Good morning, early on my half birthday! Cloudy and 67 degrees in the Allegheny National Forest as we head into the midnight hour of Friday. Calm wind. The dew point is 64 degrees. Pretty muggy. We had some showers but now they’ve stopped. The radar showed a severe thunderstorm, but it passed to the north of where I am. 

Today I went for a swim for a few hours at Watkins Glen then got a massive black raspberry twist cone at the Glen Dairy Bar. Drove to the Allegheny National Forest, after exploring campsites along FR 137 up by the Willow Run ATV Trail, decided on camping on Forest Road 259, at a favorite campsite from years past. This is more convenient for tomorrow when I drive out to Erie. Assuming we have good weather, I want to watch the sunset from Rim Rock. I’m leaving my campsite up tomorrow, secured by security cables so if I get back after dark, I just have to unlock and uncover things and light the lantern and plug the lights into the truck.  I also set up my tent again for storing paper products, charcoal, dirty clothes, etc. Keeps them dry and out of the way. I also  set up a tarp so I can duck under it if we get showers. 

There was a major detour on US 6 between Port Allegany to Smethport, and I ended up taking a road through Bradford, Penna. It turned out to be a hell of a longer trip, and wasn’t too scenic to boot. That said, I enjoy exploring new roads. 

Tonight for rest of the night, we will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low of 62 degrees at 6am. Typical for tonight. Light north wind. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 65 at 10pm. The record low of 47 occurred back in 1987. Waning Crescent Moon tonight with 30% illuminated. The moon will rise around 2:09 am. The New Moon Moon is on Tuesday with mostly clear skies expected. The Full “Strugeon” Moon is in 3 weeks.

Tomorrow in the northern Allegheny National Forest, we will have a slight chance of showers before 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high of 78 degrees at 2pm. Three degrees below normal. Fewer clouds as you head west, like with me going to Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Penna. North wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 62 at 6am. The record high of 97 was set in 1894. The sun will rise at 6:06 am with the first light at 5:34 am, which is 59 seconds later then yesterday.

Tomorrow I plan to go to Presque Isle State Park and go swimming in Lake Erie. The weather looks decent there tomorrow. It’s a nice drive and those big sandy beaches are fun. Might be some good waves with the changing weather. For Saturday we will see. I could pack up, go to Allegany State Park and go swimming in Quaker Lake then camp somewhere on the way home. Or if it looks like they have better weather in the Finger Lakes, I could head back there and hit up Watkins Glen pool one last time and overnight in that National Forest. Or remain at this campsite and try the beach on the Allegheny Reservoir. We will see. 

0.1 inch of rain expected between Thursday 10pm and Friday 7pm. 0.2 inch of rain expected between Saturday 8am and Sunday 7pm. Within the next four days, a total of 0.3 inches of rain is expected.

Looking ahead, State Fair Opens is in 4 weeks, First Day of Sunset Before 7 PM in Albany is in 3 weeks, First Day of Autumn is in 8 weeks, Last Recorded Day Above in 90 in Albany is in 10 weeks, First Day with Average High Below 60 is in 12 weeks and Thanksgiving is in 17 weeks.

Friday Night. Chance of T-storms then Chance of Showers and 58 degrees, 61 max dew point, 6:08 sunrise.
Saturday. Chance of T-storms and 76 degrees, 61 max dew point, 8:34 sunset.
Saturday Night. Chance of T-storms and 59 degrees, 61 max dew point, 6:09 sunrise.
Sunday. Chance of T-storms and 76 degrees, 63 max dew point, 8:33 sunset.
Sunday Night. Chance of T-storms and 58 degrees, 61 max dew point, 6:10 sunrise.
Monday. Mostly Sunny and 79 degrees, 62 max dew point, 8:32 sunset.
Monday Night. Mostly Clear and 58 degrees, 61 max dew point, 6:11 sunrise.
Tuesday. Sunny and 81 degrees, 60 max dew point, 8:31 sunset.
Tuesday Night. Mostly Clear and 61 degrees, 60 max dew point, 6:12 sunrise.
Wednesday. Mostly Sunny and 83 degrees, 64 max dew point, 8:29 sunset.