Stormy

Tree at Rosy Mound

Hard to believe that just over a week ago we had heavy frost...'cause now we've had heavy thunderstorms (see below for more details), every day or night for the last 5. Have been forced to shut pc down daily to avoid potential problems, which has been putting a bit of a crimp in my work hours....

Peony

So not much web work done these days: several hours of yoga therapy Saturday, a couple hours spent Sunday, with Lois' crucial help, planting my new peonies by the deck, another hour or so mowing the lawn — yes, really, I've been lawn-baptized at last, thanks to neighbor Everett who generously loaned me his mower! — & then several hours more recovering from the unusual labor...nearly passed out due to dehydration...don't you dare laugh at me!

However, did finally manage a return to Rosy Mound Natural Area for a hike before Friday night's storm. It was quite beautiful & an extremely good workout — a couple miles of trail over to the lake & back, not to mention 1,000 feet of stairs up & down & up & down & winding around stunning forested dunes. (Finally finished creating the Rosy Mound photo album late last night.)

But between storms & such, haven't had time to get any other photos, which sucks 'cause the backyard is in full bloom, silver dollar flowers, lilacs & all...also missed photographing a pair of gorgeous Rose-breasted Grosbeaks at my feeder Sunday morning.

Recovered enough from the weekend to go shopping yesterday with Lois at a brand-new Chico's store in Holland, a largish, charming town 20 miles to the south whose main claim to fame is...could you guess it?...tulips. Their annual Tulip Time festival was last week. (There's a sizable population of Dutch in this part of Michigan, no one I've asked seems to know why.) Its downtown reminded me a little of Princeton.

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Special Weather Statement — Statement as of 2:06 PM EDT on May 9, 2004

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of the southwest quarter of lower Michigan effective until 800 PM EDT Sunday evening. This watch includes the following counties:

In west central Michigan: Mason... Lake... Oceana... Newaygo and Muskegon; In central Michigan: Osceola... Clare... Isabella... Mecosta... Montcalm and Gratiot; In southwest Michigan: Kent... Allegan... Barry... Kalamazoo... Van Buren and Ottawa; In South central Michigan: Ionia... Clinton... Ingham... Eaton... Jackson and Calhoun. This watch includes the adjoining coastal waters of the affected Lakeshore counties.

Severe Thunderstorm Watchurgent - immediate broadcast requested
Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 170
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
155 PM EDT sun may 9 2004

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Northeast Illinois, northern Indiana, lower Michigan, southeastern Wisconsin, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron.

Effective this Sunday afternoon and evening from 155 PM until 800 PM EDT.

Hail to 2 inches in diameter... thunderstorm wind gusts to 70 mph... and dangerous lightning are possible in these areas.

The Severe Thunderstorm Watch area is along and 80 statute miles North and South of a line from 45 miles northwest of Meigs Field, Illinois to 30 miles North northeast of Mount Clemens Michigan.

Discussion: warm front shifting nwd thru srn lwr mi as mcv alg IL/WI border moves ewd 30kt. Warm sector air mass very unstable with mlcapes to 2500 j/kg with minimal cap. Thunderstorms expected to develop rapidly ahead of mcv and Vicinity warm front. Veering shear profiles are favorable for rotating storms which will enhance the large hail and damaging wind potential.

Aviation... a few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to 2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector 25030.

Local Storm Report05/09/2004 0540 PM
Holland, Ottawa County

Thunderstorm wind damage, reported by law enforcement.

Wires down in city.

Local Storm Report05/10/2004 0620 PM
W Grand Haven, Ottawa County.

Marine tstm wind nch, reported by law enforcement 55 mph, reported by ship.

Ship to shore report of strong winds and small hail.