May 17, 2017 10 PM Update

Good evening! Mostly clear and 73 degrees in Delmar. There is a south-southwest breeze at 6 mph. The dew point is 59 degrees. The first real warm evening of the summer but at least not super humid. My bedroom was about 90 degrees when I went up there early, but hopefully it will have cooled down a bit. I have the big box fan I bought last year that should keep the air moving. I hate how it uses like 60 watts of power but so be it. Still a shit ton less than air conditioning.

A lot of traffic noise tonight, along with the whine of air conditioners. I do hear the cricket and the slightly pungent smell of manure from the farm down the road. I like the urban convenience of public transportation to get to work but living far enough from the city to have a nice backyard and still be within eyeshot the last traffic light for the entire 30 odd remaining miles of the Delaware Turnpike. Sure, I’d love to live in the country but this ain’t bad. Lots of stars, although still not as good as being out in the country.

Sitting out back having a beer or two next to the fan that is blowing on me. With the low humidity and rapidly dropping outdoors temperature it feels quite comfortable. That 12 volt fan works pretty darn well all things said and done. I’m sure it will be perfect for those sticky nights up in the wilderness. Hopefully most of the very hot nights I can spend in the wilderness.

DefinitelyΒ nice that it warmed up a lot today, but I sure wish I had today off or the hot weather held off to the weekend.Β I’m ready for a nice summer weekend, preferably without black flies, but that’s a few weeks off. Mothers Day to Fathers Day is called Adirondack Black Fly Season for a reason.

Still PBS Newshour didn’t tape tonight. I am thinking that the program was probably deleted from the memory. I’ll have to reprogram it. Because I kind of like watching it, especially in this hot weather out back on the tailgate of my truck.

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low of 66 degrees at 5am. 18 degrees above normal. This will break the record for the warmest low temperature for May 18th ever. Even in July that’s warmer than normal. Maximum dew point of 63 at 6am. Might even be bit humid by morning. South wind around 6 mph. In 2016, it got down to 38 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. The record low of 29 occurred back in 1981. Big cool down to normal weather for the weekend.

Waning Gibbous Moon tonight with 55% illuminated. The moon will rise around 11:44 pm. The Last Quarter Moon is on Friday night with partly cloudy expected. The Full β€œStrawberry” Moon is on Friday, June 9th. The sun will rise at 5:29 am with the first light at 4:56 am, which is 57 seconds earlier than yesterday. Tonight will have 9 hours and 15 minutes of darkness, a decrease of one minute and 56 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, with a high of 93 degrees at 4pm. 23 degrees above normal. Another hot day even by July standards. Maximum dew point of 64 at 7am. Southwest wind 7 to 15 mph. A year ago, we had mostly cloudy skies and a high of 69 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1962. We could break that record tomorrow. 2.2 inches of snow fell back in 2002.

A picture perfect weekend on tap. Saturday, sunny, with a high near 70. Maximum dew point of 41 at 6am. Sunday, partly sunny, with a high near 73. Maximum dew point of 45 at 6pm. Typical average high for the weekend is 71 degrees.

Going to be a nice weekend. I wish I could go up north but it’s not worth it with the Lupine Festival on Saturday and the black flies. I am hoping for a great Memorial Day Weekend but I’m a bit concerned with the 8-14 day climate outlook and the very long range predictions on certain websites. Still Sunday will be great for hiking and getting things prepared for camping. Hopefully we will have nice weekends in June so I can get out of town.

In four weeks on June 14 the sun will be setting at 8:34 pm, which is 21 minutes and 15 seconds later then tonight. Getting closer to that first day of summer. In 2016 on that day, we had mostly sunny skies and temperatures between 77 and 47 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 78 and 56 degrees. The record high of 96 degrees was set back in 1892.

I thought the Pine Bush Dinner was a a success, with lots of good food and tons of people. It’s a bit alarming the DEC aka the governor’s proposal to amend the state environmental review act – it could allow a lot of dangerous, bad projects to get approved under grounds that they have some so called green features even if on the net they are bad for the environment or the communities they are proposed to built. I’ve done so many of these dinners I know the process well but I keep on learning.

Looking ahead, Flag Day is in 4 weeks, Eat Your Vegatables Day is in 1 month, Summer is in 5 weeks, Last Day with Average High of 80 is in 14 weeks, Harvest Moon is in 16 weeks, 7 PM Sunset is in 4 months, 6:30 PM Sunset is in 20 weeks, Coldest Day of Year (Avg. 14-30 degrees) is in 34 weeks and Inaugeration Day 2021 is in 192 weeks.

It was a, good day. But with the sun rising so early I should retire now to ensure that I get sufficient sleep. Have a great night. Sleep well.Β 

Save the Pine Bush Dinner – 6 PM Tonight

Save the Pine Bush Dinner – 6 PM Tonight

Roger Downs will speak about the new, proposed changes in the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act - SEQRA. He will describe the proposed changes and how these will affect the environmental review process. Is β€œstreamlining” needed or just a way to push through bad projects? How will limiting scoping affect the process? Roger will tell us what we can do to protect SEQRA.

May 17, 2017 9 AM Update

Definitely a nice start to our Packrat Day with temperatures around 67 degrees and lots of sun. A potentially record breaking 89 or 90 degrees later. Should be a great day, not to humid with a maximum dew point of 61. Listening to Summer in the City by the Loving Spoonful from the Summer of Love, 50 years ago. Always nice once it finally warms up.

Got my Big American Flag hung outside on the rafters because with the beautiful spring weather I figured it would be patriotic, help air out the flag, and block some of the heat from the building. But mostly because I love America for all the flaws our country may have.Β Β 

The sun will set at 8:13 pm with dusk around 8:46 pm, which is one minute and one second later than yesterday. At sunset, look for partly clear conditions and 83 degrees. The dew point will be 57 degrees. There will be a southwest breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 43 minutes of daytime, an increase of one minute and 57 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low of 68 degrees at 4am. 18 degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 63 at 6am. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Maybe a bit sticky late, you’ll want to leave your windows open and maybe turn on a fan. I’m glad I bought that big box fan last year, as it really keeps the air moving on those hot nights. In 2016, it got down to 38 degrees with mostly cloudy skies. The record low of 29 occurred back in 1981.

Looking ahead, there are 4 weeks until Flag Day when the sun will be setting at 8:34 pm with dusk at 9:09 pm. On that day in 2016, we had mostly sunny skies and temperatures between 77 and 47 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 78 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1892. I’m prepared, I already have my flag out but I might bring it back in for the weekend.

I finally got into my attic and pulled out my work desk fan. My desk is next to the window and om a hot day like today, especially wearing the suit, having a good air flow helps. I’m looking forward to the warmer days, even though tonight is the Pine Bush Dinner and tomorrow is that lecture I’m looking forward to at the Albany Pine Bush Center assuming I survive the Corporation Challenge traffic.

May 17, 2017 Morning

Good morning! Happy Pack Rat Day. Might almost be too warm for that big ass bonfire to get rid of all that junk you’ve been stockpiling over the winter… Maybe wait until Friday evening?  Also, four weeks to Flag Day. Partly sunny and 62 degrees in Delmar. There is a south breeze at 7 mph. The dew point is 53 degrees.

Today will be mostly sunny, with a high of 88 degrees at 3pm. 18 degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 61 at 11am. South wind 7 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. A year ago, we had mostly cloudy skies and a high of 66 degrees. The record high of 89 was set in 1977. We might break that record today. That seems like a big deal but it’s not because we certainly have higher records for this time of year. Tomorrow may be hotter. 

Happy Summer 2017!