Month: February 2011

Tracking Wind

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This entry is part 41 of 133 in the series 2011 Photojournal
Wind Sculpted Snow

Temperatures remained quite cold, but winds diminished significantly by later this afternoon. It was interesting to see all the polished ice intermixed with thin patches of wind sculpted snow. As windy as it got here over the last couple of days, it was much stronger elsewhere.

From today’s weather synopsis: 

THE WEATHER PATTERN THAT CAUSED FREQUENT WIND GUSTS OVER 50 MPH
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM JUNEAU TO SKAGWAY AND THE CENTRAL OUTER
COAST IS GRADUALLY WEAKENING. THE HIGHEST MEASURED WIND GUST WAS
150 MPH /130 KNOTS/ AT SHEEP MOUNTAIN SOUTH OF JUNEAU AT 3540
FEET ELEVATION. HIGHEST WIND GUST AT SEA LEVEL WAS 103 MPH /90
KNOTS/ AT CAPE SPENCER IN CROSS SOUND.

Forecast is for relative calm tomorrow and winds picking back up later in the week s a low approaches the coast of British Columbia. Fortunately, temperatures are also forecast to rise.

Pictures from today were taken as I walked across Swan Lake near sunset – hence the shift towards blue and lack of brightness (though I could have neutralized these things in processing, I found the contrast on the snow made it easier to see the texture and shapes if I left it as it was).

I didn’t notice too much unusual in the way of birds today, but one thing did stand out – there were three Great Blue Herons flying south over Swan Lake as I started across it. Perhaps they had all been roosting in trees around the lake and were headed to the beach for low tide. There certainly wasn’t any open water for them to fish around the lake.

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Big Wind

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This entry is part 40 of 133 in the series 2011 Photojournal
Blowing Snow

I spent much of the day sleeping today, still trying to fight off a cold. My brother and I did walk down to the library this afternoon to watch a presentation on pack rafting in Alaska. Winds were pretty stiff coming and going. It was blowing pretty much out of the east, so at our backs on the walk there, but gusting right in our faces on the way back. Combined with temperatures in the teens, it was a chilling walk.

I’ve been paying more attention to snow blowing off the peaks during this recent spell of cold/clear weather, so it was interesting today to see how few peaks could actually be seen. Skies were clear overall, but my guess is that white-out conditions prevailed on most of the higher snow laden peaks. It would be interesting to see the snow sculptures that must have been created with drifts being deposited and carved by the wind.

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Totem Park Sunset

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This entry is part 39 of 133 in the series 2011 Photojournal
The Pyramids

I spent most of today trying to sleep off a cold, but finally decided I should get out for at least a little while late this afternoon. So I used a trip to the post office as an excuse and walked there via Totem Park.

It was cloudy for much of the day, but as the sun dropped toward the horizon, it broke through. There was a pretty good east wind blowing – but I mostly noticed it out toward the southeast end of the flats – other parts of the walk were more protected.

The usual birds were out and about along the shore – including a Common Murre or two in Crescent Bay. The Bald Eagles were apparently feeling predatory or something – they don’t always spook the Mallards off the beach, but a couple of times today I noticed them responding to the flight of Bald Eagles. Also of note were 10 Canada Geese feeding along the flats in front of the Visitor Center.

On the way back from the post office I was able to catch a pretty nice sunset.

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Rainy Respite

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This entry is part 38 of 133 in the series 2011 Photojournal

It warmed up significantly last night and today, though the forecast is for a return to cold conditions in the next 24-48 hours. It’s been an interesting winter in Sitka – fairly mild overall, but quite chilly more recently (though still without much snow). I didn’t get outside today until later in the afternoon. It … Read more

Clear Skies Continue

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American Robin

Temperatures got down in the teens overnight. I spent some time over at the house this morning, but didn’t pay too much attention to what was going on – I did notice that winds were calm however.

On the way over to UAS I saw several American Robins. I’m not sure if it’s just the weather, or if more have shown up recently, but it does seem like there are more around than there had been.

After calm conditions through much of the day, it seemed like a breeze picked up a little bit around sunset this evening.

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Northbound Sun

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Sunset at Sage Beach

Another busy day kept me from spending much time outside. Temperatures were pretty chilly today, and there was enough wind to keep the warmth of the sun from helping too much. While at the house this afternoon, the kids told me the Eurasian Collared-Dove dropped by the yard near where they were watching the fire (burning up the scrap wood).

I headed home around sunset, and thought I had a chance to look for a green flash. I was a little surprised at how far north the setting sun has moved since I last watched it set from near Hillcrest. I didn’t have much time, but was able to just catch it going down from Lincoln Street near Sage Rock. I’m not positive I was seeing the horizon, however – as there was just a small gap between other islands and such.

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