The Jumpy Friend

Yesterday, the last day of spring break, felt more like the last day of summer vacation. With the crazy, mixed up winter weather we've been having, it felt more like summer. Yesterday, it ended up being 81 degrees here in east central Iowa!! Ugh. I thought we were heading into spring!

(To tell you the truth, I haven't been enjoying summer's early appearance. While I absolutely love the sunshine, the heat and humidity combination? Well, it just sucks. I'll take southern New Mexico's high temps and 7% humidity any day!! If there's one weather-related condition I complain about, it's the heat/humidity combination. I will never (or very rarely) complain about cold temps, snow, frost, or anything like that. I may complain a bit about wind and ice, but that's just because they make driving unpleasant/dangerous. The one thing I really do NOT like? Humidity. Especially with rising temps. Just warning you, the "season" that I, ahem, may start complaining about the weather has started. However, it's also the season I typically want to become a "storm chaser"! Hahaha!)

Anyway, since it was sunny and such beautiful spring weather hot out, we decided to get outside and get some exercise. Livie rode her bike, and I walked.

Can't complain about sunshine and blue skies!!

And while we were out, Livie got really excited about something we saw. See, she likes to occasionally watch Curious George on PBS Kids. There's a recurring "character" on that show, and his name is "Jumpy Squirrel." Livie thinks he's so cute (as is George), so she calls every squirrel, "Jumpy Squirrel." Yesterday, we just so happened to see "Jumpy Squirrel."

Since I had my camera with me, she insisted we stop and get some photos. I got a few before he scampered away. She was SO excited about the photos, by the way! She loved that he "posed" for the photos.

Late summer's stormy weather

We just got whacked with some severe weather (again) in east central Iowa. And yes, I'm on the computer right now (hoping lightning doesn't strike here). There seems to be a lull in the weather right now. I'm still listening to my weather radio, and we're expecting a bit more severe weather, but for now, I'm posting an update before the next storm blows through.

I first noticed that, even though it's midday here, it got DARK! I heard the wind pick up a bit, and looked outside to see some nasty looking clouds. Whoa!

Clouds, as seen from out the front door, 21 Sep 2010.

It got dark - like dusk - in the house with little light coming in from the windows, 21 Sep 2010.

The view of the clouds over the neighbors' house, as seen from the deck at the back of the house.

Storm clouds, as seen from the front yard, 21 Sep 2010.

The storm's approaching, as seen from the back. The winds picked up, and large raindrops started falling.

Yes, I wish I could be a storm chaser, which is why I went outside briefly to take a few photos.

I'd had my lunch warming up in the oven, so in all the "excitement" of the storm that had just arrived, I had to remember to take it out before it burned and set off the smoke detector. 

Then it started raining, and HARD. Andrew called to say that the EMS warning came on in his building at work. So I turned on the Weather Channel to see what's going on. Severe storms were on their way, and we were (and still are for another 30 minutes or so as I type this) under a severe thunderstorm warning, so get indoors and stay away from windows! Apparently, according to the weather radio, this storm is capable of blowing down telephone poles and trees with 60+ MPH winds.

We also got hail.

A small view of the size and quantity of the hail we received, as seen from the front door.

This is about the average size of the hail we got.

It had been about 82 degrees when the storm started, but when I checked the NOAA website just now, it says it's now 69 degrees here.

I can still hear thunder rumbling and saw a bit of lightning earlier. Flooding has been reported, as well as golf ball sized hail.

Actually, it had quieted down by the time I'd started this post, but it sounds like the thunder is getting louder/more persistent as I type, so I'm going to make this quick and wrap up soon.

I have my bug-out bag, weather radio, cell phone, and camera on me right now, just in case I have to duck into the "tornado room" as Livie calls the small unfinished basement we have underneath the stairway.

Okay, sounds like the thunder is picking up some more, so I'm going to sign off.

The Changing of the Seasons

I just want to give Mother Nature a reminder because it seems like she needs one.

As much as I like winter, and dislike summer's heat and humidity, I have to remind you of something, Mother Nature. It is no longer time to dump snow on us here in east central Iowa. Saturday is supposedly the first day of spring. That means no more dumping snow on us. I know you're planning on it. The weather reports are calling for a 100% chance of snow tonight and a 60% chance tomorrow (according to NOAA).

Besides, we're under enough of a threat of flooding without having more melting snow to look forward to (once the temps remain spring-like).

I like snow. You know that, Mother Nature. I look forward to autumn and winter every year; I start looking forward to my favorite chilly seasons right around the middle of summertime. But I am tired of trying to safely drive in winter weather in a vehicle not equipped for snow and ice.

Like I said, Saturday is supposed to be the first day of spring. It is now time for tornado season. There are a bunch of storm chasers out here in the Midwest, and Oklahoma in particular, that are ready to get their doppler radars up and running alongside their video cameras to chase some fantastic, scary storms.

And I am looking forward to seeing their storm chaser videos on The Weather Channel and maybe one day I'll be one of them. You know, there's nothing like chasing a storm to get your adrenaline going! So let's get with the program, Mother Nature. It's time for spring.

"A long spiral tornado approaches Union City, OK."
Photo courtesy of NOAA Photo Library