**Before I get to the topic of this post, I’d like to mention a quick little tidbit. Since 2006 I have been producing fall and winter predictions for the region and I then grade myself when winter is over. I’d like to try that on this blog this year, so look out for my FALL 2009 WEATHER OUTLOOK (Late Sept through November) this weekend! My winter forecast will be released sometime in early-mid November.**
Today I purchased a new mountain bike. I’ve been meaning to get out more amidst my busy schedule and I have made a goal to bike every day before work on the days I work in Port Orchard and TO work on my Silverdale days. Let’s just hope this winter doesn’t end up being too wet or I might be scary looking to some orthodontic patients on those rainy days 😉
Anyway, the weather today was almost as perfect as perfect can be. Morning rain followed by a beautiful rainbow:
And the rest of the day was generally mostly cloudy, but there were plenty of sunbreaks and highs got into the 70s. Overall, a very good day to test out the bike.
If you’re itching to do something outdoorsy this weekend, you’re in luck! First we’ll have to get through tomorrow which will be easy considering partly sunny skies will dominate with highs temperatures again bouncing into the low and mid 70s.
Friday through Sunday will feature temperature well above normal (normal is 72 degrees, by the way) with mostly sunny skies and highs jumping anywhere from the mid 70s to mid 80s. I’m thinking temperatures won’t get as warm as some models are insisting, and it would be wise of me not to overachieve on the numbers. Why? Well, I think we’ve all noticed daylight is getting shorter and shorter every day and longer nights mean a stunt on how warm the temperatures can be each day. But with a little east wind we could make up for the lost time so stay tuned.
Cooler weather with more showers looks likely early next week but…let’s focus on what appears to be summers last hiccup!
Have a great evening,
Matthew Leach
Forecasting Kitsap
Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com
7 DAY FORECAST
Is there any collation to winter weather predictions and say the amount of pine cones on trees or spiders out and about etc…? The trees are FULL of pine cones like I haven’t seen before and the spiders are out early this year and they’re HUGE!!! Just curious.
Jason,
You know, some people believe there’s a STRONG correlation between nature/animal signs and winter. Personally, I’m a believer in that kind of stuff.
I mean, it only makes sense that nature and animals know how and what to prepare for ahead of time, right? They have the 6th sense that only nature observers tend to notice.
I agree with you about your obersvations, especially the spiders! That, the pinecones and the brilliant fall color already occuring seems to be a sign that maybe we have some interesting winter weather ahead of us. Keep looking out for natures signs and we’ll see if they verify this winter!
Great question,
~Matt
Sweet bike Matt!
Can it go over jumps and stuff?
We should get together and I could show you how to do some stuntriding!!
Peace out
Last year, the Douglas firs had no viable seeds in their cones. So the squirrels did not harvest. This August the squirrels ate for a few weeks before harvesting now going on. The squirrels survived last winter, we had 60 ” of snow and a few really cold temps. This year I note that the Evergreen Huck has practically no berries. These are used more by birds. The salal, deciduous huck,(red berries) all have berries. So it may be a tough winter for the birds. The lack of huckleberries has been noticed by friends living near Shelton and the other side of Hood Canal. Berries on other shrubs mean that pollinators were out there, but we did have a cold spring, so perhaps that kept the polinators away when the evergreen huck needed them and the usual bugs that eat the blossoms got the flowers. Spiders are normal, they are there all along, you are just now noticing them.
Congrats on the bike and doing a small part in reducing all the negatives associated with automobiles! Ride like everyone in a vehicle is out to run you over, and you’ll be fine! Make sure they can see YOU with lights/reflectors!
Looking forward to your predictions!
Thanks, Justin! Good advice!
Donna: Very interesting! I can always count on you for a great description of anything nature related. I love it!
Charley: Hahaha, oh for sure man! We’ll be tearin’ up the dirt! It tackles anything you place in front of her (yes, her). She’s unstoppable! But that question is…can YOU handle it?!