Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake stands as the largest among the glacial Finger Lakes within the state of New York. Renowned for its substantial size and depth, it remains entirely contained within the state’s borders. The lake has earned distinction as the preeminent locale for lake trout angling, exemplified by its role as the host of the esteemed National Lake Trout Derby. Positioned at the northern terminus of Seneca Lake, the city of Geneva, New York, commands attention, serving as the domicile for Hobart and William Smith Colleges, along with housing the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, a constituent entity of Cornell University. Conversely, the village of Watkins Glen, situated at the southern extremity of the lake, boasts a notable reputation due to its association with motorsport, primarily due to the presence of Watkins Glen International racetrack, as well as its picturesque cascades.

Seneca Lake possesses an uncommon macroclimate that has bestowed it with the distinction of nurturing over 50 wineries, predominantly characterized as farm wineries. Its geographical attributes have led to the designation of the Seneca Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA), solidifying its reputation within oenophilic circles.

In terms of dimensions, Seneca Lake stretches across a length of approximately 38 miles, securing its position as the second longest Finger Lake. Remarkably voluminous, it is estimated to contain an impressive 3.81 cubic miles (15.9 km³) of water, accounting for nearly half of the cumulative water volume across all the Finger Lakes. The lake’s profundity is notable, averaging 291 feet, while plunging to a maximum depth of 618 feet. The expansive water body covers a surface area of approximately 66.9 square miles (173 km²).

July 31, 2018 Night

|

Good evening! I guess July will be over in less than an hour, as I sit back relaxing. Soon it will be August. Cloudy and 71 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest in Hector. ☁ There is a south breeze at 9 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 65 degrees.

Laying back in the hammock, the breeze actually makes it feel fairly cool despite the mugginess. 💨While the rain is holding off, at some point though it will come and I’ll retire to bed.

I thought it was a pretty good day, even though I wasn’t planning on going back to Ithaca, but I thought I needed propane. Hiking at Buttermilk Falls State Park was fun, as it’s been a few years since I’ve been there as parking the big truck there is tough, and I especially enjoyed exploring Lake Treman, which was quiet.🐸 The dam and the trail with stone stairs around it was quite impressive. You don’t realize how many projects were built by the CCC workers across the Finger Lakes.🚧 Robert Treman swimming area seemed warmer today and I got chance to get cleaned up and got water. 🏊

Tonight will have a chance of showers, mainly after 5am. Cloudy ☁, with a low of 69 degrees at 3am. Seven degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 67 at 2am. South wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. In 2017, we had mostly clear skies. It was somewhat humid. It got down to 62 degrees. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1964.

Tonight will have a Waning Gibbous Moon 🌖 with 83% illuminated. The moon will set at 10:15 am. The Last Quarter Moon is on Friday night with t-storms is likely then showers is likely. The Strugeon Moon 🌝 is on Saturday, August 25th. The sun will rise at 5:59 am with the first light at 5:27 am, which is one minute and one second later than yesterday. 🌄 Tonight will have 9 hours and 32 minutes of darkness, an increase of 2 minutes and 10 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms before 3pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3pm and 4pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 4pm. Cloudy ☁, with a high of 79 degrees at 4pm. Three degrees below normal. Maximum dew point of 70 at 12pm. South wind 13 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. It was humid. The high last year was 87 degrees. The record high of 101 was set in 1933.

I’m going to take it hour by hour tomorrow, figuring out what to do with the weather. 🕔 I may go to Watkins Glen and swim in the pool if it’s not too wet. Might also hike on some of the trails in the National Forest too. 🚶🐄

In four weeks on August 28 the sun will be setting at 7:47 pm,🌄 which is 40 minutes and 24 seconds earlier then tonight. In 2017 on that day, we had patches of fog, mostly cloudy skies and temperatures between 75 and 50 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 78 and 58 degrees. The record high of 98 degrees was set back in 1948.

Looking ahead, Labor Day Weekend Begins 👨‍🏭 in a month away, More Night then Day 🌌 is in 8 weeks, Halloween 🛥️ is in 3 months, Election Day 2018 🗳️ is in 14 weeks, Average Night Below Freezing 🌌 is in 15 weeks, Christmas 🎅 is in 21 weeks, New Years Eve 🎆 is in 5 months, New Years Day 2019 🎉 is in 22 weeks, 36th Birthday 🎉 is in 26 weeks and Election Day 2020 🗳️ is in 118 weeks.

July 31, 2018 Morning

|

Good morning! Where did July go? I don’t know but I’m on vacation so I don’t really care. 😎Lots of high but thin clouds with the sun peaking through and 67 degrees in Hector. ☁ Getting some solar power but not a lot, some may due to the sun angle. There is a south breeze at 7 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 63 degrees. Seems like a progressively nice day. Today I’m heading off to Ithaca to get propane then hike some of the gorges and maybe go swimming later.

Today will have a slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly cloudy ☁, with a high of 76 degrees at 2pm. Six degrees below normal. Maximum dew point of 66 at 12pm. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. It was humid. The high last year was 87 degrees. The record high of 98 was set in 1917.

Today I’ve decided to head back to Ithaca. The first order of the day is to go to Tractor Supply and get my propane tank filled.🚶 Then I will hike the trail past Buttermilk Falls as it’s been a while since I’ve done that and maybe also go for a swim there. I’m also researching some of the other gorges that are up that way to possibly explore them too. 🏊

The sun will set at 8:27 pm with dusk around 8:59 pm, which is one minute and 8 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At sunset, look for partly clear skies and 73 degrees. The dew point will be 66 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 8 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 28 minutes of daytime, an decrease of 2 minutes and 9 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy☁, with a low of 67 degrees at 4am. Five degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 67 at 2am. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In 2017, we had mostly clear skies. It was somewhat humid. It got down to 62 degrees. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1964.