before then as it is not air temp that makes things grow but ground temp.

Mike Kelly
03-13-2023, 03:26 PM
I too used to like the heat. I like to sweat. Once a good sweat was broken out, all was good. Not sure how that will go this year since it has been a couple of years since I have been out in it. The treadmill is the only thing I have sweated on lately. Cold was not bad unless the wind was blowing. Wind was not fun.
Weather over here is predicting freeze warnings for the next 3 nights with low temps 28 and windy. Currently 12 mph with gusts up to 28 mph. Sunny though!

Marty Gass
03-16-2023, 05:43 PM
It is interesting how things change. In my early days running I liked the cold because I ran kinda fast and it was easier to recover when I did not loose several pounds of fluid. It was just a bit of a pain to have to put on the extra clothes. Over the past 8 to 10 years I have switched to enjoying the heat more. It is really tough but it is just easier to slow down and keep taking on fluids. I guess the best running times are spring and fall when you get warm but not too hot. When I think of the weather I would run in when I was trying to train it makes me cringe. Now I work hard at getting in good enough condition to just keep it going. I got screwed out of my run today due to work. I just finished for the day and it is 5:42 and I need to wrap up a few things before my wife gets home. I think my legs needed a bit of a break and it looks like saturday and sunday will be dry but not warm.

jjptkd
01-08-2024, 07:21 AM
Headed back home here in a few trying to beat the series of winter storms coming in this week have three passes to navigate. Forecast here looks a bit cold and snowy back home looks like rain until the weekend then possibly snow?

- - - Updated - - -

Headed back home here in a few trying to beat the series of winter storms coming in this week have three passes to navigate. Forecast here looks a bit cold and snowy back home looks like rain until the weekend then possibly snow?

Marty Gass
01-08-2024, 11:46 AM
Darn, that is a good bit of snow in the forecast. I no longer like cold weather but one day of snow is ok as it looks cool and around here is is usually all gone in a day but the streets ice over with the first night or two of thaw. Years ago here it would snow and everyone would just stay home. Since it was not a normal situation to drive in most who were raised in the south would run off the road or get stuck so people just stayed home. With snow in the forecast the stores would run out of bread, milk and peanut butter and jelly. I was raised in yankee hell, New Jersey. We got snow all the time and I took my driving test on snow covered roads. Not much stopped due to snow unless it was a blizzard and then it would slow down for a half day or so.

over the past 30 years of so Charlotte has been infected with the virus known as migration from the northeast. Now when it snows people go to work and brag about how well the drive in the snow and make fun of life long locals. Folks from here might reply as to how we got a snow holiday as we were smart enough to just stay home and have fun.

Be safe out there.

- - - Updated - - -

Darn, that is a good bit of snow in the forecast. I no longer like cold weather but one day of snow is ok as it looks cool and around here is is usually all gone in a day but the streets ice over with the first night or two of thaw. Years ago here it would snow and everyone would just stay home. Since it was not a normal situation to drive in most who were raised in the south would run off the road or get stuck so people just stayed home. With snow in the forecast the stores would run out of bread, milk and peanut butter and jelly. I was raised in yankee hell, New Jersey. We got snow all the time and I took my driving test on snow covered roads. Not much stopped due to snow unless it was a blizzard and then it would slow down for a half day or so.

over the past 30 years of so Charlotte has been infected with the virus known as migration from the northeast. Now when it snows people go to work and brag about how well the drive in the snow and make fun of life long locals. Folks from here might reply as to how we got a snow holiday as we were smart enough to just stay home and have fun.

Be safe out there.

AgentOrange
01-08-2024, 04:03 PM
I am a proud Son of the SOUTH.
Folks here don't have much experience (or desire much experience) driving in snow.

It is fun to say when Southerners see the first snowflake they begin wrecking their cars even before it hits the ground. Is that true or a joke?
It is true.

Folks can drive in snow, but no one can drive on ice. There is a huge difference.
I worked all day driving in all weather for 30 years. I have been to a 1000 more snow/ice wrecks than any here. I can drive in any weather, but not being a dumb ass, don't if I can avoid it.

I lived a couple years in the Alp foothills. Snow there was deep and lasted all Winter. Once it arrived, the roads were covered until thaw. I drove a MGA, or tried to.
People used spiked tires which are not legal here. My girl friend's big Mercedes with those spiked tires could not be stopped. Also very good was the VW Beetle.

Cop cars had chains. The big Ford Crown Vics with chains handled snow and ice well. The deal there was the lazy cops who would not take them off as roads cleared. This is also true of the public at large. A broken chain will chew up a fender pretty quick.

A big Southern problem is Yanks who believe they can drive on ice, but cannot.
Charlotte had 11 real Southerners, I moved, and now it has just 10.

Marty Gass
01-09-2024, 05:08 PM
All of that is true. I got stuck having to drive today to Augusta in and out of severe storms and I hated every bit of it and it was just thunder storms. I do not drive when there is a sign of ice on the roads. Snow is ok but I drive easy and these days put the 4Runner in 4wheel drive and it works well. I keep good tires on it as I do not want to get stuck. I pretty much only drive in snow if I happen to be out of town for work and have to get home or when I drive my wife back and forth to work. She has no clue as to driving in snow. She is from Danville Va and drives like a nut.

- - - Updated - - -

All of that is true. I got stuck having to drive today to Augusta in and out of severe storms and I hated every bit of it and it was just thunder storms. I do not drive when there is a sign of ice on the roads. Snow is ok but I drive easy and these days put the 4Runner in 4wheel drive and it works well. I keep good tires on it as I do not want to get stuck. I pretty much only drive in snow if I happen to be out of town for work and have to get home or when I drive my wife back and forth to work. She has no clue as to driving in snow. She is from Danville Va and drives like a nut.

jjptkd
01-10-2024, 09:18 AM
Well I seemed to have timed it just right left MT at 5am first two passes were bare and wet Snoqualmie was getting pretty tough by the time I got to it. Chains were required except for AWD and there were a ton of staters everywhere lots of big rigs pulled over chaining up and a couple spin outs. East bound was already shut down just before the summit I made it through without putting on my chains I have a front wheel drive car with decent all seasons but I do have chains just in case.

- - - Updated - - -

Well I seemed to have timed it just right left MT at 5am first two passes were bare and wet Snoqualmie was getting pretty tough by the time I got to it. Chains were required except for AWD and there were a ton of staters everywhere lots of big rigs pulled over chaining up and a couple spin outs. East bound was already shut down just before the summit I made it through without putting on my chains I have a front wheel drive car with decent all seasons but I do have chains just in case.

jjptkd
01-17-2024, 09:04 PM
Got up this morning at 330am and seen it was raining outside- phone said the temp was 33 and the rain would stop shortly. I was thinking great a little warmer should be a nice run today. I drank my coffee, maybe 45 minutes went by I got suited up and went outside, the rain had in fact stopped. I got to the corner of my building and just about fell on my ass! The entire parking lot and road had completely froze over and was ridiculously slick. Temp never got much above freezing and its been snowing off and on most of the day. Good news is it looks like it will warm up a bit bad news is rain likely every day for the foreseeable future. I don't mind the rain so much, I have good gear for that.

- - - Updated - - -

Got up this morning at 330am and seen it was raining outside- phone said the temp was 33 and the rain would stop shortly. I was thinking great a little warmer should be a nice run today. I drank my coffee, maybe 45 minutes went by I got suited up and went outside, the rain had in fact stopped. I got to the corner of my building and just about fell on my ass! The entire parking lot and road had completely froze over and was ridiculously slick. Temp never got much above freezing and its been snowing off and on most of the day. Good news is it looks like it will warm up a bit bad news is rain likely every day for the foreseeable future. I don't mind the rain so much, I have good gear for that.

Chuck Farley
01-18-2024, 12:33 AM
Well, the 15 degree temp. last night got me. I couldn't turn the water cut-off to one of my outbuildings all the way off. I turned on a faucet to a trickle, but when I checked it this morning (still freezing temp), there wasn't a trickle. The water apparently had frozen. We went to town and met some friends, and when I checked this afternoon, the PVC had split in several places and was spewing water. The cutoff is one of those ball valve kind where a quarter turn cuts it off. I had not been able to turn the valve 90 degrees. Well, I had to give it another try. I had some penetrating oil, so I squirted that on the ball valve, and was finally able to get it shut off completely. I'm saving the repair job for a warm spring day.
I won't have the plumbing so high in the air when I re-do it. I'll fix it where I can cover it up with some kind of insulation.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, the 15 degree temp. last night got me. I couldn't turn the water cut-off to one of my outbuildings all the way off. I turned on a faucet to a trickle, but when I checked it this morning (still freezing temp), there wasn't a trickle. The water apparently had frozen. We went to town and met some friends, and when I checked this afternoon, the PVC had split in several places and was spewing water. The cutoff is one of those ball valve kind where a quarter turn cuts it off. I had not been able to turn the valve 90 degrees. Well, I had to give it another try. I had some penetrating oil, so I squirted that on the ball valve, and was finally able to get it shut off completely. I'm saving the repair job for a warm spring day.
I won't have the plumbing so high in the air when I re-do it. I'll fix it where I can cover it up with some kind of insulation.

jjptkd
01-18-2024, 07:48 AM
Sounds / looks like you need a frost free yard hydrant

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP8ST1K1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B0CP8ST1K1&pd_rd_w=lbJZO&content-id=amzn1.sym.f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_p=f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_r=M30VMV593GMAAH1ADSVF&pd_rd_wg=e9A22&pd_rd_r=dcd5e290-3276-4518-ab0f-985cec9ee3e3&s=industrial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

- - - Updated - - -

Sounds / looks like you need a frost free yard hydrant

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP8ST1K1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B0CP8ST1K1&pd_rd_w=lbJZO&content-id=amzn1.sym.f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_p=f734d1a2-0bf9-4a26-ad34-2e1b969a5a75&pf_rd_r=M30VMV593GMAAH1ADSVF&pd_rd_wg=e9A22&pd_rd_r=dcd5e290-3276-4518-ab0f-985cec9ee3e3&s=industrial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

Chuck Farley
01-18-2024, 04:27 PM
I had one, but the guy that installed it just Teed off the waterline going to the cabin. Over several years usage, just the movements of using it caused it to break at the "T" fitting. I still have it, and yes, it would probably behoove me to re-install it. This is a 36 X 40 cabin that I use for a workshop, but it has a bathroom and kitchen sink, so it would be useful to have water. I will wait for a warm spring day to work on it.

AgentOrange
01-20-2024, 03:12 PM
I insulated all the pipes in my crawl space.
We get temps in the teens rarely, but it happens - tonight is predicted to be 15, then back to Summer next week.
I have my outdoor ponds on a timer so they cut off after dark.
Chuck, be glad to come over and help you with the repairs.