What's the weather like where you are?

[digitS']

Over an inch of rain fell in the last 48 hours!

There is more on the way but it's coming with wind ..! The Weather Service says not nearly as bad as 3 weeks ago but with gusts around 60mph.

Mostly, the ground in the lower elevations thawed and must have absorbed the moisture like a dry sponge. The first frosts in my garden were way back in September. We are well past the growing season but I trust, the plants will benefit from the rain. Hopefully, more trees won't fall to the wind.

Steve

[HoneyBerry]

Lots of rain this week, some wind, but not enough to take down trees. And the usual lood warnings that come with lots of rain. I've got my row boat sitting on top of my house all ready to go just in case. (just kidding on that last part)

[HoneyBerry]

The river flooded the trailer park that is next to it. I've seen that happen before at that same spot. There are some people in the river and there is a rescue in progress. I think they are homeless people. Some people are stranded over there. There is a designated evacuation area but some people didn't make it. I was pretty sure it would fllood at that location but I was too tired to keep tabs on it through the night. It's a small flood as far as floods go.

Some photos from the police website.

[digitS']

All this is again moving quickly across North America.

When the flooding was so bad in the Philippines 2 years ago, I asked a Filipino friend about the people affected. He said 2 words, "Homeless people."

After the windstorm and power outages a few weeks ago, all of Spokane's shelters were filled but so were the downtown hotels. Public libraries and a few of the public schools opened for warming and kids' lunches.

Steve

[HoneyBerry]

Yeah, the homeless people are face to face with the weather elements. Yesterday while I was driving, I saw a pitiful looking guy crossing the road (crosswalk), he was pushing a wheelchair, one leg was wrapped and elevated, he had a towel over his head, makeshift hood I guess, a thin black soaked & wimpy looking hoodless jacket, he was having a hard time pushing his wheelchair over the hump, the rain was falling like rivers from the sky, I wanted to get out and help him, he made it across just in the nick of time as the time ran out on the crosswalk signal.

[HoneyBerry]

Here's the official story about the rescue effort:

http://www.king5.com/videos/weather/201 ... /77030928/

There is flooding all over Washington. Closed roads, flooded baseball field in Carnation, Tumwater Falls is overflowing, Tolt River Bridge flooded, flooded buildings in some areas. Western Washington seems to be having a larger than usual winter flood event during this year.

[catgrass]

High today will be near 70-a bit unusual for us, even this far south. Low tonight will be in the low 60's. I am not complaining. We have not had a freeze yet, and usually have one around late november, early December.

[imafan26]

It is raining now but it is just overnight rain and should clear up later in the day.

The homeless are a problem everywhere. They have the most to lose and can least afford it. The city here has been forcibly evicting homeless off the streets. Literally they had been camping along the streets downtown and beside streams. The city would clean up one street and they would move over to another street. The city made space to accommodate 110 homeless people in city shelters but that left 100's more with no where to go. They don't feel safe in the shelters and they don't want to leave their spots, their belongings or their pets for fear that they will lose that too. Some of them are working poor and there are whole families living on the streets. There are also the druggies, a lot of veterans with PTSD and a few people who are mentally disturbed. It is hard for the homeless to get jobs if they haven't been working in a while or if they have been sick. You cannot get a job or services without an address. Recently the city handed out cell phones to the homeless. I remember thinking. O.K. and how are they going to charge them after the batteries run down. It is not like they have ready access to an electrical outlet.

[HoneyBerry]

Sounds similar to how the homeless situation is here. I don't like it but I don't know what the solution is. The Microsoft foundation poured a large some of money into helping the homeless here, but there are still problems. They said that it is difficult.

More flooding predicted for Washington. Low pressure and high tides are combining to generate flooding along the shore. Minor flooding is predicted. Another storm expected on Saturday. I've had enough of winter. I'm ready for spring.

[!potatoes!]

still unseasonally warm here - should break 70 on saturday. i wouldn't mind some actual winter.

[rainbowgardener]

it is 55 deg F, right now at 6 AM and still dark. Going up to 70 today and 72 tomorrow. I was out working in the yard yesterday in a T-shirt. I love it! This is what I came here for! It can stay like this all winter and I will be perfectly happy (but I know it won't). I know this is unseasonable for here too- average high for the date is 53 and the record is 77.

We did have some flooding here too, last week. The street our little dead end street comes off of has a low spot, and it turned in to a river running across the street. The pastures around us were swamps.

Still almost the whole time I have been here, it has been anywhere from 10 to 20 deg warmer than Cincinnati where I came from and lots sunnier, lots more and bluer skies. It makes me happy! Even yesterday it was not much more than 60. In Cincinnati, that would not be T shirt weather, because it would be gray and dampish and 60. Clear and sunny and 60 is so much more pleasant! The southern sun just feels warmer. It can be pretty chilly in the shade sometimes and still really nice once you are in direct sun. I am glad I came here!

[applestar]

Sorry for not captioning!
These are Willow oak leaves-- nearly the last to fall every year and seemingly very late this year -- frozen in a puddle of water that collected in a tub that hadn't been put away.

[digitS']

Pods ..

. frozen into an icy puddle??

Freezing here, some snow, a little falling, several more inches tomorrow afternoon .

Steve

[imafan26]

It is not so bad here. It is currently 69 degrees which is cold for me to put on long sleeves and a light jacket. It has been raining off and on for a few days and more of the same to come. The rain is scattered and locally heavy but rainfall totals are still under half inch and hour which can be handled. The problem has been the wind. It has been gusting enough to knock things around in the yard but it is still only about 30 mph. I can't do much outside but I did get some housecleaning done. I did go out in the yard when the rain stopped briefly. The seeds I planted are sprouting and the snails have not gotten to any yet. I did clean up the bench and the weeds around it. I watered the plants that are under the eaves and the orchids on the lanai. I only found 4 snails and only one was trying to make a break for it. I was surprised. I thought I would find more snails but the cold may be slowing them down. I am finding them mostly in their hiding places and not really seeing them moving around much.

Compared to what the Northwest is getting it is a much milder version.

I am staying close to home since I don't like to drive in the rain and umbrellas are useless in the wind.

[HoneyBerry]

Weather has normalized where I am. Rainy & windy this week. Some sun poked through the clouds this morning for a while. It's back to rain now that it's evening. November & December all always the worst months for me. January 1 is about when I feel relieved and start looking forward to spring. Even though it's still winter, something feels defferent about it after Jan 1. The weather report is saying snow on Thursday. We'll see. They aren't always spot on with their forecasts. It would be fun to have snow for Christmas. I put some sunflower seeds in the feeders today for the chickadees. They usually stick around for the winter. I am ready for spring.