May 2, 2017 Night

Good evening! Partly cloudy and a somewhat damp 54 degrees in Delmar. There is a southwest breeze at 7 mph. The rain has stopped and is clearing now but there is still a lot of dampness around. 

Tonight will have a slight chance of showers between 4am and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low of 45 degrees at 5am. Two degrees above normal. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. In 2016, it got down to 46 degrees with periods of rain and drizzle and mist. The record low of 29 occurred back in 1966. Getting to the point where freezing weather is almost unheard of in the Albany area. 

First Quarter Moon tonight with 51% illuminated. Looks pretty nice peaking out from the clouds. The moon will set around 2:21 am. The Full β€œFlower” Moon is on Wednesday, May 10th. The sun will rise at 5:46 am with the first light at 5:16 am, which is one minute and 20 seconds earlier than yesterday. Tonight will have 9 hours and 48 minutes of darkness, a decrease of 2 minutes and 25 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will have a slight chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high of 55 degrees at 3pm. Going to be a chilly day, 11 degrees below normal. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had similarly cold weather with rain, drizzle, mist and a high of 55 degrees. The record high of 89 was set in 2001. There was a dusting of snow in 1986.

Not a particularly nice weekend on tap. Saturday, showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Maximum dew point of 52 at 6am. Sunday, showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Talk about a cold and wet May weekend. Typical average high for the weekend is 67 degrees.

In four weeks on May 30 the sun will be setting at 8:25 pm, which is 28 minutes and 5 seconds later then tonight. In 2016 on that day, we had thunderstorm, thunderstorm rain, rain, mist and temperatures between 84 and 65 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 73 and 52 degrees. The record high of 92 degrees was set back in 1987.

Not a terrible day. Things went fairly smoothly although it poured on the evening commute. I was glad that I brought my umbrella home. I needed it for the short walk from the bus stop. One day closer to the weekend. Watched the PBS Newshour and went down to the library for a bit. Made up some new maps. Pretty quiet, normal Tuesday. 

Looking ahead, Average High is 70 is in 2 weeks, 8:30 PM Sunset is in 5 weeks, Independence Day is in 9 weeks, August 1st is in 13 weeks, Altamont Fair Opens is in 15 weeks, Friday the 13th (October) is in 22 weeks, Election Day 2017 is in 27 weeks, Average High is 40 is in 28 weeks, Election Day 2018 is in 79 weeks and Election Day 2020 is in 183 weeks. Seems like every week is a holiday. 

Keefers Corners

It may have been a dark and gray day last Sunday, but you can see how things are greening up near Lawson Lake and Alcove Reservoir.

100-Octane, Super Premium Fuel Is Coming to a Pump Near You

100-Octane, Super Premium Fuel Is Coming to a Pump Near You

Apparently inexpensive 87-octane fuel may be going the way of the dinosaurs, to allow gas stations to stock 100-octane fuel, which will be more expensive but allow higher-compression, more fuel efficient engines.

"Oil companies and automakers are quietly collaborating to get higher-octane fuel into pumps all across the country. They’re pushing for higher octanes for their obvious benefits like extracting more power from less gas to meet rising mpg requirements and reduce emissions. The challenge is how to break the news to the public without tipping them off to the fact that it will cause a rise in gas prices across the board."

"Why would it affect the price of regular fuel? It’s likely that when a 100-octane fuel is introduced, 87 octaneβ€”the current β€œregular” grade gasβ€”will be phased out. The idea is to make every car on the road burn higher-octane gas reducing CO2. Unfortunately, if your car wasn’t specifically engineered for higher-octane fuel, the difference in performance and efficiency will be minimal."

Sunshine Mine (Idaho)

Sunshine Mine (Idaho)

"In the morning of May 2, 1972, a fire broke out in the Sunshine Mine. According to the US Mine Rescue Association, 91 workers died from smoke inhalation or carbon monoxide poisoning; 83 men were rescued, 81 on May 2 and two on May 9. The mine was closed for seven months after the fire, which was one of the worst mining disasters in American history and is the worst disaster in Idaho's history. Today, a monument to the lost miners stands beside Interstate 90 near the mine."

May 2, 2017 9 AM Update

Yeap, it’s still raining out there. The rain let up a bit from the downpour around 9 AM but you will still need your umbrella. Sixty three degrees and more sun later. But for now enjoy this very wet day as it continues green up.

The bus is making good time downtown, we are actually running a bit early. That’s fine, the bus driver stopped for a minute or two on the shoulder of the road.

The sun will set at 7:57 pm with dusk around 8:28 pm, which is one minute and 7 seconds later than yesterday. At sunset, look for partly cloudy conditions and 57 degrees. Breezy, 16 mph breeze from the west-southwest. Today will have 14 hours and 10 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 27 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low of 45 degrees at 5am. Two degrees above normal. Southwest wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. In 2016, it got down to 46 degrees with periods of rain and drizzle and mist. The record low of 29 occurred back in 1966.

As previously noted, there are 2 weeks until Average High is 70 when the sun will be setting at 8:12 pm with dusk at 8:45 pm. On that day in 2016, we had rain and temperatures between 59 and 39 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 70 degrees. We hit a record high of 89 back in 1991.

One day closer to summer. I look forward to those hot weekends at the potholers. This summer I want to also paddle around Moss Island in Little Falls. Looking forward to some nice summer weekends going forward, or even spring weekends once we get some sun and I can get out of town.

May 2, 2017 Morning

Good morning! Happy Tuesday. Two weeks until the Average High is 70. Rain showers and 59 degrees in Delmar, NY. There is a west-southwest breeze at 7 mph. The dew point is 58 degrees. Much cooler but with more sun the next two days. 

Today will have a chance of showers, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, some clearing up in the afternoon, with a high of 66 degrees at 1pm. One degree above normal. Maximum dew point of 58 at 7am. West wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. A year ago, we had rain, drizzle, mist and a high of 53 degrees. The record high of 88 was set in 2001. There was a dusting of snow in 1986.