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| Above, the crabapple tree two days ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It appears that we are in a cooling trend with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms in the Gallup/Jamestown vicinity. It did sprinkle a little bit yesterday afternoon. It lasted only a few minutes.
According to the National Weather Service, the next few days look like this:
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| Above, yours truly enjoying Jerry's Cafe's air conditioning Friday. |
Yesterday, the thermometer in Jamestown, New Mexico reached a high of approximately 81°. This was a far cry from the cold temperatures we were getting the the past several months.
Jamestown wasn't the only place in New Mexico who saw high temperatures.
The Albuquerque Journal reported:
Spring sprang like summer on Friday as heat records were shattered in many parts of New Mexico.
But while some people found ways to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather, state officials are on high alert for heat-related illness among vulnerable populations, elevated wildfire risk in tinder-dry forests and a lack of spring runoff amid record-low snowpack.
Clay Anderson, a forecaster for the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, said the state’s largest city already broke its heat record for the month of March on Thursday with a high of 88 degrees, eclipsing a previous record of 85 degrees, recorded in both 1907 and 1971.
That bar rose again on Friday, to 89 degrees, and is expected to hit 90 Saturday in Albuquerque — which would make it the earliest 90 degree-day recorded in the city. The last such record was set in 1947, when Albuquerque hit 90 on May 3.
Anderson said temperatures in several other areas of the state will also reach record highs in coming days.
To read more, go here.
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| Above, the Durango train departing the Durango Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Today's high temperature is forecast to reach 80°. That's according to the National Weather Service.
The temperature is expected to reach 80° or more this weekend as well. I guess Spring came a little bit early this year.
Also, the National Weather Service posted the following:
Early Spring Heat Wave in the Southwest U.S.; Critical Fire Weather in the Central Rockies and Plains
An unusual early Spring heat wave will continue much above-normal temperatures over the Southwest U.S. through early next week. Many locations are likely to set records for the highest-ever March temperature. Periods of critical fire weather will persist from the central Rockies to the central Plains through Saturday as gusty winds and low relative humidity continue.
Although we need more precipitation, the warmer temperatures are welcome as we've had to bundle up all Winter.
As for the coming summer, as the new roof expense put a big crimp in my finances, I may just take short and local vacation trips. Durango, Colorado is at the top of my list. It is only a few hours away.
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| Above, the Jeep at the shooting range last Sunday. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
We in the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico area will be seeing a heat wave this week (at least through Monday).
We might take advantage of the warm weather and may do some target shooting. Hopefully, this time without any mishaps like the last time.
It will be good driving weather with the Jeep as well. Too bad Six Mile Canyon won't be open to vehicles yet.
According to the National Weather Service, the weather for Jamestown/Gallup will be as follows:
Today
It looks like we're done with the snow, except for what's on the ground.
It didn't snow much overnight in Jamestown. We have about an inch and a half of it, judging from the layer on the garage roof.
Even though the snows are done (at least for now), we'll have to contend with bitter nighttime cold temperatures for the next few days. It is currently around 18° outside.
According to the National Weather Service for Jamestown, the week ahead is shaping like this:
A couple of snapshots of the front yard taken a few minutes ago:
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| Above, my street is all iced up. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Last night's storm left about an inch snow, but it also has us in below freezing temperatures. The forecast high today in Jamestown is 28°.
The roads in the community are icy. They are too treacherous to attempt any driving. There may be patches of black ice on Interstate 40.
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| Above, another view of my street. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It was a good thing that I did my grocery shopping last Sunday. I have plenty of food at home.
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| Above, the deck this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It was expected to be a stronger storm than the first, but it left only about an inch of snow, about the same as the first. We'd have two inches of it on the ground, but the snow from the first storm melted mostly away.
Today is expected to be clear, but cold.
According to the National Weather Service for Jamestown, New Mexico:
It will be interesting to see how low the temperature will be tomorrow when the gang heads over to Grandpa's Grill in Gallup for breakfast.
It was nearly 6:00 in the morning when I took the below photos.
For the past several days, the morning temperature was in the teens. This morning, it is now 40° outside. This is the aftermath of the storm system of yesterday that moved out of the area.
The temperature was corroborated by my Weather Bug and Weather Channel apps on my phone and the National Weather Service.
Here's a couple of photos. One is of my new thermometer and the other is of the moon in the western sky.
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| Above, the motorhome in the GOCO Beast Barn yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It's a good thing that I got the motorhome inside its garage/barn yesterday. Overnight, we received some rain and it has been continuing this morning. It is around 40° outside, too warm for snow.
If I had waited, the motorhome would have to drive over muddy conditions and, possibly, get stuck. I've gotten the Mustang stuck in mud in Barking Spider Acre once.
According to the National Weather Service for Jamestown, New Mexico:
I have a space heater going next to me but that isn't helping much. Now I know why.
It is 31° outside.
Brrr!
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| Above, the RV is protected from the harsh winter temperatures and snow in its barn. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
After buying a house and moving to New Mexico seven years ago, one of my "must-dos" was to have a garage (or barn) built to store my motorhome in.
The elevation where I'm at is 7,000 feet. During the winter we get snow and cold temperatures and, during the summer, it does get into the 90s at times. I needed the store my RV in a place that would protect it from the weather extremes.
That it the topic of a new article in RV Travel. The article is "Why Storing Your RV Outside Can Be A Bad Idea".
It begins with:
Every year hundreds of thousands of RV owners all across the country need to store their RVs. Whether it is due to harsh winter conditions or because work and school activities limit the time they can “recreate,” RVers must find the best method to put their unit into hibernation. Trying to find a nice, heated, indoor facility can be difficult and very expensive. So most of them are forced to store their RVs outside, which is not always a good idea and can create some very expensive issues.
To read more, go here.
After enduring months of cold weather (even into spring), we finally have summer-like temperaturres!
I may barbecue a Porterhouse steak I bought this morning.
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| Above, the swamp cooler vent in the den. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
So far, it is working just fine. It hadn't been used since last July.
Here's Sierra enjoying the cooling in the den:
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| Above, morning at Crazy Horse Campgrounds in Lake Havasu. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Camping in hot weather can cause heat stroke and other maladies. I have camped in hot conditions a few times.
Generally, those hot camps were in the desert (where else?) such as Lake Havasu, Arizona and, more recently, in Quartzsite, Arizona.
In Lake Havasu, I generally stay at the Crazy Horse Campgrounds where they have electric hook-ups to power the motorhome air conditioner (plus the nearby lake). In Quartzsite, where we dry camped, we had to use some engenuity.
RV Travel posted some tips by Nanci Dixon for surviving camping in 105° heat.
She begins with:
We have started (well, almost) our RV summer migration to the cool green northern clime. But first, we needed to get all the floors in our house redone after an installer error. So instead of camping by pristine blue lakes lined with tall pines, we are in the hot brown desert lined with cactus.
We are using this time to get everything up to par for the trip and the summer: replacing water filters, recharging the water softener, checking the engine and generator, and fixing things neglected when we returned to Arizona. (I wrote more about our packing routine in Friday’s newsletter.)
What we didn’t factor in all this work is the brutal Arizona heat. Unfortunately, we are familiar with it from when we were camp hosts here late one year.
Here are the things we do to stay comfortable. While some seem like no-brainers, I am reminded that my brain didn’t remember.
To read more, go here.
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| Abovc, your truly at the shooting area last September. Photo by Larry Lucier. |
Yesterday, the outside temperature in Jamestown and Gallup, New Mexico areas reached around 75°. That was nice to enjoy.
After getting the Jeep into Gallup to the mechanic's for some power and starting issues, I relaxed on my deck with ice tea or Alien Amber Ale. Then, I did some mini bike riding around the subdivision.
The warmer temperature heralds the impending return of outdoor target shooting weather. Unfortunately, it is not quite here yet as we have a Red Flag Warning for high winds. Once the winds taper down, we can then head to the shooting area next our subdivision to do some shooting. It is a bit hard to set up targets in high winds, to put it mildly.
According to the National Weather Service, today's weather is as follows:
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| Above, last month at Route 66 RV Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The last time I tried, I arrived a day late. I had it down as March 25, but the clinic had my appointment down for the day earlier. This time, we're both in sync.
I'll be arriving a day earlier and will be at the Route 66 RV Resort as the appointment is early in the morning. If I feel okay after the procedure, I'll drive on home afterwards. If not, I'll stay another night.
At least the weather in Albuquerque will be nice in the lower 80s.
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| Above, the overnight snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I just took a look outside and it snowed overnight and we have about an inch of snow on the ground. It is better than nothing and according to the National Weather Service, we're to get more through tonight.
Right now, it is about 29° outside.
The forecast:
Overnight
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| Above, the chili after adding the tomato sauce. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It is cold out (currently around 40°), windy and (occasionally) some snow flurries. But there was one thing I had to do: buy some tomato sauce.
I bought everything I needed for the chili, except I forgot to get tomato sauce. I went down to the Flying J to mail my property tax and get my mail. I checked to see if they carry tomato sauce. They don't. I kind of figured they didn't, but I checked anyway.
After getting my mail, I had to fill the Mustang's gas tank. After that, I headed 15 miles east to Thoreau where the nearest market is located. I got the tomato sauce there.
Then, I had to fight gusty winds and some snow to get back home.
I bought some extra cans of tomato sauce and tomato paste, in case I need them.
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| Above, yesterday after driving around. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
The weather would have been perfect if not for the winds we had.
It's going to be cooler today, with a high of 50° according to the National Weather Service.
Their forecast for the coming week:
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| Above, in the den earlier this morning under candlelight. |
It started around 8:00 PM last night and the power only came on about a half hour ago. The power company only found the cause around 6:30 this morning.
Since 3:30, I stayed in the den under blankets with my cat Sierra. I am lucky to have a propane stove and was able to light it with a match to heat up coffee in a pan. Good thing I made a pot last evening.
After the power came on, I fired up the heater to around 80° to take the chill out.
By the way, it snowed a little overnight. We have about a half inch of snow on the ground.
