Oh, Bother!

 We've just swum through the wettest July on record, and now the rainfall for August has set a new record. And it's only the 19th of the month. There are several days of rain or rain showers in the next week, if AccuHunch can be believed. (They've been fairly accurate lately, but one mustn't get one's hopes up, eh?)

Meanwhile, leaves are turning on the trees. Hmm, that sounds rather sinister, so let's try again, shall we?

Ahem: the leaves on the trees are turning yellow, and they're starting to fall already.  The winds have been blustery, too.

Winnie the Pooh and friends would feel right at home.

Hump Day Weather: Winter is Coming

 The local weather signs (fireweed, lore, old-timers' judgment) has indicated an early winter, for some time now. 

Now, there's a La Niña forming (or already formed) in the Pacific, which will bring colder (and slightly drier) air to Alaska. So ... really cold, moderate snow ... 

Gee, it sounds like we live in Alaska or something. :)

But here's a pic of my front yard, taken yesterday afternoon, shortly after a rain squall.

Leaves are falling in earnest. The Northern Birch trees all turned yellow since Sunday. Winter's not waiting around. 

Another Step

... closer to fall.

Time: 2:20 pm
Current temp: 34° F.
Precip:  rain/snow mix

Early Autumn

... in the Frozen North (what my niece used to call it).

I took this pic around 0700. 49 degrees, raining (both water and leaves). There's snow on the higher mountaintops around us. And AccuHunch thinks we'll be having lows in the 30s by the end of the upcoming week.

In other words, it's late August in southcentral Alaska.

It Was 45 Degrees

when we woke up today. That's the fourth morning in the past week with overnight temps in the low- to mid-40s.

The geese are moving in Vs overhead, and starting to trend southward. Seagulls have disappeared in the last two weeks, and that usually happens about six weeks before the first spell of winter weather.

Leaves on the northern birch are suddenly yellow-green, with edges decidedly yellow, and a few have fallen already.

So as the first light rains of today's low-pressure front moves across town, we've finished our shopping, and are settling in for a rainy afternoon. There's always Netflix, of course.

Meanwhile, we're discussing what we'll do when we spend that long weekend in Homer at the end of the month. Could be a bit of sitting on the bluff over Kachemak Bay and watching the waves roll in. Either way, we intend to soak up as much "chill time" as possible.

Come to think of it, it could be a lot of that. :)

A Nip in the Air

It was 32° F. here this morning; we finally closed the windows (upon awakening) and ran the furnace for awhile.

The Northern Birch leaves have lost their rich green color, now looking pale with a yellowish tinge. In fact, there are clusters yellow leaves, here and there ... and not a few of them on the ground already.

Somewhere off in the distance, there's the sound of gunfire. It could be from the Wet Bunny Range, some three miles to the south. I suppose the staff might be getting some early practice before it opens to the public at 10:00.

A long-time follower and commenter, Rob, has a new blog up: At The Lake In The Woods. Go check it out, and let him know I sent you.

Meanwhile, the coffee's rich and strong, and breakfast is nearly ready. All y'all take care out there, and thanks for stopping by.

It's That Time of Year

Summer in south-central Alaska is a thing to behold. The greenery in early June is so lush that you'd think we lived in a rain forest. Summer typically lasts through September, and then things begin to change in October.

But what about this year?

We've been watching the first flocks of geese heading southeast (south would take them to the open Pacific) since late July. That's when the first few dead leaves began to fall.

Yesterday we noticed that the Northern Birch leaves are turning yellow. The honking of geese overhead is a daily occurrence.

Temps are starting to display an inconsistent pattern of cooler one day, warmer the next, with the frequent passing showers that are a hallmark of autumn here. Rain jackets are now part of "what we carry along" on trips out.



It's not fall here - yet - but it's not far away.

Uh-Oh

It's 73 degrees today ... and we've had plenty of rain recently, so it ain't drought.

But as I pulled into the driveway, a couple of yellow things landed on my windshield. I looked up, and sho' nuff the trees have a smattering of yellowing leaves on them.

It's only the end of July, but looks like Fall cometh.

Dang it.

Not my yard, and not a fair representation of what's on the trees ... yet. Give it another four to six weeks, though.