I wish all of what's going on was just a bad April Fool's joke. We are fortunate to live in such a rural area, but precautions still must be taken to keep issues down to a hopeful minimum. I see where the path around Lake Junaluska is now herding walkers into going the same direction around the lake, with sheriff's deputies helping to ensure that is happening. Be safe in running your necessary errands. I wake up every day and am thankful that we live in such a beautiful area, which is oh so helpful when being mostly home-bound.
If this is your first spring on the mountain, we are hitting the explosion zone. In the next three weeks you will see the leaves explode and wildflowers thicken quicklhy on the forest floor before getting shaded out. It's a glorious time all around. I'll soon be posting a blog of the wildflowers I find around the house with fresh pictures.
Late March and early April are volatile weather times where wild swings are possible....but they don't last long, thankfully. It's been a chilly rainy day, with most of us staying in the 40s. Wrap-around moisture will come in late overnight into the morning hours, with temperatures dropping into the mid and lower 30s. It should be cold enough for some snow showers to develop, but not cold enough to freeze the roads and cause driving issues. My models are pushing the ol' 0-1" range for ACA with 2-3" along the TN border. So, don't be surprised to see the ground get a little white in the morning, and know we'll warm up and get rid of it soon enough. Another wonderful warming trend will soon be taking place.
Stay safe, y'all.
Bob
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 16, 2020
ROAD CLOSURE: PLEASE READ
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| Culvert work this Friday |
A portion of Apple Creek Road will be closed this FRIDAY from 10:00AM till 2:00PM for culvert replacement (seen in pic). This is just downhill from the "mirror curve", on the flat before dipping down to the upper hairpin curve. Thanks in advance for everyone's cooperation and understanding. (The board)
Bob
Friday, March 6, 2020
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AND MORE
730am Saturday UPDATE: Wind blew away all the snow on my driveway overnight. Roads are fine. :-)
Ah, but we're already feeling that wintry hit in temperatures, light snow, and gusty winds, all part of our next 24 hours. In this particular case, I'm just not concerned for travel Apple Creek at this time...my favored models have us dusting-1" (NAM) and 1-2" (GFS) (I will need to be driving down around 730am Saturday and can make a quick post on what I encountered). Bands of snow showers will wheel in from the NW off and on, with better chances later this afternoon. All should be tailing off Saturday morning.
Click HERE for all the advisories on one page. Technically, the advisory is for elevations above 3500', for up to 2" for the upper half of ACA. Much lesser amounts will still be possible in the valleys. Winds will limit accumulations unless they die back, but the wind advisory is in place into Saturday morning, as well. Hopefully our power stays on.
The good news is that we begin a pretty good warm-up this weekend, especially Sunday. I'll post any updates later today if necessary.
Bob
Ah, but we're already feeling that wintry hit in temperatures, light snow, and gusty winds, all part of our next 24 hours. In this particular case, I'm just not concerned for travel Apple Creek at this time...my favored models have us dusting-1" (NAM) and 1-2" (GFS) (I will need to be driving down around 730am Saturday and can make a quick post on what I encountered). Bands of snow showers will wheel in from the NW off and on, with better chances later this afternoon. All should be tailing off Saturday morning.
Click HERE for all the advisories on one page. Technically, the advisory is for elevations above 3500', for up to 2" for the upper half of ACA. Much lesser amounts will still be possible in the valleys. Winds will limit accumulations unless they die back, but the wind advisory is in place into Saturday morning, as well. Hopefully our power stays on.
The good news is that we begin a pretty good warm-up this weekend, especially Sunday. I'll post any updates later today if necessary.
Bob
Saturday, February 29, 2020
SATURDAY 9AM UPDATE
This may clear up soon, but there is quite a mess of government vehicles down near the bottom a Chris Martin's house, which is in a extremely icy area ( I know from experience!). Yesterday it was snowing with temperatures above freezing so that snow melted. Now that the temperatures are down in the mid and lower twenties down low, that wet base has turned to ice and is very dangerous.
Please don't try to go out at this moment, and if you have to, please use the most extreme caution possible.
Thanks to Chris Martin for the pics and phone call.
Bob
Thursday, February 27, 2020
AND NOW FOR ROUND #2....
6am FRI update: Yet another tweak as the advisory begins at 7am today through noon Saturday. Radar showing snow already along TN border, but movement is west to east...Smokies will shield ACA to some degree. The earlier the better to run any errands...
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We now have a brand new Winter Weather Advisory that will be in effect from noon Friday until noon Saturday for accumulating snow.
Round number one had those really strong winds which did indeed limit our accumulation, and we'll be under another wind advisory again. Both models that I favor are pushing 2" for Apple Creek Acres and that seems very reasonable. Maybe the winds will keep us on the low side...maybe.
The good news is we warm some and get out of the meat locker by Sunday. Sunshine and a higher sun angle will be our best buds.
As always, I'll update if needed tomorrow as I can, as I'm on the hoof two more days. Gee, I'm missing all the fun...🤣
Bob
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We now have a brand new Winter Weather Advisory that will be in effect from noon Friday until noon Saturday for accumulating snow.
Round number one had those really strong winds which did indeed limit our accumulation, and we'll be under another wind advisory again. Both models that I favor are pushing 2" for Apple Creek Acres and that seems very reasonable. Maybe the winds will keep us on the low side...maybe.
The good news is we warm some and get out of the meat locker by Sunday. Sunshine and a higher sun angle will be our best buds.
As always, I'll update if needed tomorrow as I can, as I'm on the hoof two more days. Gee, I'm missing all the fun...🤣
Bob
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
LOTS OF WINTRY WEATHER INCOMING...
6am THURSDAY UPDATE: There was just under an inch of snow when I left this morning about 5 o'clock, and there was a good icy layer underneath that snow. Apple Creek road is mostly snow covered on the lower section and totally snow covered on the upper section. I came down the mountain less than 5 miles an hour in 4 wheel drive with traction control on and I didn't slip, but I'm willing to bet it is slippery with any other type of drive train like front wheel drive or 2 wheel drive. Please use a great deal of caution if you must travel. It was 20ﾟ and will be a very cold couple of days ahead. I-40 from mm27-mm30 was in surprisingly bad shape, fyi.
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Ah, where do I begin? From our milder temps we crash late today and stay in the meat locker for a couple of days. Rain changes to snow, accumulating snow, coupled with strong winds that will swing from SW to NW this evening. I always think 'power outages' possible in this type event, which is a bigger issue when temps are well below freezing. Round #2 of snow showers sets up Friday into Saturday. with more wind and bitter wind chills. First, the advisory stuff:
Winter Weather Advisory
(above link includes a Wind Chill Advisory, Hazardous Weather Outlook, and a Special Weather Statement)
Specifics for Apple Creek Acres:
SO much winter-weather-weirdness happens at the 3500' elevation and above...conveniently for us, it's the "blue roof house" at Dawen Circle. Much of the accumulation concerns are for the higher elevations and, frankly, closer to the TN border. Winds will cut back on accumulations, too, so for the upper half of ACA look for 1-2" of snow by daybreak, when any NW flow snow should be ending. Little accumulation is expected at the entrance to ACA (2800'). HOWEVER....
There is a Round #2 that sets up Friday into Saturday, with cold front #2 and more NW flow snow. At this time, I don't see that being more than an additional inch, with more gusty winds limiting accumulations. Some of those snow showers could make it down into the valleys, but accumulations should be below advisory criteria. I'll be on the hoof, but will update as needed, so keep checking here. I'm slated to drive down at 5am tomorrow and will post a quick update by 6am on what I experienced coming down from Staymon.
The cold temperatures will be a shocker; coupled with strong NW winds, wind chills should easily get to single digits as lows dip to 20 degrees, lower higher up. Should power go out, have plenty of firewood or light up the LP fireplace and candles readied.
As always, I cross my fingers the accumulations stay limited thanks to the winds, and that the tree work that has been done in ACA will limit outages (unless something out of our HOA goes down). Get ready to bundle up, and as always I'll update as necessary later today IF I see significant changes to pass along.
Wheeeeeee.
Bob
_________________________
Ah, where do I begin? From our milder temps we crash late today and stay in the meat locker for a couple of days. Rain changes to snow, accumulating snow, coupled with strong winds that will swing from SW to NW this evening. I always think 'power outages' possible in this type event, which is a bigger issue when temps are well below freezing. Round #2 of snow showers sets up Friday into Saturday. with more wind and bitter wind chills. First, the advisory stuff:
Winter Weather Advisory
(above link includes a Wind Chill Advisory, Hazardous Weather Outlook, and a Special Weather Statement)
Specifics for Apple Creek Acres:
SO much winter-weather-weirdness happens at the 3500' elevation and above...conveniently for us, it's the "blue roof house" at Dawen Circle. Much of the accumulation concerns are for the higher elevations and, frankly, closer to the TN border. Winds will cut back on accumulations, too, so for the upper half of ACA look for 1-2" of snow by daybreak, when any NW flow snow should be ending. Little accumulation is expected at the entrance to ACA (2800'). HOWEVER....
There is a Round #2 that sets up Friday into Saturday, with cold front #2 and more NW flow snow. At this time, I don't see that being more than an additional inch, with more gusty winds limiting accumulations. Some of those snow showers could make it down into the valleys, but accumulations should be below advisory criteria. I'll be on the hoof, but will update as needed, so keep checking here. I'm slated to drive down at 5am tomorrow and will post a quick update by 6am on what I experienced coming down from Staymon.
The cold temperatures will be a shocker; coupled with strong NW winds, wind chills should easily get to single digits as lows dip to 20 degrees, lower higher up. Should power go out, have plenty of firewood or light up the LP fireplace and candles readied.
As always, I cross my fingers the accumulations stay limited thanks to the winds, and that the tree work that has been done in ACA will limit outages (unless something out of our HOA goes down). Get ready to bundle up, and as always I'll update as necessary later today IF I see significant changes to pass along.
Wheeeeeee.
Bob
Sunday, February 23, 2020
NO TRAVEL ISSUES, BUT....
Yay for the warmer temps...and incoming rain tonight will help wash some snow away.
However, even if lows tonight hang at or just above 32 degrees, wet snow is likely in the pre-dawn hours. Little or no accumulation is expected, and given the somewhat warmed ground, roads should be fine. Soon enough Monday it goes to all rain.
An even more limited chance for snow is slated for overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. No issues are expected, though we'll have a handful of cold days into the weekend after that cold front passage.
Bob
However, even if lows tonight hang at or just above 32 degrees, wet snow is likely in the pre-dawn hours. Little or no accumulation is expected, and given the somewhat warmed ground, roads should be fine. Soon enough Monday it goes to all rain.
An even more limited chance for snow is slated for overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. No issues are expected, though we'll have a handful of cold days into the weekend after that cold front passage.
Bob
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