Weather or Not

Every year I enjoy checking out the Winter Outlook of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as they try to predict the weather patterns we will encounter over the next five or six months. Sometimes they’re reasonably accurate, but  occasionally odd things happen to upset their predictions. Come April I’ll glance back in time and decide whether the weather fit their prediction, especially right here in The Villages. I really don’t care about the weather in Seattle or Las Vegas or Minneapolis or Des Moines. I don’t live in any of these places, nor do I intend to travel to one of them this winter. My only concern is for the weather where I happen to live, here in Central Florida, and any other places I might be tempted to visit between now and the arrival of Spring. I realize this might sound a bit selfish, but I’ll let the folks who live elsewhere worry about their weather while I focus on my own little slice of creation.

According to NOAA, “a developing La Niña” will cool the equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean. That, and the ominous sounding “polar vortex” which is thought to be weak this year are apparently the key influencers of our upcoming winter weather. As for the Southeastern USA, and that includes us, we are told to expect warmer than usual temperatures and below average amounts of precipitation. To me that sounds like a hotter, drier winter in Florida. 

Dear Diane, on one of her little shopping trips yesterday, found two nice warm sweaters on sale and bought them for me. Unless we decide to head up the coast to visit family and friends at some point this winter I have a feeling these sweaters will remain unworn. Of course NOAA may be wrong and we might have to shovel snow for the first time since moving here in 2004. 

If you’re interested in hearing the NOAA winter outlook for yourself, here’s a link to their video:

https://youtu.be/cLrmyXVXum8

Hello Irma (Irma #3)

We're still in an awaiting mode, with little to do but watch the easily excitable weather people on TV. They are, of course, in their glory since these significant weather events are relatively rare. But when severe weather does occur, the meteorologists take center stage and all other news fades into the background. I'm always amazed by their ability to come up with new things to say. After all, hurricanes are really just a lot of very strong winds and torrential rains, but these TV weather people dazzle us with graphs and charts and tracks and millibars and cones and all sorts of wonderful stuff to keep us watching. I especially enjoy the weather reporters in the field who stand in knee-deep water while they lean into 50-knot winds and tell us things we can't understand because the sound of the wind drowns out their words. Then they remind us to stay indoors because these storms are dangerous.

And yet I continue to watch.

Earlier this morning, after joining Maddie on her morning walk through the neighborhood, I took holy water in hand and blessed the house and the surrounding trees, asking God to keep us safe. Two of our three resident lizards watched me intently as I sprinkled the lanai and them. As you can see clearly in the below photos, both showed real interest. Lizzie, the smallest, clung to one of the screens, while Leonard watched from his favorite ledge. Leo, the big guy, was nowhere to be seen, but I suspect he's hiding under the grill, his usual place of retreat whenever I enter the lanai.

Lizzie on the screen

Leonard on the ledge

I hope that all three make it through the storm. Dear Diane suggested inviting them into the house, but I nixed the idea assuming Maddie might not accept them. She has never bothered, or even taken an interest in, our lanai lizards but asking her to share the house with them might be expecting too much.  

As you can tell, I seem to have far too much time on my hands today. There's nothing much to do except wait and pray and occasionally raid the cookie jar. Although this morning we've experienced a few passing squalls with some wind and rain, so far all is relatively calm. We're told this will change this evening. The worst will be with us throughout the night, so I expect I'll get little sleep. I hope Diane and Maddie sleep well, but someone has to stay up and keep an eye on Irma as she passes through.

As you can see by this fairly recent map of Irma's track (above), the experts still anticipate that she'll follow the Gulf coast as she heads north. If that actually happens, we will be just outside the eyewall and be subjected to some very strong winds. Should be a fun night.

Again, keep us in your prayers, and don't forget St. Vitus, who has a special way with storms.

Peace...