December 23, 2016 Afternoon
You don’t get many December days as nice as today with mostly clear skies and forty four degrees in temperature. Sun angle is so weak and sunset so early it’s 3:45 and its already getting close to dark. There is a south-southwest breeze at 6 mph.
The sun will set at 4:26 pm with dusk around 4:58 pm, which is 36 seconds later than yesterday. At sunset, look for mostly clear conditions and 40 degrees. There will be a south-southwest breeze at 6 mph.
We closed the office down a little early and I’m taking the express bus to the park and ride. I will have to walk home from there as the 3:40 bus doesn’t go past there. But I don’t mind as it’s a nice day for a walk and I skipped my lunchtime walk.
Tonight will have increasing clouds, with a low of 31 degrees at 11pm. 13 degrees above normal. South wind 5 to 7 mph. In 2015, it got down to 43 degrees with periods of fog and rain. The record low of -15 occurred back in 1989.
Waning Crescent Moon tonight with 31% illuminated. The moon will rise around 1:36 am. In the meantime enjoy the December stars because tonight should be a clear evening.
Tomorrow will rain, snow, and sleet before 1pm, then a chance of rain between 1pm and 4pm. High of 40 degrees at 1pm. Seven degrees above normal. South wind 8 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible. A year ago, we had fog, rain and a high of 72 degrees. The record high of 72 was set in 2015. 13 inches of snow fell back in 1966.
Now that it’s warmed up I finally got my winter coat today in the mail. I ordered it a week and a half ago, and when I waited a week I sent a follow-up email and it was one day shipped the next day. I don’t know what the delay was but Gander Mountain some how screwed up and I’m a bit annoyed with the delay. I guess it’s not the end of the world. I got the coat. It looks nice and hopefully it will fit well. They have free returns if it doesn’t fit.
In four weeks on January 20 the sun will be setting at 4:54 pm, which is 27 minutes later then today. In 2016 on that day, we had mostly cloudy skies and temperatures between 30 and 16 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 30 and 14 degrees. The record high of 53 degrees was set back in 2006.
Basically zero traffic on 787 with the holiday but also it’s still fairly early. So the express bus really was express. It will be a nice walk home and I should be home by dusk. A quick dinner then off to the library then the evening to walk. I might start packing for camping although it should be fairly light as I’m only camping one night.
Showdown In Elk Town.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=794wEIbHlDc
"Every summer the town of Estes, Colorado is terrorized by rutting male elk so fired up that they invade the streets and charge at tourists."
Phil Ochs – No Christmas In Kentucky.
"No, they don't have Christmas in Kentucky. There's no holly on a West Virginia door. For the trees don't twinkle when you're hungry. And the Jingle Bells don't jingle when you're poor."
"Let's drink a toast to Congress and a toast to Santa Clause and a toast to all the speeches that bring the loud applause. There's not enough to give, no, there's not enough to share. So let's drown the sounds of sorrow with a hearty Christmas cheer."
Portraits From An Appalachian Battleground, 1964 – TIME.
"The Valley of Poverty,” illustrated with some of the most powerful and intimate photographs of Dominis’ career, served (and still serves today) as an indictment of a wealthy nation’s indifference, and a plea — if not a demand — that the rest of the country not turn its back on the suffering of so many of its citizens."
December 23, 2016 8 AM Update
Definitely a mild morning walking down to the express bus on this morning before Christmas Eve. 38 degrees with sun, although the sun angle is so far south that you feel little warmth besides the bright sunlight as you walk into the light.
Looking at ample sun today but we will only gain about four degrees before maxing our at forty-three. 10 degrees above normal. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Nothing like last winter which started out so mild. A year ago, we had fog, rain and a high of 56 degrees. The record high of 64 was set in 1990. 8.8 inches of snow fell back in 1947.
It’s funny how the past few days, it’s been colder in the city down by the river then out in the suburbs due to a temperature inversion. I guess that happens a lot in the winter in Albany.
The sun will set at 4:26 pm with dusk around 4:58 pm, which is 35 seconds later than yesterday. Today will have 9 hours and 3 minutes of daylight, an increase of 11 seconds over yesterday. The days are growing in length but it will be slow at first. Eventually it will accelerate as we head towards the first day of spring in 86 days.
Tonight will have a chance of freezing rain, mainly after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low of 31 degrees at 12am. Warming up as daylight approaches, so hopefully that will mitigate the risk of freezing rain. 13 degrees above normal. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. In 2015, it got down to 43 degrees with periods of fog and rain. The record low of -15 occurred back in 1989.
With Christmas Eve tomorrow, there are 2 weeks until Epiphany when the sun will be setting at 4:38 pm with dusk at 5:09 pm. On that day in 2016, we had mostly sunny skies and temperatures between 34 and 5 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 31 degrees. We hit a record high of 71 back in 2007. I think this year will be closer to the record then cold we had a year ago.
As to be expected before the holiday weekend there is very light traffic heading into the city, with all the state workers taking time off before they lose it at the end of the year. I think I’m covering for half of the office today.
Hoping that the Christmas Cactus will be in bloom today, but I suspect it won’t be until at least Christmas and maybe a little after. I hope it will be in full bloom by the time I return on Tuesday morning and will give it a good watering before I leave for the day.
December 23, 2016 morning
Today is an appropriate day to wish people you see on the street an Merry Christmas. Everybody could use a little Christmas cheer in the deep and dark days of late December and the holiday commemorating Christ’s Birthday starts tomorrow. For your Jewish friends, don’t forget to wish them a Happy Hunakkah as their holidays most holy of days concludes tomorrow.
Today is going to be a mild sunny start to your holiday weekend. Currently 38 degrees but with the sun rising shortly we should push up to 42 degrees later. It would be even warmer were not the sun angle so week.
Have a great day and a very Merry Christmas to you.