BrianW

It looks like most of the hospitalizations in CT are now in the Eastern part of the state. Seems like it's starting to hit areas hard that had very few cases in the spring. Connecticut's COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached the highest point they've been since June 23, according to Governor Ned Lamont. Since Friday, there has been a net increase of 19 hospitalizations, bringing the state total to 129. Lamont said New London County accounts for half of the state's current hospitalizations and only about 10% of Connecticut's population. https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/coronavirus/watch-live-at-4pm-gov-lamont-to-provide-update-on-states-coronavirus-response-3/2341902/

I haven't been up to that part of the state in a few months. Rivers, streams and ponds are legit like completely dried up.

I was up in your area for a backyard wedding yesterday. My friends 10ft deep pond was almost completely dried up. Mansfield ground water sensor is at near record low depth.

I'm hearing from many people business is plummeting ever since the cases have started ticking back up. A few friends that work at restaurants said they are cutting staff as there has been a huge drop in the amount of people coming in. I think its going to be an ugly winter.

It's crazy how expensive building supplies are now. 2x4's have skyrocketed in price and are like over $6 each now at the local lowes. That's for just regular non pressure treated ones Home Depots and Lowes around here are cleared out. Had to drive all over to find exterior decking screws yesterday. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lumber prices increased by 14.9 percent from July to August. Lumber prices have risen almost 50 percent since April 2020, marking the largest four-month gain in the history of lumber price data.

Wells drying up in Eastern CT. https://www.wfsb.com/news/wells-drying-up-across-the-state-due-to-drought-conditions/article_b9182daa-01c2-11eb-b98f-0337225d78a6.html

My cousin in Ashfield showed me pictures last weekend of her buds. Looks like its going to be a great harvest this year.

CT is moving ahead with phase 3 except bars and nightclubs will still be closed.

I was working right under the western edge all day. It was like a perfectly straight edge across the entire sky.

And wells running dry... https://vtdigger.org/2020/09/15/moderate-drought-more-time-at-home-causing-wells-to-run-dry/

You should install a mini split. You would get 4 times the heat for the same electricity consumption.

Wells will be running dry in Tolland soon. Tolland County ground water sensor. https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ct/nwis/current/?type=gw

Hopefully you get to experience some Feb 2015 type cold up there...

Forest fires breaking out near Tolland. https://www.wfsb.com/news/brush-fire-forces-closure-of-north-windham-elementary-school/article_dd6b5728-f8e8-11ea-9f1e-43869c9d93e2.html

I would be more worried about my heating bill there. Looks like propane is $2.80 a gallon in that area. Wait until he experiences his furnace running 24/7 when its -25 out.

I got rid of oil and went solar with heat pumps but I saw a billboard this morning for $1.29/gallon heating oil. A friend stocked up on pellets as he thinks it's cheaper but when I crunched the numbers for him it was almost double the cost per btu. Propane here is almost triple the price per btu compared to oil. Efficiency maine has a cool fuel calculator you can compare with. https://www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/heating-cost-comparison/

Looks like another smoky sunset this evening.

Some crazy HD helicopter footage of the wildfire damage in Oregon. Watch it from the 15 min mark to the end.

Its been an extended summer down here on the shoreline. My hydrangeas and roses are still blooming and I have been mowing every 5-7 days as its been growing like crazy.

Its crazy how warm Long Island sound has been this summer. It was 80-85 at one point in August. It was still 76 yesterday. Been an epic summer for the beach and swimming.

Got almost an inch here. Lawn looks great and my Hydrangeas and roses are blooming again.

72/72 and already. 65 here east of New Haven on the shoreline.

@tamarack I'm down at our lake cabin in NW New Jersey. This Tulip Poplar is estimated to be over 150+ years old. We have detailed land records going back to the late 1800's. The forest is all old growth and the size of the trees here is incredible.