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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, the crabapple tree is blooming. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like we may be getting some precipitation this coming week, starting tomorrow and Monday with a dry storm. A dry storm is a thunderstorm that produces less than 0.1" of rain. This is according to the McKinley County of Emergency Management.
It won't be long when we'll be in monsoon season.
According to the National Weather Service, the week is shaping up as follows:
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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
A little surprise awaited me this morning.
A few minutes ago, I was putting some clothes in the dryer when I looked out the window and noticed about 1/4 inch layer of snow on the garage roof.
I wasn't expecting snow today, so it is a surprise. But I am not complaining, we can use it.
I took this shot:
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| Above, having some coffee before "Uncle Bob" arrived. |
But, fortunately, it moved out of the area so that plenty of time for thawing out took place. This allowed me to head into Gallup for my usual Friday dinner at Jerry's Café.
The streets of Gallup were clear of any ice and snow. There were piles of it at different businesses after it was shoved.
At first, the restaurant was about two thirds full, so I was able to get a table for myself and "Uncle Bob" as soon as I walked in. Then the restaurant got packed.
Looking out this morning, there was no new snow on the ground. This was the first in three days that we didn't get overnight snow.
The upcoming week will be a warmer one, almost spring-like, with highs reaching into the 60s. That's according to the National Weather Service.
The week's forecast:
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| Above, this morning's snow (so far). Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When getting my morning coffee today, I took a look outside and, sure enough, it is snowing.
This storm, on top of what we received yesterday, will accumulate to probably around 2 to 3 inches deep. It isn't what is received in the midwest or the northern eastern seaboard, but it is welcome.
According to the McKinley County Office of Emergency Management a few minutes ago:
Blustery Pacific cold front to cross W central, NW, and N central NM this morning with moderate snow squall: wind gusts up to 45 mph, visibilities around 1/4-1/2 mile, and ~1" of snow in about 1 hr. It will be cold enough for the snow to stick making driving hazardous.
I had to go to the post office yesterday in Continental Divide. It was a windy drive and a trucker ahead of me was swerving around. Thankfully, the driver got the tractor and trailer under control. Still, a lot of them are driving to fast for road conditions.
Hopefully, the wind and snow will taper off by this afternoon so that I can go into Gallup this evening for my Friday dinner at Jerry's Cafe.
Now that we got some daylight, I was able to see and photograph the backyard from my bedroom window.
This is the first real heavy snow since I cut down the brush in the backyard.
By the way, that's a deer butchering/skinning rack at center left foreground.
Here's a photo:
It's nothing like waking up to a yard that is snow-covered.
That's exactly what I woke up to this morning. The deck table has about four inches of snow that fell overnight. This snowstorm started yesterday afternoon/evening. That was on top of the freezing winds we also had.
It looks like I have some snow shoveling to do today.
I took a couple of quick shots of it:
Yesterday morning, I was awakened by strong winds hitting my bedroom window and a bathroom vent cover. This was about 3:00 in the morning.
About an hour later, I heard rain hitting my bedroom window. Sure enough, it was raining outside. Then, around 4:30, it started snowing. In all, we received about an inch of snow until it ended a few hours later.
The rain/snow were welcome. That, plus the rain we received last week, is a big help to the trees out in the yard. One pine tree is starting to revive.
I took the below photo after doing a little shoveling. It was almost melted away by late afternoon. We're supposed to get more in a couple of days.
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| Above, the deck is covered with snow this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It started out with high winds and rain and then it turned into snow flurries. At this time, we have about a quarter inch on the ground.
We'll have to brave it to drive to Denny's this morning for our Tuesday coffee.
According to the National Weather Service, the week's forecast in the Jamestown/Gallup area is as follows:
First of all, Happy Valentine's Day!
Yesterday (Friday the 13th, by the way), we had steady light rain for most of the day. This will be a big help to the plants and trees.
It did snow a little bit after I got home from Gallup where I had dinner at Jerry's Café. But it was too warm out to last and it melted as soon as it hit the ground. Still, we are happy to get the rain. It rained all the way to and from Gallup. We got a good soak.
We aren't forecast for any real precipitation today, the next chance for rain/snow will start Monday night, according to the National Weather Service.
The forecast:
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| Above, Jerry's Café in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It looks like we may be getting some rain and snow showers this afternoon.
We sure as heck can use the precipitation.
According to the National Weather Service for the Gallup, New Mexico area:
This may hit while I am in Gallup for my Friday dinner at Jerry's Café. We shall see.
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| Above, my commuter train stopped at a Chiba station due to heavy snow. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Here's a story that brings back memories.
Japan is currently being hit by a rare heavy snowstorm. The storm has caused flight cancellations and Shinkansen stoppages.
According to Travel + Leisure:
Parts of Japan, including southwestern Fukui Prefecture, eastern Tottori Prefecture, Kyoto, Tokyo, and other regions along the Sea of Japan coast, are grappling with heavy snowfall. Extreme weather in Japan has made roads dangerously icy, triggering widespread travel disruptions such as cancelled flights and bullet train suspensions. The operational crisis triggered over 100 cancelled All Nippon Airways and ANA Wings flights, and delays were reported by Japan Airlines and Ibex. So far, over 371 flight cancellations and 1,710 delays have been reported in total.
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| Above, yours truly at the Chiba station. |
This all brings back memories of my 2014 trip to Japan. Upon arrival at Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, a heavy snowstorm also arrived. I managed to get on a commuter train to Tokyo, but the storm forced the train to halt at a train station midway. I was stuck in the train car for almost 24 hours.
Luckily for me, a Japanese gentleman called my hotel for me to let them know of my predicament.
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| Above, the snow-covered Godzilla slide in Yokosuka. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
It was an interesting trip nonetheless. I was able to go to the Godzilla slide in Yokosuka as well as Yokohama. I also went to Kappabashi "Kitchen Town" in Tokyo and picked up some chef's knives.
Just before leaving Japan, a second storm hit.
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| Above, my hotel after the second snow storm hit. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To read the full story, go here.
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:
