I?m reporting in from the Pacific Northwest corner of the US, near Seattle, in the State of Washington:
We have been advised by those that predict the weather in these areas to take caution and make adequate preparations for some ?really lousy? (my words) weather this fall and winter. It will be excessive rain and a large amount of snow fall.
It?s being blamed upon a weather pattern shaping up in the Gulf of Mexico, which they call ?La Nina?.
Here is a brief explanation as printed in one of the local newspapers:
?La Nina weather systems occur when the temperatures of the Pacific Ocean near the equator are colder than normal, which could mean more rain and snow in these parts. La Nina is the counterpart of El Nino, when the ocean temperatures are warmer than normal and lead to warmer and dryer winters.?
From a local Council woman:
?It could be a very wet one (fall, winter) because of the most intense La Nina since 1955. There?s no way of really knowing what Mother Nature is going to do. We are better prepared this season. But it is important that we are all ready for flooding.?
?Many residents took steps last year to buy flood insurance, sign up for emergency alert messages, prepare an emergency kit, know an escape route and even protect their property with sandbags or a flood wall.?
Also: ?Crews inspected the 26 miles of sandbags this fall (installed last year), and replaced about 250 bags because of vandalism or bags that had degraded. The flood warning system provides at least two hours notice before flood waters reach damaging levels.?
(Toby): Thank goodness, I?m located above the valley where it normally floods, but my hiking buddy and his family has already brought emergency clothing, etc., and have it stored at my house from last year. Just in case!!
If I get snowed in again this year, as I was last year, then I will not be able to go very far past my back door. I took necessary precaution last week, and stocked up my freezer with extra meats and vegetables, and other foods to consume when I?m (we) are snowbound.
If Seattle WA, is snowed in this year, as last year, there will be no traveling by auto, buses, or any other transportation. The roads and sidewalks will be very, very slippery and certainly not usable. .
Seattle is built on seven hills, and was totally without snow removal equipment plans last year.
The City of Seattle?s Mayor?s office really got a blasting!!
I?ve just finished trying to get my vegetable and flower gardens, into a winterized condition, removing remains of decaying plants, pulling and draining the soaker hoses, planting some ?green manure?(fava beans) to till in next spring, and putting fall/winter fertilizer on my lawn, etc.
-Toby
