May, 1997 (before the fire)
Los Alamos used to be a beautiful town, nestled up against the tree-covered Jemez Mountains. Those trees burned in the 2000 fire, so the area isn’t nearly as beautiful now. But still, it was a shock not to be able to see the mountains at all last Monday evening. They were hidden by smoke from forest fires, most of them in Arizona, hundreds of miles away.
June 6, 2011
June 7, 2011
It was much better Tuesday, June 7, and during the day today (June 8). But the smoke was bad again tonight, so we’re keeping the windows closed because of the health hazard. That’s the big news here. Is anything unusual going on where you are?
Earlier than normal onset of monsoon rains and the local authorities totally unprepared for flooding and landslides and the likes!
It’s hot here in Arkansas, though the temperature high is lower than it was last week. While I prefer this to the long threat of severe weather of April and March, I’d like a little moderation of the heat, too.
Los Alamos is certainly in a beautiful location, different than what I expected. We passed through there in early July
20042005.That’s awful, Jean. So sorry to hear it. Not least because I like MY windows open at all times.
Anything unusual here? I just read that pockets of drought have been declared in England. DROUGHT? In the land of rain? What’s the world coming to?
Still (don’t tell anyone) it is true. Never mind that the BBC weather forecast will tell you every morning that there will be at least a drizzle. I suppose it’s the BBC’s duty to keep the country’s morale ship shape.
Whenever I venture outside the sun shines. Fancy that.
U
Rummuser,
Do landslides happen every year? They’re quite commonplace in California whenever they have rains. Mostly it doesn’t rain that much there, but this year apparently they’re getting over double the usual amount. We, of course, would love to have some of that precipitation. If we were Directors of the Universe we would even things out a bit!
Mike,
We hate the heat, but I agree. The threat of tornadoes is even worse.
I wish you could have seen Los Alamos sometime in the twenty years between the mid 1970’s and 1990’s. It was between droughts and the mountains were spectacular.
Ursula,
I listened to the BBC when we lived in France. I never will forget the day the announcer was exuberant because the sun was actually out in London. He sounded so happy, the kind of thing that sticks in my memory. 🙂
the weather here is absolutely gone bonkers…each day something different – still quite warm as well – well not hot but certainly not completely cold all the time. And it’s less than 2weeks until mid-WINTER…
oops how did that happen, I must have hit some button…and whoosh it was posted…
as far as I’m aware nothing major happening atmospheric wise other than a series of after shocks for those in the mid- South Island area (Christchurch) – one of the facebook contacts says that authorities checking their property have just got to them…and although some things can be repaired other things will never be replaced. They had the 2nd major quake back on Boxing Day – long wait…
Cathy,
We’ve had Decembers like that, balmy weather, with winter not starting until early January. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s not that surprising when it does happen.
Have you noticed that it’s getting windier? I read an article in Science Magazine about how the winds over the oceans are getting stronger on the whole. I would think that would affect you. Presumably they don’t try to measure it over land masses because the local terrains would complicate things too much.
I’m so glad your project is going well. Congratulations!
Yes, they happen every year, but usually in different places. Yes it would be interesting if we could even out the climate!
update:
The Chilean Volcanic ash is arriving here…and flights have been cancelled. I don’t think that top of NZ is affected though…apparently the ash has been bought here via a wind named the Roaring Forties
Jean, please keep us updated on the New Mexico high country conditions. My daughter is planning a climb to Wheeler Peak behind Taos on July 4th, and I hope to join her.
Cathy,
The winds here are primarily westerlies, but of course they would be reversed below the equator. This is the first time I’ve thought of that in practical terms. That’s neat. I’ve read some about the Chilean volcano and the effect on flights. The news is much more global now than when I was a kid.
Looney,
Sure. I actually climbed Wheeler Peak years ago. My guess is the smoke will be gone by July 4th, and also that it’s not nearly as bad up high. Andy is starting to take walks again, up around 9000 feet. Wheeler, of course, is slightly above 13000.
It still amuses us that we both got bad headaches years ago when we hiked and camped in Yosemite. We decided the headaches were because we were up at 8,000 feet, which seemed high at the time. Now we live at 7200.
11 20 PM GMT on June 12 2011……………………Brings back memories to the massive fires weve had here. 12 13 AM GMT on June 13 2011……………………I sure hope the fires are out soon.