Invasion Of Violet-Green Swallows

On this cool, cloudy morn along the Colorado Front Range, large flocks of violet-green swallows swirled higher upwardly the South Platte, strafing the river together with following ponds for insects.  Just equally many perched on nearby ability lines, resting inward the chilly drizzle.

Having wintered inward United Mexican US or Central America, these aerialists normally buy the farm inward in belatedly Apr or May, resting together with feeding on the Piedmont before heading into the foothills together with mountains.  There they volition nest inward tree cavities or stone crevices together with feast on a multifariousness of flight insects.  Throughout the summer, they are oft observed inward foothill canyons, feeding amongst white-throated swifts.

Damp, chilly weather forcefulness swallows to congregate along together with higher upwardly rivers or lakes, where their prey hovers over the relatively warm water.  I encountered most 850 violet-green swallows along a 1.5 mile stretch of the river this morning, joined yesteryear much smaller numbers of cliff, barn, tree together with rough-winged swallows which arrived before together with accept already dispersed along the Front Range. 

The Guessing Game Begins

From mid May through nearly of the summer, thunderstorms oft construct inwards a higher house the Front Range peaks past times belatedly morning.  Steered past times upper degree winds, they deed eastward across the urban corridor as well as thus onto the High Plains where they may grow into monster supercells; June is the tiptop calendar month for tornadic thunderstorms across the Plains of Eastern Colorado.

For those of us inwards Metro Denver as well as other Front Range cities, the path of these storms is provender for a daily guessing game.  During years when the landscape is parched, nosotros promise that i volition deed over our property, dropping heavy rain.  On the other hand, these storms oft gain damaging hail and, if the seasonal wet is upwardly to par, nosotros promise that they volition angle to our northward or south.

Today's storms began to construct past times mid morning time as well as the largest of the grouping moved across downtown Denver (no give-and-take nonetheless on whatever damage); hither inwards Littleton, nosotros received exclusively a brief shower.  While minute or fifty-fifty 3rd rounds may occur, the laid out describe of piece of job of storms is to a greater extent than oft than non nearly potent, sucking grade out energy from the atmosphere as well as cooling the air behind them.  As I write this post, the growing remnants of that initial describe of piece of job loom to the east, stretching from the Black Forest (just northward of Colorado Springs) to Fort Morgan (in northeastern Colorado).

Flashback Post Viii

Today marks the summertime solstice, the commencement of the astronomical summertime inwards the Northern Hemisphere.  Some of us accept already had plenty oppressive summertime oestrus together with expect forwards to the mild days together with crisp nights of fall.  In the meantime, nosotros oftentimes escape (at to the lowest degree inwards our minds) to cooler climes, a thought I shared inwards June of 2011.

See: Carrabassett Flashbacks

Front Make Rut Wave

The atmospheric ridge that has been edifice over the Desert Southwest this past times calendar week has spread northward to the Colorado Front Range.  We reached an afternoon high of 100 degrees F yesterday in addition to facial expression to top that rate today.

Beneath this high pressure level dome, air sinks in addition to heats up.  In addition, cloud evolution is suppressed in addition to Pacific mutual frigidity fronts are shunted to the northward of the dome, reducing whatever run a hazard of precipitation.  Highs inwards the Desert Southwest accept exceeded 110 degrees F at lower elevations (e.g. inwards Phoenix in addition to Las Vegas) in addition to overnight lows accept barely dipped below xc degrees F.  To the east, across the Southern Plains in addition to lower Mississippi Valley, the estrus is less intense only is exacerbated past times humidity (with dew points inwards the mid seventies), producing a estrus index close 100 degrees F.

Fortunately, the higher peak in addition to drier air along the Front Range enhances radiative cooling at nighttime in addition to our overnight lows are falling into the low-mid sixties (still nigh 10 degrees higher upwards normal).  Here inwards Colorado, the atmospheric ridge is expected to retreat past times the weekend, bringing cooler temperatures in addition to a run a hazard for precipitation.

Canadian Refreshment

While the Trump Administration believes that our northern neighbors are a safety threat, I sure enough appreciate the cool, dry out air that they sent this agency (no tariffs attached).  This morning, it felt to a greater extent than similar belatedly September than belatedly June along the Colorado Front Range.

This welcome modify was the production of high pressure level over the Pacific Northwest as well as depression pressure level over the Northern Plains.  Between these atmospheric pumps, the pleasant Canadian air was driven southward, displacing the oestrus that has plagued us for the past times calendar week or so.  Colliding alongside that heat, the cool air may spawn thunderstorms afterward today.

Unfortunately, our expose volition move brief as well as the southwestern atmospheric ridge volition reclaim the Front Range past times Monday.  In the meantime, we'll savour highs inward the upper seventies as well as depression eighties as well as overnight lows inward the upper fifties (F).  My personal thank you lot to Canada for the refreshing air, nonetheless curt it's visit.

Expecting A Spectacular Lite Show

On this quaternary of July, patriotic Americans anticipate colorful fireworks displays in addition to virtually volition non go disappointed.  But I volition go flying east, higher upward the Great Plains, to attend a marriage ceremony inwards my dwelling town.   Nevertheless, I anticipate a spectacular lite demonstrate every bit well, provided past times Mother Nature.

As I expression for my flying at Denver International Airport, large thunderstorms are spaced across the Plains, from southern New United Mexican U.S.A. to Wisconsin.  Fueled past times estrus in addition to a meandering mutual frigidness front, those supercells volition probable attain damaging hail, tornadoes and, of course, intense lightning.

We volition locomote betwixt the storms, probable detoured from our planned flying path.  And acre I may witness human fireworks displays along the way, nature's lite demonstrate is certain to go to a greater extent than spectacular. 

The Nature Of Rip Currents

As hordes of humans caput for the beach this summer, rip currents volition accept a deadly toll.  Unfortunately, they oft educate when conditions at the shore seem to hold upward ideal, catching many swimmers off guard.

Rip currents evolve due to a steady onshore menses of seawater; this may lawsuit from counterclockwise winds approximately an offshore tempest or from clockwise winds approximately a dome of high pressure.  In either case, H2O builds upward along the beach in addition to that pressure level leads to breaks inside the offshore sandbar; equally the retreating menses funnels through those breaks, potent rip currents (not ever evident on the surface) develop, sweeping bathers away from shore.  Those caught inwards a rip electrical current are advised to swim parallel to the shore until they are safely out of the channelized stream; unfortunately, panic oft sets inwards in addition to such advice is fatally ignored.

Today, equally Tropical Storm Chris churns 200 miles off Wilmington, North Carolina, rip electrical current warnings demand keep been posted for nigh of the State's beaches.  Visitors are strongly advised to brain those warnings in addition to to avoid unguarded beaches.  After all, rip currents are amidst the leading, weather-related causes of drib dead across the globe.

Haboob Season

The annual Southwestern Monsoon is laid out to intensify equally high pressure level over the Southern Plains in addition to depression pressure level over the Baja portion combine to sweep wet into the Desert Southwest; roughly of this atmospheric precipitation arrives from the Pacific Ocean in addition to Sea of Cortez only fifty-fifty to a greater extent than is swept across United Mexican United States from the Gulf of Mexico.

The oestrus in addition to wet ignite thunderstorms which oftentimes drib torrential pelting on the parched landscape, leading to flash floods inwards the canyons in addition to arroyos.  Cold downdrafts inside these storms are forced outward when they blast the ground, producing gust fronts that race across the side past times side desert, picking upwards sand in addition to dry out soil to practice massive dust storms, known equally haboobs.

Often hundreds (if non thousands) of feet high in addition to moving at lx mph or more, these storms blind drivers, coat buildings in addition to cars amongst debris and, of course, severely send on air quality.  The Southwest Monsoon, amongst its thunderstorms in addition to haboobs, peaks inwards July in addition to early on August inwards Arizona in addition to New Mexico; past times mid August, its nourishing rains to a greater extent than oftentimes than non achieve the Colorado Front Range in addition to volition live peculiarly welcome subsequently this hot, dry out summer. 

An Avian Weathervane

Following a blessedly cool hateful solar daytime amongst intermittent showers, brilliant sunshine has returned to the Colorado Front Range.  Though a high most xc degrees F is officially expected, the air current has non withal shifted to the southward in addition to its northeasterly administration is producing an upslope menstruation that has a mild cooling termination along the urban corridor.

As if to emphasize that fact, a Swainson's hawk soared inwards a higher house our Littleton farm this afternoon, stopping at times to hover into the northeast breeze.  Though relatively high inwards the clear bluish sky, this raptor's groovy eyesight allows him to alternative out prey (small mammals, songbirds, large insects) most the ground, toward which he powerfulness brand a precipitous "stoop."  Today's visitor seemed to endure to a greater extent than interested inwards cavorting overhead, perchance enjoying the cool recess equally much equally the summer-weary humans far below.

Then again, Swainson's hawks create non stick around for our crisp spill weather, oftentimes circling toward Argentine Republic past times September.  There they pass the Southern summer, non to supply to Colorado until belatedly April.

Heat, Life & Survival

Wandering exterior this morning, it was slowly to encounter the terms that our hot, dry out summertime has taken on the leafage of our Littleton farm.  While oestrus as well as H2O are essential to life, the residual of these factors is crucial as well as this flavor has non been form to the plants.

Life kickoff evolved inwards warm, shallow seas as well as most hot smokers along mid oceanic ridges.  Even today, the vast bulk of species are establish inwards the Tropics, where wet is abundant, placing a banking concern fit on the air temperature.  In desert regions as well as semiarid landscapes, the depression humidity results inwards dense air which tin range much higher (and ofttimes deadly) temperatures; of course, animals as well as plants that inhabit deserts conduct maintain adapted to their surround inwards a multifariousness of anatomic, physiologic as well as behavioral ways.  While birds as well as mammals tin generate their ain internal heat, the depression temperatures inwards polar regions conduct maintain likewise required physical as well as physiologic adaptations for wild residents (fat insulation, thick fur as well as dense plumage, to advert a few).  We humans, having evolved inwards the Tropics, were able to colonize hot as well as mutual depression temperature landscapes due to our large brains; the role of clothing, wells, tents as well as AC come upwardly to mind.

Humans as well as wild fauna straightaway appear upwardly global warming, a production of fossil fuel consumption, which threatens the survival of many species.  Melting polar H2O ice sheets as well as mount glaciers are already stressing regional inhabitants as well as flooding coastal ecosystems (at all latitudes) every bit sea levels rise.  In concert, warming body of body of water waters are killing coral reefs, spawning deadly algal blooms as well as reducing the furnish of plankton, vital to marine nutrient chains.  It is imperative that nosotros humans role our large brains in i trial once to a greater extent than to mitigate climate alter as well as protect Earth's ecosystems.  

Return To Sandy Lake

We accept returned to my wife's identify unit of measurement cottage on Sandy Lake this week.  H5N1 moderate-sized kettle lake inwards the glaciated Appalachian Plateau of northeast Ohio, it is e'er a pleasant retreat inwards summer, offering cooler air as well as a reliable breeze.

While our grandsons relish the gamble to fish, swim as well as kayak, I am content to wander unopen to the lake or sit down on our lakeside deck, enjoying the escape from urban congestion.  Ospreys, herons, cormorants as well as gulls are regular visitors as well as a large colony of regal martins reside inwards apartments along the shore.  H5N1 woman soul mallard as well as her attentive brood accept been plying the opened upward waters, oblivious of snapping turtles that cruise below the surface.

The small-scale humidity is a welcome alter from the Front Range climate as well as a few heavy downpours accept broken the local drought.  More thunderstorms are forecast for after today exactly close of the calendar week should convey pleasant conditions.  Any odd observations volition sure as shooting live on reported exactly I anticipate a relaxing as well as relatively blog-free visit.

The Atlantic Comes Alive

After a tedious rootage to the Atlantic Hurricane Season, a chain of tropical storms, hurricanes in addition to tropical waves has developed inward the by few days.  Of course, September is to a greater extent than oft than non the acme calendar month of the annual Hurricane Season (which runs from June to early on November) in addition to electrical current atmospheric in addition to oceanic weather are favoring tempest development.

Just yesterday, Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall along the Mississippi Coast in addition to its flooding rains cash inward one's chips on to autumn most Pensacola in addition to Mobile; inward the coming days, that tropical organization volition inject copious wet into the Midwest which volition interact amongst a mutual frigidness front end to gain flooding from Arkansas to the Great Lakes.  Next inward trouble is Hurricane Florence, currently a Category 3 tempest inward the Central Atlantic; its hereafter degree remains uncertain simply it could potentially demeanor on the entire East Coast of the U.S.  Behind Florence are iii tropical waves, emerging from the West Coast of Africa every few days; since air current shear has currently diminished over the Atlantic in addition to sea temperatures are inward the upper 80s (F) off the Southeast Coast, the phase is gear upwards for potential landfalling hurricanes.

While the incidence of tropical storms in addition to hurricanes volition vary amongst a host of atmospheric in addition to oceanic patterns, our warming climate volition sure enough add together fuel to systems that gain develop.  Storms inward the Eastern Pacific bring dominated the headlines inward recent months simply the Atlantic has instantly come upwards alive!

Late Summertime Rut Wave

Following 2 weeks of relatively mild temperatures in addition to intermittent rain, the adjacent (and hopefully last) oestrus moving ridge is edifice along the Colorado Front Range.  Once again, it is the production of a high pressure level ridge, expanding northward from the Desert Southwest.  For the adjacent calendar week or so, afternoon highs are expected to accomplish the lower to mid 90s F, good higher upwards average for September.

Fortunately, the recent rains convey revived the vegetation in addition to the longer nights, combined amongst our high altitude in addition to thin, dry out air, convey allowed overnight temperatures to driblet into the fifties.  In addition, ascent hot air oftentimes ignites thunderstorms higher upwards the Front Range peaks, which in addition to thence drift eastward to render spotty relief from the heat.

Our run a jeopardy of these oestrus waves volition expire along until the jet stream becomes less stable inward mid autumn, undulating across the province in addition to dislodging warm atmospheric ridges amongst cool atmospheric troughs.  Snow unremarkably dusts the higher peaks past times like shooting fish in a barrel September in addition to upslope snowstorms by in addition to large coat the urban corridor past times mid October. 

Florence Lashes The Southeast Coast

Florence, straightaway downgraded to a Category ii Hurricane, has grown into a wide tempest alongside hurricane or tropical tempest strength winds stretching across 400 miles.  The outer bands accept come upwards ashore inwards eastern North Carolina this morning, igniting tornadic thunderstorms together with producing heavy, wind-swept rain.

Due to "blocking highs" to its due north together with northwest, Hurricane Florence is expected to stall most the Coast together with and thus drift southwestward along the southeastern coast of North Carolina together with the northeastern coast of South Carolina, perchance equally far S equally Charleston.  North of the storm's eyewall, which currently has sustained winds of 105 mph, onshore winds volition create a tempest surge of 10 feet or more, too equally inland flooding from upwards to ii feet or to a greater extent than of rain.

Due to its deadening forwards motion (toward the coast together with and thus downwards the coast), the high winds, tempest surge together with heavy pelting volition persist for a long menses of fourth dimension (perhaps 48 hours), increasing the endangerment of flooding together with impairment to trees, ability lines together with structures.  Of course, the Hurricane Stuntmen volition hold upwards at that topographic point to convey us the action.

Flooding Together With Federal Policy

As nosotros witness the tragic flooding from Hurricane Florence along the Southeast Coast, nosotros are reminded of the destruction inwards Houston caused past times Hurricane Harvey in addition to the repeated jump flooding along around American Rivers (the Red River of the Northern Plains comes right away to mind).

Having decided that inundation insurance is a coin losing proposition, person insurance companies possess got backed away from such coverage, donating that pick to the Federal Government.  As is oft the case, the USA Government accepted the challenge in addition to is at nowadays billions of dollars inwards the ruby (even earlier the destruction caused past times Hurricane Florence).

One wonders whether Federal dollars would hold out ameliorate spent buying upward properties on floodplains in addition to barrier islands in addition to assisting alongside local engineering efforts rather than encouraging insurance holders to rebuild inwards those flood-prone areas.  After all, global warming is threatening coastal communities every bit body of body of water levels ascension in addition to volition probable intensify the ability of tropical storms in addition to hurricanes.  We cannot hold back leadership from the electrical flow Administration only both the fiscal in addition to climate realities volition eventually forcefulness the Federal Government to convey a to a greater extent than intelligent approach to this recurrent in addition to worsening problem.

Autumn Chill Inwards The Valley

While the afternoons are yet summer-like along the Colorado Front Range, the mornings forthwith pick out an autumn chill due to the longer nights.  Down on the South Platte River merely later on dawn, that chill was peculiarly intense and, inward response, the wild residents were noisy too active.

Canada geese, mallards, magpies too cedar waxwings were peculiarly conspicuous too migrant ducks were foremost to brand it from the north; this morning's visitors included blue-winged teal, American wigeon too gadwalls.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few summertime residents yet rest too a solitary snowy egret, huddled on driftwood inward the shallows, seemed to last contemplating his escape to warmer climes.  Normally nocturnal, a beaver was active inward the post-dawn chill, inspecting his dam earlier wintertime arrives.

We humans, similar the wildlife, are likewise invigorated past times the chilly air too the riverside path was filled alongside walkers, bikers too joggers.  After all, the autumn equinox arrives this weekend (September 22) too the glorious calendar month of October, which normally brings the foremost snowfall showers to the urban corridor, is merely precisely about the bend. 

A 40 Score Swing

Autumn is the flavor when those of us along the Colorado Front Range frequently sense a xl score (F) temperature swing inwards the score of a day, awakening to a temperature inwards the upper thirties in addition to basking inwards warmth virtually eighty degrees past times mid afternoon.  Such wide temperature ranges are mutual inwards arid in addition to semiarid regions across the globe, particularly those that prevarication at relatively high meridian inwards the Temperate Zone.

By October, the longer nights, high meridian in addition to dry out air augment oestrus radiation, permitting overnight temperatures to autumn virtually freezing.  During the day, intense sunshine, dry out (dense) air and, on around days, a downsloping current of air force afternoon highs into the seventies or eighties.

Of course, strong mutual frigidness fronts or a persistent upslope menses may disrupt this cycle, equally is forecast to educate afterward this week.  By early on adjacent week, daytime highs may live on inside 10 degrees of the overnight depression in addition to the starting fourth dimension snowfall showers of the flavor are expected to dust the urban corridor. 

A 40 Score Swing

Autumn is the flavor when those of us along the Colorado Front Range frequently sense a xl score (F) temperature swing inwards the score of a day, awakening to a temperature inwards the upper thirties in addition to basking inwards warmth virtually eighty degrees past times mid afternoon.  Such wide temperature ranges are mutual inwards arid in addition to semiarid regions across the globe, particularly those that prevarication at relatively high meridian inwards the Temperate Zone.

By October, the longer nights, high meridian in addition to dry out air augment oestrus radiation, permitting overnight temperatures to autumn virtually freezing.  During the day, intense sunshine, dry out (dense) air and, on around days, a downsloping current of air force afternoon highs into the seventies or eighties.

Of course, strong mutual frigidness fronts or a persistent upslope menses may disrupt this cycle, equally is forecast to educate afterward this week.  By early on adjacent week, daytime highs may live on inside 10 degrees of the overnight depression in addition to the starting fourth dimension snowfall showers of the flavor are expected to dust the urban corridor. 

Snowbirds Drift In

On this cloudy as well as chilly afternoon, the get-go dark-eyed juncos of the flavor appeared on our Littleton, Colorado, farm.  They were members of the Oregon subspecies as well as had arrived merely inwards time.

Commonly known every bit snowbirds, juncos are small, hardy songbirds that summertime upward inwards Canada or inwards the mount ranges of North America.  Fond of cool weather, they wintertime primarily across the northern one-half of the the United States as well as frequently operate into amongst the get-go snows of autumn.  The latter fact is peculiarly truthful hither inwards Metro Denver and, inside the adjacent few weeks, our farm volition host dozens of these wintertime residents.  Gray-headed juncos descend from the Front Range as well as the slate-colored as well as Oregon subspecies operate into from to a greater extent than northern latitudes; on occasion, white-winged juncos too catch from the Black Hills portion of western South Dakota.

All 4 subspecies are classified every bit dark-eyed juncos as well as are frequently observed inwards suburbs as well as along province roads, their white outer tail feathers obvious every bit they scatter toward cover.  I am pleased to choose them dorsum on our farm as well as I appreciate the conditions alert that they bring....snow flurries are expected this night or tomorrow. 

The Surge Coast

The entire Gulf Coast of Florida, from the Keys to Pensacola, is peculiarly vulnerable to tempest surge equally hurricanes in addition to tropical storms come upward ashore.  Counterclockwise winds force H2O toward the coast on the "right" side of storm's eye, forcing it across the depression province in addition to upward the coastal rivers.

This procedure is accentuated along the Florida Gulf Coast due to the topography of the Gulf itself.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 wide shallow area, representing the westward part of the Florida Platform, parallels the State's Gulf Coast; equally body of body of water H2O is swept inward past times the storm, it cannot dismiss downward in addition to builds to destructive depths across the barrier islands in addition to coastal lowlands, leveling structures in addition to flooding the landscape.

Hurricane Michael, immediately a Category four storm, is poised to come upward ashore close Panama City this morning.  Storm surge is expected to arrive at xiii feet or to a greater extent than inward around parts of the Great Bend earlier the hurricane in addition to its remnants cutting a swath of devastation across the eastern Panhandle, due south Georgia in addition to the Carolinas.