Category Archives: Weather

December 24, 2021 · 23:46

Christmas Eve Rainbow

We’ve had a couple of days of decent, much-needed rain here, a bit over 3″. Given that our total for last year was only 5.38″ with annual averages of only 16.41″, that’s a good chunk of our seasonal allocation.

Today was calmer with scattered showers around, and tomorrow we’re expected to get the next big round. But scattered showers sometime mean scattered sun, and when they mix:

I’ll take helpful signs and colorful reminders that there’s good to be found in the world. I’ll take all we can get.

Merry Christmas Eve, y’all. Let’s hope that Christmas Day gives us a successful launch of JWST (in about four hours) on an ESA Ariane-5 rocket (yes, I’ll be trying to get up to watch). Let’s hope that the last week of 2021 and all of 2022 are better than 2021 and 2020 were.

Get vaccinated. Mask up. Stay socially distanced.

Let’s be smart and stay alive, folks. We’ve got a lot of great things to live for and wonderful rainbows to see in the future, both the near future and the far distant future.

Leave a comment

Filed under Photography, Space, Weather

December 12, 2021 · 23:17

So Few Leaves Left

We’re just days away from the winter solstice. With a few wind storms and a little bit of rain, there are so few leaves left, even here in Southern California.

That blue sky and most of the remaining leaves will be gone as our first large rain storm moves in tomorrow. We need the rain, desperately.

I’m looking forward to the solstice and the lengthening days again.

Leave a comment

Filed under Photography, Weather

December 9, 2021 · 23:11

Lights, Sunset, Moon

And it got cold! I know we’re not talking about Vermont cold or Minnesota cold, but low 40’s, upper 30’s for SoCal is COLD.

We got a bit of rain this morning, a bunch more expected Monday and Tuesday, but this evening most of the clouds were breaking, the sunset was pink, the moon was bright, and the Christmas lights were on.

Not bad. But cold.

1 Comment

Filed under Christmas Lights, Photography, Weather

December 2, 2021 · 23:30

Foggy Sunset

Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, DEADLINES, busy, busy, busy… Well, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it. (Fred!)

Going out about 16:15 to check to make sure the Christmas lights were turning on correctly (they were) I noticed the fog and haze moving in early and quickly.

(As always, click on the image to see it full sized.)

The hills of Woodland Hills and Calabasas (left and center-ish) were already getting hard to see, and even Castle Peak, less than a mile away on the far right, was starting to fade into the mist. And the temperature had dropped a dozen degrees.

Now, just before midnight, I see that it’s completely overcast and it looks like visibility is down to well under a mile. IFR flight rules out there, friends and neighbors! Stay safe.

Leave a comment

Filed under Panorama, Photography, Weather

November 24, 2021 · 23:34

Moments Of Zen

It was windy. A pretty steady 20+ knots with gusts to 30+. The wind chimes were working overtime.

And dry. The hummingbird feeders were empty and Little Bastard was pissed. Every time I went out into the back yard he was buzzing me, reminding me that the feeders were empty. I finally took them down, cleaned them, and put more nectar in them.

After dark the clouds and fog of the past several evenings were gone (of course!) and our three current planetary visitors were still lined up nicely.

For those of you needing an assist to ID them:

Keep breathing, folks.

2 Comments

Filed under Astronomy, Birds, Critters, Photography, Space, Video, Weather

November 5, 2021 · 23:18

A Touch Of Fall Color

It’s no “Black River along VT Route 11 between Springfield and I-91,” but we do get a tiny bit of color here in SoCal.

You’ve got to look quick – “peak color” here is measured in hours, not days.

It also helps to get in close – easier to ignore the bright green citrus trees and the palm trees all around. Helps the fall color mood.

On the other hand, in about three months it’s going to be below zero with hip deep snow in Vermont, while it will still be in the 90’s and sunny here.

Just sayin’…

Leave a comment

Filed under Photography, Weather

October 25, 2021 · 22:12

Yes, We Actually Do That In California

It’s a common meme or urban myth about California folks, but there’s a basis in fact behind it.

Not everyone. Not everywhere in the state. But a lot of folks, in a lot of places.

Yes, rain is rare enough here so that when there’s a good, solid rain shower after a long, long drought folks do stop what they’re doing and go take videos of it and watch in awe.

On the other hand, M3.9 earthquakes barely bother to wake us up, whereas folks from Iowa or North Carolina would need new pants due to the panic.

Pick your poison.

Leave a comment

Filed under Video, Weather

October 23, 2021 · 23:35

Big Old Planes

And puffy clouds!

Our AN-2 on the left, C-46 on the right.

It was still raining at home, 35 miles away, and the big storm is moving in tonight through late Monday.

Difference in pictures is the normal iPhone 13 lens on the top, the wide angle lens (and about ten steps forward) on the bottom.

Leave a comment

Filed under CAF, Photography, Weather

October 18, 2021 · 23:20

iPhone 13 Panorama Surprise

Yesterday’s awful lot of blue did eventually include a few clouds and a bit of drizzle this morning.

(Clickenate to embiggenate!)

We would have much preferred a half-inch to an inch of steady rain every day for the next several weeks. We’re in a multi-year drought and if we don’t get some decent rain this year we might start to really be hurting. But we’ll take what we can get, I guess. You’ve got to start somewhere.

Meanwhile, after going out and testing the new phone camera on some deep blue and puffy whiteness, I noticed something exciting!

On my old iPhone 6, the panorama pictures covered about 310º, so I would have to think a bit about what 50º or so I wanted to leave out. It never occurred to me that the iPhone 13 might do better. (My bad!)

In the photo here, you’ll notice those cypress trees on the left and again on the right? They’re the same trees! The iPhone 13 panorama mode doesn’t cut off at 310º or so, it goes all the way to about 390º, MORE than a full circle!

This makes me stupidly happy, but then again, as many have noted, I am a simple creature.

Needless to say, expect more panoramas in your future.

Leave a comment

Filed under Panorama, Photography, Weather

October 17, 2021 · 23:25

An Awful Lot Of Blue

Considering that they say we’re going to get a tiny bit (maybe 0.10″ at best) of rain (every drop is appreciated!) tonight and tomorrow morning, there sure wasn’t any sign of it this afternoon!

No processing, straight out of the iPhone 13, no filters.

Here’s to finding the joy in a (potentially) rainy Monday morning and a new week!

Leave a comment

Filed under Photography, Weather