The weekend will feature increasing onshore winds so clouds will overspread the area & beaches will be chilly with rough seas/surf & an elevated rip current risk. Winds will try to veer more southeast Sunday but will still have a lot of onshore component so temps. will range from the 60s at the beaches to the mid 70s well inland -- Lake City to Gainesville. There will also be an increase in moisture so showers will be possible close to the coast & along the I-95 corridor Saturday-Sat. night & lingering into Sunday. A few showers will also occur inland Sat. night-Sun. morning as a warm front moves northward. It doesn't look like rainfall will be substantial for most areas but if any coastal bands can become persistent, then highly local rainfall would be possible. Unseasonably warm temps. will return for Mon.-Tue.
A large area of rain will spread into Texas to New Orleans this weekend & spread northward to Nashville, Atlanta & Cincinnati by Sunday. This will be the area with the highest potential for weather-related aiport delays this weekend.
The map below -- courtesy of USA Today -- shows any airport delays.
For more airport info....go to the Air Traffic Control Command Center courtesy the FAA.
Herbert Saffir -- co-creator of the hurricane intensity Saffir-Simpson Scale -- died today at the age of 90. Read the AP story. Robert Simpson -- at 95 -- is still alive. While the scale remains useful in many ways, there has been some talk recently about possibly amending the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The primary concern is associating storm surge with categories. "Katrina", for example, was a Cat. 3 at landfall but had a Cat. 5 storm surge..."Ivan" was a Cat. 3 at landfall with a high end Cat. 4 storm surge.
The snow ski season has been underway for a while now in Colorado but is just getting going at Lake Tahoe. Here's a press release I received today:
Ski Lake Tahoe Resorts Open 2007-08 Season
Lake Tahoe, CA & NV (Nov. 23, 2007) The first of the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts officially kicked off the 2007-08 season by opening today, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort was the first of the seven Ski Lake Tahoe resorts to open today and Heavenly plans to follow suit by opening on Saturday. Additionally, Squaw Valley USA currently is offering beginner adult and children ski and snowboard lessons in addition to hosting rail jam competitions on Saturday and Sunday in its terrain park. The resorts' elaborate snowmaking systems combined with colder temperatures in the forecast will continue to enhance opening week conditions.
Ski Lake Tahoe resorts are entering the 2007-08 winter season with comprehensive expansion plans for redevelopment and new construction, new terrain features and improved lift access, updated family facilities and programs, and a continued commitment to preserving the region's ecosystem.
More than any other U.S. winter destination, the Lake Tahoe area boasts: more ski resorts and combined skiable acreage in close proximity to each other; better weather conditions with over 400 inches of annual snowfall combined with over 300 days of sunshine and more comfortable winter temperatures; the breathtaking scenery and aura of one of the world's most incredible alpine lakes; and unmatched, 24/7 entertainment options at the numerous restaurants, bars and casino resorts surrounding the lake for night owls and families alike. Lake Tahoe is America's premier winter destination.
Several Ski Lake Tahoe resorts have ski pass and lift ticket deals still available in addition to vacation packages and special promotions. Resort contact information and Web sites are listed below:
Alpine Meadows - www.skialpine.com - 530.583.4232
Heavenly - www.skiheavenly.com - 1.800.HEAVENLY
Kirkwood - www.kirkwood.com - 209.258.6000
Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe - www.skirose.com - 866.SKI.ROSE
Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort - www.northstarattahoe.com - 800.GO.NORTH
Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort - www.sierraattahoe.com - 530.659.7453
Squaw Valley USA - www.squaw.com - 530.583.6985
About Ski Lake Tahoe................
Surrounding North America's largest alpine lake, the seven resorts that make up Ski Lake Tahoe are Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort and Squaw Valley USA. Lake Tahoe boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, and the region has some of the highest annual snowfall amounts in North America. The seven resorts, all offering unparalleled scenic vistas of panoramic mountain and lake views, are located less than an hour from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. For further information and to directly book travel, lodging and transportation for Ski Lake Tahoe resorts and its travel partners, visit www.skilaketahoe.com.
The Nov. full moon begins Saturday. According to the Farmer's Almanac:
"The November full Moon was named the full Beaver Moon, because for both the colonists and the Algonquin tribes, this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs."
Speaking of water "creatures"..........
Three Rare Giant Otters Now on Display at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
November 21, 2007– Jacksonville, FL – The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is pleased to announce the arrival of three male Giant Otters, Primero, Dante and Magnus, transferred from the Philadelphia Zoo. The Otters are brothers and were born between March 2004 and March 2005. They are currently 5’4” and 5’ 5” in length and weigh from 47 and 53 pounds and can grow to 5’9” in length and weigh as much as 70 pounds. By comparison, the Jacksonville Zoo’s Northern River Otters, currently located in Play Park and Wild Florida, are approximately 5’ in length and peak at only 30 pounds.
“The Otters are a welcome addition to our Emerald Forest Aviary in the Range of the Jaguar,” said Executive Director Dennis Pate. “They are very vocal and even more active than the smaller river otters and are entertaining to watch.”
The Jacksonville Zoo will be open the day after Thanksgiving and through the weekend. Animal Enrichment Day is on Saturday, November 24 – and the animals will get treats to eat and toys to play with and will be even more active than usual.
The Giant Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) are the largest member of the mustelidae, or weasel family. Native to South America, they are currently listed on the U.S. Endangered Species list and very rare in captivity. There are only 11 animals in four zoos in North America and 18 in zoos worldwide.
So the countdown to Christmas officially begins. I actually started counting down the day after last Christmas in anticipation of going home to Iowa for Christmas '07 -- a rare treat for me & my family. For once I won't "be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams". It was a white Thanksgiving in much of Iowa, & we're sure hoping for a white Christmas -- or at least some snow -- during the week we'll be there. My youngest daughter has never seen snow.
My wife & I awoke this morning hearing our daughters busy doing something in the living room. We couldn't tell what it was, but they were wrapping "gifts" to each other & to my wife & me & putting them under the Christmas tree. Just how thoughtful is that?! It was a precious moment, & it'll be interesting to see what the gifts are -- they've "sacrificed" something of their own. What a fun time of year.
