A Wind Storm Today

I ran a few errands this morning, and although it was cold, it was calm.  I knew a windstorm and front was due in this afternoon, but I did not finish running errands this morning.  I actually did not feel well, and took the chance to sleep for awhile before I went out.  When I did, the wind was up, the dust was blowing, and the clouds were moving around, looking like a storm front was blowing in.  I can still feel the grit on my skin.  Listening to he weathercast  tonight, evidently we had some rain blow through, and to the north, a dusting of snow.  We may get some overnight or in the morning, but not much is expected.  The wind has died down, but it is still windy.  

Storms

Well, we had the predicted storms and then some.  Early this morning, about 7:15, an electric storm blew through.  Later in the day, mid-afternoon, the sky grew very, very dark, and we had a rainstorm, with small hail.  We had sprinkles off and on throughout the day.  The storms may continue off and on the next few days, including wind and even snow. It is that time of year.

A Changing Sky

The sky was bright and sunny today.  The weather predictors were saying we would have a change with possible light precipitation by Wednesday.  By this afternoon, the sky has become heavy and grey with clouds. The temperature has cooled.  We shall see how the weather turns.

I should have suspected that the weather forecasters were correct.  When I awoke this morning, I had joint pain, and no desire to move.  On a work day, I would have forced myself into the hot shower, and get dressed so I could go to work.  On a weekend, day off or holiday, I just rather lounge for a while, and gradually work my bones and body to move, take my shower and take it easy.  Which is what I have done and have been doing today.  

Spotty showers

Yesterday, a line of showers passed through the South Plains area.  It was interesting:  Some places simply received big drops. Other places received serious downpours.  You could look across the horizon, and see the areas where the rain was occurring, where there was virga, and where there was no rain at all!  This is one of the neatest things about the weather in West Texas:  You can look across the horizon, and see the variations in weather in the area!

The Wind 2018

A wind storm was predicted for today, and we did get it.  I believe the gusts were in the 60 mph range, with sustained winds well above 30 mph. It was well above freezing, but the wind made it feel colder than that. 

There was not a lot of dust.  The wind was coming in from the northeast, and the open fields are generally to the south and west, and even the north.  

The roaring of the wind is amazing.  

Refreezing After The Storm

There was a lot of melting of snow and ice today, which is good, but after sundown, the temperatures dropped below freezing and all of the moisture has frozen.  About 9:30 PM the Lubbock Police Department announced the closing of the Marsha Sharp Freeway from Avenue Q (north central Lubbock) to West Loop 289 (west central Lubbock.)  It also announced the closing of the Loop 289 from West Fourth Street (north west Lubbock) to South Indiana (south central Lubbock.) I live in south central Lubbock. The biggest problem with these highways are the bridges and ramps that freeze up and are very dangerous. Yesterday, the ramp from South Loop 289 to Interstate Highway 27 was closed due to icing conditions.  

My concern is that the roads will still be icy when I have to go to work in the morning. Some schools, and very few businesses have delayed opening tomorrow. So far, my agency has not.  That does not matter.  I have lots of leave. I may just decide to go into work late.  

Winter Weather

Lubbock and much of the southwest is predicted to be facing a winter storm this weekend.  It sort of blew in yesterday, with lots of wind and clouds.   The temperature stayed in the 30s most if not all day, but just above freezing, and we had intermittent rain.  The real rain was supposed to start tonight, and it sort of has.  

I usually do my weekly shopping Friday night after work, and sometimes, Saturday morning.  I decided to shop Thursday night after work, as did many others.  The store was crowded, but the lines were not too long. I stocked up on some extra items, so I would not have to return to the store until after the storm, and purchased items anticipated for the next week.

I topped off the gas tank in my car, which involved a longer wait in line, but that was okay.

I had purchased some kitty litter on Wednesday night, and had left it in the car.  It is still in the car, in case it is needed, but I have no plans to go anywhere until Sunday afternoon.  The weather should be good by then.

A Most Unusual Atmostphere

From my place of employment, we watched the dust blow in and recognized this was typical West Texas, even if it is in the fall, when some 40 years ago, most of the blowing dust was in the spring. 

But, the sky was unusual. If you looked to the south, east and west, there was dust in the air. Looking to the north and north west, we could see clouds building, with possible storms, and blue skies!

I went shopping and about an hour later, left the store.  When I did, the parking lot was wet. The rain was not heavy:  the tarmac under the parked  cars was dry.  You could see the areas where the rain was coming down, also.  When I got home, it was almost totally dry at my house.

Weather

It has been a pleasant day today, and the sun was out earlier. Now, at 3:30, the sky is overcast, and it is almost as dark as it would be at pre-dusk. I think our weather over the next few days will get cloudier and cooler, but maybe not so much precipitation.

Cold Snap

We had a cold snap this week, with temperatures as low as the high 20s or low 30s.  After a couple of days, I was walking into work with some co-workers who said they were ready for summer.  I reminded them that it will get warm again, unlike other parts of the country. It did get warm today, but it will be cold again over the weekend. 

My co-workers agreed that we would see warm weather again, without having to wait until April or May of next year.  

Lubbock Playa Lakes

We have had a lot of rainy, grey weather in Lubbock lately.   Most of the time, it has been drizzly light rain, with intermittent downpours. No doubt the earth is saturated.  Saturday morning, I took a drive around Lubbock, to look at some of the playa lake levels and the water levels.  The Yellow House Canyon Lakes, also known as the Canyon Lakes, or by the name of each lake, were full, but not overflowing, and while water was flowing over the dams, it was not flowing over the roads below the spillways, except in MacKenzie Park off of Broadway Avenue. 

Elsewhere in the city, the lakes were generally full.  Lake Sheehan, just north of 4th street and east of Toledo Avenue, had expanded beyond its borders, but only into undeveloped land.  As I drove through Lubbock, most of the other playa lakes were full, but not flooding streets. 

As I drove by Clapp Park, the lake south of the dam/walkway was surrounded with reeds which is so very different than it used to be, but probably more attractive to wildlife.  I cannot complain. The north lake has traditionally been surrounded by reeds. 

I had not heard about flooding in the city, so have to think that the slow rain did not produce flooding, or the flood control system worked.  Since nothing was reported on the news, I have to think the former, not the latter, is true. 

Overnight Freeze

Sunday overnight we experienced our first freeze of the season. It came early this year, and barely happened, but happen it did!  It continue to be cold, but not as cold today.  But raw and gray.

Cold Rain

Monday, it was grey all day.  Early evening, we had some light to middling rain in Lubbock. It has been cold.  The grey overcast, cold and intermittent rain has continued today.  And may continue tomorrow.  

Good cover up and snuggle weather. 

A Change in Weather

So, this morning, the sun rose and there were scattered clouds in the sky, and it was a beautiful morning. But the forecast was for a cold front to move in, and by mid-morning, the gray cloud cover moved in, and there was some drizzle.  I put the Styrofoam covers on the outside hose bibs, since there is a prediction of freezing weather tonight.  I have the heater on in the house, and we are snug and warm, and I am supplementing my comfort with a space heater. 

I checked  just recently, and the outside temperature was 38°.  It will be interesting to know if we have an overnight freeze. 

A Grey, Raw, Damp Day

Today was unexpectedly a grey, raw, damp day.  I did not expect that today.  I thought it was going to be sunnier and warmer, but knew there was a possibility of inclement weather.  I wore my winter coat to work, and out tonight when I went to dinner and book club.  

When I arrived home from work tonight, the house was at 68°.  A little cool.  I turned on the furnace, which came on immediately, and seemed to be working appropriately, when I left to go out about 50 minutes later.  It still seems to be working okay.  

I have used space heater in the computer room, also.  

Tonight

It was a cool morning today, cool enough that I broke out my winter jacket.  When the weather gets into the low 40s, it is time for the winter jacket.  It was grey until the afternoon, when the sun came out and it was bright and sunny.  The evening has cooled down, as it was last night.  

I used the heater in the computer room tonight, again.  Haiku spent some time with me in the computer room.  I have still decided not to turn on the furnace.  

I think we will be just fine over night, and it will be moderate enough tomorrow so I do not need the furnace. We shall see. 

Cooler Weather

We are experiencing wet and cooler weather tonight.  The outside temperature is in the mid 50s, and the inside temperature in the low 70s.  I put an afghan on the bed as an extra cover, but I have debated about turning on the heater.  So far, I have not.  I may regret it in the morning, but it does not take long for my heater to warm up the house once it is on.

I always try to be home the first time I use the heater, just to be sure everything works okay.

I had thought about using a space heater in the computer room where I am sitting, but decided not to do so until late in the evening. I just put a flannel robe on over my clothes.  I have a pole lamp as my desk lamp, and there are three lights on it.  I have two CFL light bulbs in the lamp, and one incandescent light bulb in the lamp, which throws a little more heat. That has helped a little, but not much. 

Haiku does not like the cold, and she has been in and out of the computer room all night, complaining.  She likes the cat carriers in the closet, where some of the clothes cover the air slots, and her body heat is held in. She spent some time there tonight.  But she came back to the computer room, complaining, so I did turn on the space heater, and I have to admit, it feels good. But Haiku disappeared anyway.

Well, Taki and I will continue to enjoy the warm air in the computer room, and maybe Haiku will return.  It will soon be bed time, anyway.

Wet Weather

So, I have already been commenting about the weird weather we have been experiencing in Lubbock. It continues.  Today, there were some scattered showers, and it would be raining in one place in town, and you could be feeling the rain, but seeing the bright sunshine and white clouds in another part of town.

This morning, the weather caster I was listening to said she swore someone was holding an umbrella over the rain gage, because it had rained hard, but there was no rain in the rain gage.  I no longer have a rain gage, but I heard the heavy rain, but the few places in my backyard where the rain collects were minimally wet!  

One of the effects of this weird weather is in communications.  I have long said at work that if it rains, or the wind is high, our phone and computer communications are affected.  Now, years later, there are many other people at work who agree with that, or advance that as their own observation.

Usually, my home is not affected anymore.  Years ago, when I used the land line phone, when the weather was wet, I could hear "shadow conversations" when I used my phone.  When I complained to the phone company, they insisted there was nothing wrong with the lines outside of my house, so they would have to come in and rewire my house at great expenses.   Since I could not make out the actual words of these "shadow conversations" I chose not be held hostage by the phone company and let them charge me for what I knew to be their problem.

Sometimes, though, I have observed that when the weather is wet or windy, my network connection is inconsistent.  As I was playing Words with Friends tonight, sometimes when I tried to play a word, I would receive a message that my network connection was not working.  Usually, although not always, when I hit "play" again, the word went through.  That happens when the weather is wet or windy, it just is what It is. 

Weird Weather

I have already commented on the stormy weather that was predicted for this area, and which we have been experiencing.  Today/'s weather was really weird.  It was in the mid 60s most of the morning and early afternoon.  It was cloudy, dark, and gray. I ran errands early afternoon, and did not realize how cold the wind was.  I was filling up the car with gas, and wishing I had worn a light jacket, although I had  on a thermal shirt and another over shirt.

So, I did my weekly shopping. Which takes about 45 minutes.  As it did today.  When I left the store, the weather had changed drastically: the clouds were gone, it was sunny, and about 20° warmer.  Wow!  That was amazing.

About 2 hours later,  the clouds returned, the temperature dropped about 20° and the wind picked up again.  There was some light drizzle in the air, but nothing significant.  I have not seen any lightning tonight, nor heard any thunder, and so far, there has been no rain. 

Achy Joints

I have had achy joints most of the past week, and was not surprised because we were forecast to have a weather change late in the week. Well, the predicted inclement weather moved in and we had rain last night, some thunder and lightning. My joints are good predictors of bad weather.