Atmosphere Comparison

[Jim]

The endless chatter of weather.

[johnlp]

There are a lot of little green sprouts popping up in the desert right now. This rain should help them on their way.

[azbackpackr]

I'm tanning my hide in Oceanside. (If you're my age and grew up in SoCal, do you remember that old slogan???). Except that it's raining. I did a little biking this morning between showers, and went to watch a juniors surfing contest, but after lunch the rain started in earnest.

This is just to say that, yes, the storm is coming. It's over here now. It will be over there later. It is warm, and it isn't very fierce.

[RedRoxx44]

Nice rainy morning south of the Old Pueblo, went out for a morning walk with the rain gear, good soaker. We really need it. I planted two small trees a week ago and they seem very happy ;)

[azbackpackr]

I'm in California, and sent that rain on to Arizona. It soaked the coast pretty well yesterday afternoon, and today is one of those heartbreakingly beautiful Southern California days. Warm and sunny, with a slight breeze. We rode the Coaster train to Encinitas and watched dolphins play amongst the surfers. The surf is pumping, very good surf right now. Lots of spectators, lots of surfers.

You guys are going to lose azbackpackr one of these days, when I morph into socalbackpackr! I get homesick every time I come out here. I'm a 4th generation San Diegan. Moved away when I was 25. My first ten or twelve backpacking trips were in this county, also.

[chumley]

This thread was about to drop off the front page so I thought I would bump it back up.

We are in a very unusual pattern for November (in my recollection). With another pair of systems passing by this weekend, and a third on tap for Thanksgiving or the day after. None of these have been huge precip makers, which seems abnormal for Arizona's typical winter storms but a little rain and snow every 4-6 days is a nice occurrence around here. It also seems to be that this pattern is holding for a bit longer than normal too. I think high-pressure usually returns after about 2 weeks. It's starting to look like November may end up being well below normal for temperatures across the state.

[azbackpackr]

Thanksgiving precip? I guess that means I will have to bring a tent, or a tarp, on the Escalante Route backpacking trip.

[Jim]

I remember hiking Humphrey in some modest snow right around Thanksgiving of last year, and there was snow just before it. It was also very cold on Thanksgiving. Winter is just about due to arrive. These next storms appear to be dry wind and dust makers up here. My house shakes and everything rattles from that, then the stupid fire place sounds like a jet engine in the living room. I hate fireplaces!

We have actually had some nice weather up here for the last week. Now, if I could just get it to cooperate when I have off and if I could just not be sick on my weekends. Then maybe a hike would be nice.

[chumley]

the stupid fire place sounds like a jet engine in the living room. I hate fireplaces!

I recommend closing the damper to the flue. No more wind noises.

[Jim]

the stupid fire place sounds like a jet engine in the living room. I hate fireplaces!

I recommend closing the damper to the flue. No more wind noises.

Everything has been closed since I moved in. Nothing is open. It's the wind hitting the metal vent above the roof. and there is also a vent on the outside by the ground. My parents house has a fireplace, so I know how to use them, I just can't stand them.

BTW, this thread was never in danger of dropping off the front page.

I think most people don't know what this place is really like, since most seem to come through in summer. I never really was here outside of nice weather. People who have been here a while report dust storms for days that make it like 8 at night at noon, and since trailers are more common here than real house, the trailers rocking in the wind and the floors of them lifting up.

[azbackpackr]

Yikes. Not fun. Lucky you don't live there in a trailer, I guess.

[Jim]

The NWS in Flag totally ignores us on the Reservation, and acts like anything NE of Black Mesa is not even Arizona or worth mentioning, but they made a map for their weather story last night and it talked about high winds in down slope areas; east of the Peaks, the Kaibab Plataea, down-slope of the Rim north towards Winslow, ect, but of course, not NE of Black Mesa. Well, I should have just known, but I never expected the winds we had last night. It was raining dirt, and tumble weeds, and trash, but mostly dirt. Air was blowing in the light switches on my walls, and I could feel the cold and smell the dust coming in my bedroom windows. I'll have to duct tape them shut. My trash can blew away, and I have no idea where it is. It was up against my garage door. Also, my satellite was out. There is no cable, and no antenna service, so I had to get that or have nothing. I'm not a satellite kind of guy, but it is funny-annoying when that is out from the wind.

The NWS produced a list of peak gusts, with 77 MPH reported in House Rock, where ever that is. I think we were near that. I tried to walk around last night to find my trash can, but couldn't even stand up at times. Yes, I blew over in the wind.

[azbackpackr]

House Rock is over by Marble Canyon, which is over by Lee's Ferry. On the way to N. Rim, on 89A. Technically, on the Strip.

[PaleoRob]

House Rock is about as far west of Page as you are east of Page. Roughly.

[big_load]

I think most people don't know what this place is really like, since most seem to come through in summer.

I'm kind of the opposite. I've seen it mainly in spring, fall, and winter. Cold and windy is how I always remember it. I haven't seen a real dust storm up there, but plenty of grit storms.

[Jim]

It's actually very nice here when not windy and dusty.

The storm for the holiday looks to be moving south in to Mexico again, but SE AZ and SW NM will get some more moisture. That can't possibly be bad.

[Jim]

Looks like AZ totals were a little less than expected, but NM is getting some rain from the storm. Interestingly, Jackson Hole resort is reporting less snow than Wolf Creek, though they conveniently leave out Wolf Creek in their comparison of other Rocky Mountain resorts against themselves.

[writelots]

.3" at my house - and it was a wonderful, slow rain. I'm thinking if this keeps up, we may be in for wildflowers this spring :FG:

[Jim]

Two days off and two warm days coming up. I can enjoy that. Now, my 5 days off from Friday to next Tuesday may be stormy. I'd rather it be 75 and sunny, but it is December 1st on Thursday, so perhaps we ought to bring on the snow storms. We need a few moderate to large storms, with snow lines no higher than 8000', to start dropping snow on SW Colorado. At this point, I almost could care less about snow on the Peaks, but they should get it, too. I will probably do Humphrey once more this winter, with a little urgency since I think this is the last year before they expand Snowbowl, but I really want to get over to the La Platas west of Durango and explore some new terrain in winter. Bring on 56 and sunny, for the time being.

[azbackpackr]

Weather forecast could affect my upcoming trip to Aravaipa from the east side. Might not attempt if roads will be bad/muddy, etc. We'll just have to wait and see.

[chumley]

I gotta get my Christmas tree. There's a balance between my desire for a good winter snowpack and my desire to be able to access the best tree-cutting areas. Not anticipating being able to get up there before Thursday, so I guess I'll deal with what the weather brings.