09-10 analogy

Winds and rain have certainly picked up. Our "eye" has passed.

It's starting up again.

Some sun, some sun, my kingdom for some destabilizing sun.

Seems like a little lull in at least the rain coming up, but it's action-packed back to the SW along and south of I-64. EDIT: Speaking of action-packed, quite a little severe outbreak going on in the Carolinas now. More or less unbroken line of STWs straight down from east of Charlottesville, down to Hilton Head and out to sea, then regaining land in Florida and stretching to Tampa Bay. This is really a rather magnificent weather system.

For some reason that MDs citation of the "Sargasso Sea," with its reputation as being a mystically inescapable area, seems proper beyond the geospatial accuracy, for a day like today, with conditions right out of Shutter Island.

NW DC current has six hazardous weather statements: Coastal Flood Warning (not really applicable at 380' but what the hell, it's the same jurisdiction as Hains Point); Hazardous Weather Outlook; Special Weather Statement; High Wind Warning; Flood Watch; Coastal Flood Advisory (again, 380' and Hains Point). This SWS is kinda cool, though: ...HAZARDOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON REGION TODAY BETWEEN 500 PM AND 1000 PM EST... Weather conditions will deteriorate as a strong frontal system approaches this afternoon, then passes through the greater Baltimore/Washington region this evening. This will result high winds capable of downing trees and powerlines, tidal flooding, and the potential for flooding of small streams and creeks. This will create hazardous travel conditions late this afternoon through late evening across the region. Light-to-moderate rain will continue early this afternoon, then increase in intensity late this afternoon, with a several hour period of heavy, intense rainfall expected between 6 PM and 10 PM. This heavy rainfall, coupled with already saturated soils from recent rainfall, will cause flooding of small streams and creeks. Do not attempt to drive across flooded roadways; additionally, flooding at night increases the risk for motorists not being able to quickly identify the water hazards due to decreased visibilities by the heavy rain and darkness. Easterly winds will increase in intensity as well this afternoon across the region, with gusts to 50 MPH expected late this afternoon through mid-evening. Locations closer to the Chesapeake Bay will see higher wind gusts of 60-70 MPH. Strong winds will increase the risk of falling trees and downed powerlines. Again, the risk of poor outcomes resulting from high winds is increased during nighttime. Winds will decrease after midnight tonight. Finally, areas along the tidal Potomac River and western shore of the Chesapeake Bay north of Smith Point VA should prepare for moderate-to-major tidal flooding. The cities of Baltimore, Annapolis MD, and Alexandria VA are most prone to tidal flooding, and the coupling of heavy rainfall and strong onshore winds of 50-60 MPH in these locations will work together to create moderate-to-major tidal impacts. Repeating, a strong frontal system will approach and pass through the greater Baltimore/Washington region late this afternoon into this evening. Small stream and creek flooding, tidal flooding, and high winds will create hazardous conditions late this afternoon through late evening. Motorists should expect hazardous conditions in their evening commute, and should avoid unnecessary travel. Prepare for the potential for power outages.

Yep, plenty of ponding action. And now the wires are beginning to sway in the wind. Worst case scenario on the way: lose power while the basement gets standing water, so that I can't use the sump pump or water vac to try and stay ahead of it. Well, not worst case; that would be if I slip in my dark basement and hit my head and off myself. At least then I wouldn't have to have an extended date with my water vac.

Definitely getting "stormier" now. Took a (wet) walk outside down to where the TV tower along Wisconsin Ave. is, and I can hear the dull roar of the wind as it passes through the top (around 700 feet up). But not really that windy at the surface (yet?). Always a good way to guesstimate what kind of wind energy is above ground level, I suppose.

Pity this isn’t May with a 75/68 spread

Yeah the severe threat down there seems mostly mitigated to a certain degree by modest thermodynamics. But if that insanely powerful LLJ can push the warm front north far enough, it could be a real nasty outbreak in the New Orleans to Tallahassee area. And then the next day, the coastal Carolinas are under the gun, as well as Florida. This on top of the Gulf of Mexico acting like the North Atlantic during the The Perfect Storm. I mean, hell, we're just getting another wind and rainstorm around here, so might as well live vicariously in other regions.

Tom Waits. On another note, the Gulf is evidently going to be blasted by this storm. Maybe the worst non-tropical event in a long time. This AFD from the Mobile office is energetic reading: https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=MOB&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1

Sheer genius. Maybe we need a STEINER! model.

Madrid then Seville and now Barcelona. Flying back tomorrow. Seville was charming but it was a bit like a theme park for Spanish culture and history lovers. The Moors and Magellan and orange trees. Madrid is huge and we were there over Xmas so prolly didn’t get the city’s normal vibe, but you can get Campari as easily as you can catch a cold in kindergarten. Royal Palace was pretty cool and reminded me that monarchies are only worthwhile in retrospect. *Barcelona is just fantastic but the Familia cathedral, one of the big sites (it’s never been finished), is, to me, an architectural schizophrenic: a gothic cathedral with eagles and fruit topping some of the spires. No can comprehende. But the city is glorious and can hold its own, IMHO, with some of the other big name European urbans that I’ve been to and loved . The Baleric/Mediterranean really adds cachet. only regret was not seeing the Prada or “Gunerica” in Madrid, or the Picasso museum here. Holidays and long waits kibboshed those plans. Needed to get tickets in advance but didn’t. Another reason to always heed my wife’s advice. jeez this post was long, particularly with the first real winter threat in two years looming. So apologies and if this needs to be deleted, understandable. At least it’s in banter. *edit: Spain is still a constitutional monarchy I suppose, but it’s like the 384 hour GFS: not taken real seriously

Coming back from Spain Wednesday and will be depressed after a great trip. But the chance (emphasis) of a MECS over the weekend will help take the sting out. Doesn’t snow much in Barcelona. But what a great city!

Here we come Spain! 12 days in Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona. I was gonna rent a car in the latter and drive to Andorra and the Pyrenees -- I'd certainly see snow there -- but it's just not feasible. 3 hour drive each way and nowhere to park once you get to the postage stamp capital of the multiverse. But still playing with the idea of renting a car in Seville and going to Gibraltar. I want to see the coast of Africa and the only place in Europe they have monkeys (other than zoos, of course). And, yes, we'll be on the lookout for Barcelona's notorious pickpockets.

I propose that slipping in the basement, as I just did, from standing water resulting from a near 3" rainstorm, should warrant an LSR to Sterling. After all, I could have landed on my head instead of my butt (since I was half asleep) and killed myself, and that would have had a direct cause-and-effect relationship with the elements.

95 thru the Carolina is as dreadful a stretch of interstate there is. No scenery, lots more traffic than you would think. Done it many times and hate it evermore. Rt. 1 is (or was) somewhat nicer. Meanwhile, rain. Almost carbon copy of last Sunday night except we won't get a surprise dusting around 3 this morning.

When the word "damp" was first coined, it was on a day like today.

Found a nice site on phasing storms (although I'm sure it's been posted before): https://www.greatlakes.salsite.com/Phasing_Storms.html

My wife's picking up my daughter at uni. Central NY was predicted 4-7". Hamilton got about the same kind of dusting I did. Ha.

Did not expect this. Grass mostly covered, moderate snow (although lightening up now), some slight glazing on neighborhood streets.

Lots of folks might have seen this already, but here's a clip from one of last night's Tennessee tornadoes. 0:19 to 0:25 or so is not something you see everyday: (Alert for a bit of *colorful* language; flagged because I'm not sure what this site's policy is on that.)

Well Rubenstein -- as noted -- was born in Baltimore so I imagine he wouldn't try to move them. From the admittedly threadbare article -- although Bloomberg is a very legit source -- I get the vibe he's just another filthy-rich guy (although is $4.6 billion even considered "filthy rich" these days?) who wants a plaything. But if he's hands-off and willing to spend to, say, extend Henderson and some of the other burgeoning stars, that's not so bad. Certainly better than John Angelos, whose tenure as O's all-but-in-name owner can't be terminated quickly enough.

Good to see we still do fog well around here.

BWI: 27.2" DCA: 17.2" IAD: 31.2" RIC: 15.2" Tiebreaker -- SBY: 9.2" My front yard: 365.22" (actually 26.2")