if this evening’s rainbow is a guide.
April showers...
bring out rainbows.
Winter is hanging on...
in the high country with the La Sals completely immersed in a huge snow squall.
One week past the historic median peak, based on more than 40 years of record in the La Sal Mountains, the SNOTEL network reports there is 129% of the median snow water equivalent in the snowpack. Most excellent.
The most dramatic sunsets...
in Castle Valley occur when stormy skies begin to clear around sundown, as clouds rip apart and permit the last low-angle rays of the Sun to flare on the eastern skyline. This evening is such an evening.
Slow and lingering late winter storms...
maintain the snowpack in the high country at near normal levels while misting the lower valley with light rains. Springtime approaches in the high desert.
A window to the snowy high country opens behind Round Mountain this afternoon.
Lasal Mountain (572) SNOTEL hydrograph: Black line indicates the current water year snow water content, closely following the median value (green line) based on 41 years of record at this station. Last year’s historic snowpack is represented by the purple line for comparison. (Graph from NCRS SNOTEL network.)
17 March 2024 update: This SNOTEL station now reports 119% of median SWE!
A snowy surprise...
blankets Castle Valley this morning. But it’s not going to last long.
As a result of this storm, snow depth in the La Sal Mountains ranges from 33 to 59 inches at the SNOTEL sites, with the snow water equivalent rising to 114% of the historic median.
Rain and snow squalls...
accompanied by unseasonably warm temperatures makes it feel like spring in the high desert.
Late afternoon at Round Mountain.
Absolutely gorgeous mid-winter days...
in southeast Utah stand in stark contrast to the seasonal forecast in The Old Farmer’s Almanac calling for a snowy and cold winter in the intermountain West. The high country snowpack is tracking the historic median, though, so I’m not complaining.
Click on image to enlarginate.
Winter atmospherics...
cloak the high desert landscape this afternoon.
The late afternoon emergence of Adobe Mesa.
Wintry weather has finally arrived...
but only several inches of snow has fallen in Castle Valley, though the high country has been elevated to 90% of median snow water content for this time of year. It hasn’t stopped me from patrolling the trails and all the tire tracks be mine.
The last rays of the day...
paint a dramatic sunset after a winter storm dropped a half-inch of rain on Castle Valley today. A lovely Christmas Eve eve.
(Click on image to enlarge.)
UPDATE: This storm elevates the snow water content in the La Sal Mountains to 88% of the historic median.
First tracks on freshly fallen flurries...
in the backyard mountain bike park below Adobe Mesa, after a brief overnight snow squall. Wonderful.
The first frosting of Castle Valley...
the morning after the Thanksgiving holiday storm. Nine to 20 inches of snow is reported in the high La Sal Mountains.
A significant dusting of snow...
dresses the high country in the La Sal Mountains in the wake of the first real winter storm of the season, with thee to six inches of accumulation being reported at the SNOTEL sites. It will be interesting to see what this winter brings after last year’s record breaker.
Click on image to enlarginate.
A sky on fire...
at sunrise this morning heralds big changes in the weather ahead. Time to batten down.
The water year commences...
on the first of October and nature delivers the first seasonal snow to the high La Sal Mountains just a day later. Winter is coming, but let’s enjoy autumn first.
Menacing storm clouds building...
over the La Sal Mountains early in the day, heralding a change in the weather that is predicted for the week ahead.
My metal Raven is in the vanguard of the gathering storm in the high country.
One overheated bunny...
trying to cool off on a hot, 97° F, afternoon. This little one has scratched a patch in the soil on the shaded side of the house.
Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii).
A complex cloudscape...
slowly drifting across Porcupine Rim today.
Dramatic cloudscape above Round Mountain...
this afternoon.
(Click on image to enlarge.)