Headlines
An absolutely beautiful Sunday!
A nice Monday in store for us
Becoming unsettled by Tuesday
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Vlog
48-Hour WX
Five-Day Forecast
Daily Forecast Summary
Today & Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and very nice.
Tuesday & Wednesday: Partly to mostly cloudy, with a chance for showers. Mild.
Thursday: Rain & storms likely.
48-Hour Precip Forecast
Meteorologist Mark’s 5-Day Wx Concerns
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Discussion
The next several days are looking very benign in terms of any type of thunderstorm activity. However, as I look to Thursday I begin to raise my brows a bit. I started to issue a “level of concern” graphic today for Thursday severe storm chances, but I’m going to wait and see what additional data shows before beginning that conversation. At this point, it looks like another Deep South threat that would move just to our south. It may even become a heavy rainfall event for us. I’ll keep an eye on it.
On This Day in Wx History
1932- An F-4 tornado strikes 2 miles west of Pulaski, killing 5 people in one of 10 destroyed homes. Homes are said to have been destroyed as completely in the valleys as on the hilltops. There are $120,000 in damages. An F-2 tornado hits Cannon County, striking near the Mt. Ararat, Sugar Tree, and Rock House communities. Ten homes are destroyed, and a woman and her son are killed in one of them. Overall, 5 tornadoes are reported across Middle Tennessee.
Almanac
Solar/Lunar Data
91 Days until Summer
Yesterday’s National Temperature Extremes
High: 86° at El Centro, California and Cibola, Phoenix, & Parker, Arizona
Low: 2° at Island Pond, Vermont and Pittsburg, New Hampshire, and at Van Buren, Maine
Today’s National Wx Hazards
Heavy snow is expected today around the Denver area, while lighter snows fall across other parts of the Rockies and Front Range. A wildfire danger can be found across portions of southwest New Mexico.
Tomorrow’s National Wx Hazards
Accumulating snow can be found across much of the Rockies and Front Range, while a wildfire danger threatens extreme western Texas and southern New Mexico.
Drought Monitor
The Drought monitor is updated each Thursday.
Sunday Story
The Sunday Story is a reprint of the weekly article I write for both the Fentress Courier and Livingston Enterprise. I hope you enjoy!
A Sweet Spring
Spring is a favorite season for many people. The warming weather, budding trees, and blooming flowers are just what we seem to need after winter. But, there’s also a sweet side to spring that leaves many mouths watering this time of year!
March is the season of Maple syrup harvesting. Increasing sunshine and warming temperatures signal the trees to begin letting the sap flow.
Weather is the most important factor in syrup harvesting. Overnight temperatures need to go below freezing, but not too far below freezing. Ideally, overnight lows would be in the mid 20s. With those temperatures, it won’t take the sap too long to begin flowing again the next day.
Ideal daytime temperatures need to be in the mid 40s. That allows the sap to really flow. If temperatures warm more than that, the sap begins to slow its flow.
Sunny skies are ideal for syrup harvesting. Cloudy skies cool the trees and slow the sap. Sunshine warms the trees and gets the sap to flow.
Snow cover keeps the ground frozen longer and delays the budding of the trees. That delay allows for a longer syrup harvesting season, which means more money for the syrup harvester.
The syrup season usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, depending on the weather. Maple trees must be at least 30 years old to produce enough sap to bother with. Harvesting the syrup does not negatively impact the tree, especially since only about 10% of the tree’s sap is ever harvested.
It takes about 50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of Maple syrup! Interestingly, in New York state it is illegal to add any additives or preservatives to the syrup. It must stay pure.
Weather gives us many nice things, but this is one of the sweetest gifts of all.