Tonight....

Not necessarily worth mentioning, but TV and radio are throwing the S-word around.  For ACA, flurries, light snow might dust our higher reaches overnight into the morning, but travel shouldn't be impeded unless the icy mix inbetween the rain and snow put down a light glaze just before sunrise.  Lows may not actually hit 32, but for anyone heading out early Saturday morning, take heed to check the roads, your temperature, etc.  I do see 1-2" for Mt. Sterling (northern Smokies pretty close by) and 2-3" along the TN border north of Asheville, well out of our hair.  Otherwise, just a cold hit that fairly quickly modifies over the weekend.  Hey, at least we're not in that northeastern snow!

bob

Winter Outlook 2011-12

The National Weather Service put out it's official winter outlook that basically runs from December through February.  While it's a La Nina winter in terms of the big Pacific current that helps get our weather balls rolling, western North Carolina finds itself in the good ol' quasi-zone of 'equal chances' for cold or not and snow or not.  Sounds good and vague to me, but at least we aren't in a bull's eye for extended cold weather.

 

As we say in the biz, let's hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.  Click on the following graphics to enlarge 'em.

Bob

About BLOGGER....

 As the old saying goes, "Computers: can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em".  Linn had written in on the last post about becoming a 'follower' or 'member' confusion per our blogsite, and as I looked into it, I was surprised to see first and foremost how the different PC browsers vary in displaying our site.  I'm guessing if you subscribe as a 'follower' you are then a 'member' (feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken).  Too, Chris, I know you are a MAC Daddy so I don't know how the site looks on your end...feel free to chime in.


For each of the pictures you can click on them to enlarge, and the area in question is on the right side.  Not much else I can say about it, except to make you aware of how different they appear.  I use to use Firefox a lot, but have switched to Chrome...put in samples for IE and Opera, as well.


Firefox and Opera are comparable, but lots of missing 'stuff' in Chrome and IE:

Bob

A snow 'primer'....

(NOTE: forgot to add the paragraph below in this blue type)

To save you from going back to old blog entries, and for the newer readers, I wanted to pass along how I keep abreast of potential winter weather.  To listen to WLOS or the radio or read a generic website will often give very incomplete information, if not misleading and/or incorrect.  When I post here, it is specific to Apple Creek Acres, our general N/NE exposure, and attention to our elevations which start at ~2880' at the entrance to ~3900' at the top.

The Moskos family lives in what most of us refer to as the 'blue roof' house, and that's important because they are pretty much at 3500'....ask anyone here, a LOT often happens at that elevation per winter weather problems.  You'll see me talk of issues above or below that location often.

Got an email today that the National Weather Service will release their upcoming Winter Outlook this Thursday morning, the results of which I'll pass along.  We've had two very hard winters in a row here, in terms of prolonged and numerous snow and icing events at ACA.  Many have to drive Apple Creek Road daily, so keeping our roads safe and passable is of paramount concern, though not always easily attainable when circumstances get beyond our control.

With that said, John Stoeckel makes the call for plowing and salting, and Claire will post any information on planned times for those events immediately when they know them, so check the website.  It is wise if you select to "follow" this blog (upper right 'join this site')...your info is private and not shared...but you'll get an email that there is a new post to read, so you don't have to check willy-nilly and maybe miss timely information.  Just a friendly suggestion.  :-)  NOTE:  Blogger can be a real pain and not display the above option...if you do not see it, refresh the screen or try again later.  Things show up inconsistently, unfortunately.

Wednesday night and again on Thursday night, temperatures will be approaching the freezing mark, at least above the blue roof house (see what I mean?).  I won't be a bit surprised to see snow mixing in with any showers (especially after midnight), but I do not expect any accumulation.  As the crow flies we're close to the Smokies and the Plott Balsams, and they could eek out an inch or two, according to one of the models I follow.

Ah, the models.  I will refer to them simply by their acronyms, the NAM and the GFS.  The NAM has pushed the snow idea for a couple of days now, but the GFS still is not showing any (outside of one run yesterday). 'Runs' occur 4 times a day, so when we're in 'alert' mode I check them often and compare trends, updating this blog as needed.

While we'll see no travel concerns from any of this, suffice it to say I'm going to have to switch from shorts to long pants for a while.  It will be significantly colder, and the winds won't help the situation.  It all calms down and warms up by this weekend, but after these gorgeous and mild days, it'll be a bit of a shocker.

Oh, and I often post a gratuitous 'cool' shot of something I've taken....this was last week after morning fog lifted over head and made for some neat sun shafts in the woods beside me....for any picture or graphic I post, you can usually click on it to enlarge some.

Bob

October update

Now that the updated and amended minutes from our annual meeting have been mailed out, I wanted to welcome the new viewers to this blog.  I will only put weather information up when it's of a serious concern, for travel or otherwise, but we've not had a lot in the 'worrisome' category of late.  

The color is getting ready to explode, though we have a couple of days of rain moving in as I type.  Above pic is from a Sugar Maple by my house...as with any pics on any blog post, you can click on them to enlarge them.  The National Weather Service says we're in store for a milder, less snowy/icy winter...what a novel idea, after two seriously snowy and cold winters in a row with snow totals in the 50-60" range here in ACA (at least above 3500').  With that said, while I have NOT seen overly active bees and yellow jackets as I have in the past, I can honestly say I've NEVER seen the amount of chipmunk and squirrel activity that I've been seeing in ACA...it's borderline 'other worldly'.  Since I've not been able to afford even a used 4WD vehicle, I'm oh-so-hoping this winter is kinder.

Early on I posted some suggestions for close-by trips if you have company in town and looking for something unique to do.  I have two suggestions that are 'user-friendly' for pets and those that have ambulatory issues.  My knees are very bad, but even these two treks were do-able, and they're both pet-friendly (should use a leash, though).  Of course, there are scads of neat places to go in our area, but these two are 'up there' on my list, best enjoyed on days and times where crowds are a bit more minimal....oh, and the weather is good!

 

Max Patch Bald is a big favorite for many...the Appalachian Trail courses there, and the views are phenomenal, and a VERY close hike from closest parking area.  Get on I-40 West and get off at Exit 7, Harmon Den.  Turn right and go about 7 miles on the gravel road, and at a noticeable intersection turn LEFT.  Soon thereafter you will see signs that you are on Max Patch Road. You can't miss the parking area where a trail goes up the bald on the right.  About 30 miles from ACA.

 

The Parkway offers numerous opportunities to sight-see and escape, obviously...and the 'road' at Black Balsam is level (albeit rocky) and offers wonderful views, too, for a lovely hike.  Quickest way is to get on the Parkway at Balsam Gap and head north, though you can return on 215 down to Lake Logan and eventually onto 276 and into Waynesville for a beautiful ride in its own right. I'm all for rugged hikes, but my knees yell at me if I attempt them, hence they favored the road/trail at Black Balsam.

 

There is so much to take advantage of, but I have to admit that being at the dead end of a dead end of a dead end road has me loving right where I am here in ACA.  I think Molly sniffed out our bears the other day, and she came sprinting back in short order...made me laugh.  My racoons have returned, which makes it a joy (NOT) when the pups want out early in the morning...apologies to my neighbors for any early barking!

Bob Child