YES WE HAVE SOME REAL SNOW

It looks like more snow is predicted for today:

Today: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. South southwest wind between 7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. South wind between 5 and 7 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

This is what I saw when out driving around a bit yesterday.  They almost look like black and white photos which they really aren't.

 I liked the snow on the chain link fence at the P.0.  Don't think the photo does it justice.

 Twain Harte grade

 At the Soulsbyville Rd. traffic light.  

I'm not sure the reason for all the cars---perhaps checking for chains-on-board?  chaining up? (too low for that I think).  Do you know?  Were you caught in the stoppage?  There were cones set up so you couldn't just drive by and ignore the action.

Have a great and safe Sunday.  Don't forget to send me any great local photos you take and I'll post them on the blog.  Just email them to me, as attachments:  blythek@mac.com

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

GOOGLE seems to do it 'right' on select holidays.  This graphic is on their home page today.

And this photo is of the gal who I just don't think we're going to see this year.  While we did have snow over night (about 4" in Mi Wuk), it sounds as if there's not much more predicted.  Hence, those big plows probably won't be appearing on a street near your home or cabin anytime soon.

This was taken as the gal snow plow driver was headed up Susu Court last March.   I haven't seen the big plows out once this year.  Sad.

A little calendar tidbit:  Last year at this time:
March 14:  Drizzle, temp range 40-52
March 15:  Drizzle, temp range 40-52
March 16:  Rain, temps 36-46
March 17:  (no notes)
March 18:  14" of snow, no power, temps 28-35
March 19:  2" snow, no power
March 20:  13" of snow overnight, 10" snow during the day, no power
March 21:  13" of snow, no power
March 22:  no snow, temps 32-38, no power
March 23:  8" of snow, temps 32-34, no power
March 24:  9" of snow, no power
March 25:  6" of snow, 28-34, no power
March 26:  minimal snow, temps 32-33, POWER ON

Our forecast for this next week:

Click the photo above for a larger view!

Here's the link for that site.  And here's the 7-day forecast:


Today: Snow showers. High near 36. East northeast wind at 9 mph becoming west southwest. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tonight: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 24. West northwest wind between 3 and 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 30. Calm wind becoming southwest between 5 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Sunday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. East wind around 6 mph becoming southwest.

Monday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Friday: A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 60.

IF we get snow this week and IF you have a camera, take a photo or two, from a perspective other than our deck and I'll post it.  I'm sure others area in the Village have different amounts of snow or at least different looks than just ours!  :)   Send your photos to blythek@mac.com .

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MI WUK / SUGAR PINE?

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14th:

        Fire Auxiliary Meeting.  Noon.  Lunch ($5.00) promptly at noon.  Meeting promptly at 12.30 p.m.  If you're in the area, please come.  You don't need to be a member.  And--we would love new members! 

What does the Auxiliary do?  We raise money for our fabulous fire department.  That money could be used for equipment for the apparatus (trucks) or bays (hose racks etc) or the fire fighters themselves for safety equipment.  Plus we meet our neighbors and get to know our fire fighters.


MI WUK LIBRARY/COMMUNITY CENTER

I'm searching for my High Country Friends Newsletter for the information.  (Hiding in my inbox somewhere!!!)  I'll have to find a hardcopy.  I do know that on the third Thursday of every month I hold a public class called Stamping for Adults, 1-3 p.m., $3.00.  We make two (very nice) greeting cards using rubber stamps, punches and other embellishments.  Walk-ins are encouraged and welcome and EVERYone succeeds.  Men are welcome, as well as women!  This week we'll be making a variation of this card:

We'll also be making a card with lots of itty bitty butterflies.  If you're in the area, join us!

Snow--I can always hope!

MAYBE THIS WEEK WE'LL HAVE SOME SNOW?

Do you agree that we, at the 4500' level here in Mi Wuk, can't count above the 20" mark for snow accumulation this winter? 

It seems as if we have a chance of snow tomorrow.  Well, late tonight and Tuesday.  But, "my source" says the snow level will be around 4900', rising to 5700'.  Can we make it to 21"?  Hmmmmm.

Here's that snow information:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 51. East southeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming south southwest. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: A chance of rain before 11pm, then rain and snow likely. Snow level 5800 feet lowering to 4900 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind between 9 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 11am. Snow level rising to 5700 feet. High near 47. Breezy, with a south southeast wind between 17 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

So, if you're in Cold Springs you might have snow.  Sierra Village, Mi Wuk Village, Sugar Pine........not likely.  That's great for my stampin' classes Thursday and Friday but it's NOT good for our water accumulation!

Here's wishing!

WOOHOO! SNOW THIS MORNING!

Finally, again, we have a bit of snow.  It might not last, but it's white this morning.

 Straight out towards Lama Hisum Road, 8 a.m.

 To the left, toward Stanislaus Forest, 8 a.m.

 Ooops, Russ's laundry was out overnight.  Weathermen missed their mark.  The clothes are now in the dryer!   :)  8.30 a.m.

9 a.m.  Typical view across our backyard.  This is my standard-measure-the-snowfall-photo.

My stampin' studio, over our garage.  Around 9 a.m.

Here's OUR current forecast:

This graphic comes from my favorite LOCAL weather site, which isolates the weather to OUR latitude and longitude.  You can check it out here.

And here is some info from the Sacramento Weather 

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS
EVENING...
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORY ABOVE 4500 FEET FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 7 PM PST THIS EVENING. A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN
EFFECT FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TODAY...UP TO 4 INCHES ABOVE 3000
  FEET...WITH 4 TO 8 INCHES ABOVE 6500 FEET. TUESDAY NIGHT AND
  WEDNESDAY...6 TO 12 ABOVE 3000 FEET...1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE 6500 FEET.

* ELEVATION: FOR BOTH STORMS SNOW ABOVE 3000 FEET...HEAVIEST ABOVE
  6500 FEET.

* TIMING: TWO PERIODS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED. THE FIRST TODAY
  THROUGH EARLY EVENING. THE SECOND WILL BRING MUCH HEAVIER SNOW
  TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY.

* LOCATIONS INCLUDE: TODAY...HEAVIEST AMOUNTS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE
  80...INCLUDING INTERSTATE 50. TUESDAY NIGHT AND
  WEDNESDAY...INTERSTATE 80 OVER DONNER PASS AND HIGHWAY 50 OVER
  ECHO SUMMIT.  My pet peeve:  no mention of Hwys 88, 4, or 108!

* WINDS: SOUTHERLY 10 TO 20 MPH TODAY. TUESDAY NIGHT AND
  WEDNESDAY...SOUTHERLY WINDS 20 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 60 MPH
  POSSIBLE OVER THE RIDGES.

* IMPACTS: HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS POSSIBLE DUE TO STRONG
  WINDS AND HEAVY SNOW CREATING POOR VISIBILITIES. DIFFICULT
  BACK COUNTRY TRAVELING CONDITIONS. TRAVEL DELAYS POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW
WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW
COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE
DRIVING.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR
THE LATEST FORECASTS

Short Term Forecast

SHORT TERM FORECAST...COR SNOW LEVEL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA 949 AM PST MON FEB 27 2012 CAZ067-069-271930- MOTHERLODE-WEST SLOPE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA- 949 AM PST MON FEB 27 2012 .NOW... AREAS OF SHOWERS ARE MOVING NORTHWARD THROUGH THE MOTHER LODE FOOTHILLS AND ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPE OF THE NORTHERN SIERRA NEVADA RANGE THIS MORNING. THESE SHOWERS ARE FALLING AS SNOW ABOVE 3500 FEET...WITH MOSTLY RAIN BELOW. HOWEVER...ISOLATED SHOWERS OF GRAUPEL OR SOFT HAIL HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN SOME OF THE STORMS MOVING THROUGH THE FOOTHILLS AS LOW AS 3000 FEET. A SNOW ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR THE WEST SLOPE OF THE SIERRA THROUGH 7:00 PM FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 4500 FEET FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 8 INCHES ABOVE 6500 TODAY. PEOPLE PLANNING TRAVEL THROUGH THE SIERRA TODAY ARE ADVISED TO BE PREPARED FOR WINTRY CONDITIONS...CARRY CHAINS...AND PLAN TO TAKE EXTRA TIME TRAVELING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS.

Have a great and safe day!

WE FINALLY HAVE *S*N*O*W*

Would you believe?  Snow?  There are 3" - 4" on the railing of our deck this morning. And I was home to experience it!!

7:00 a.m.

I've been home only 2-1/2 days since leaving here on 16 January for a conference in San Antonio TX.  Since then, with the exception of those few days, I've been in the Bay Area with my daughter and family.  Their home is just a 'base' as most days have been spent in San Jose where Russ and I are alternating time with his son, 41, who has ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease.  His "progress" is requiring extra care these days.  And we are glad to have the time with him.

Below is a clue of what we might be experiencing for the next few days:

It has been quite a while since I've been to that site so here's the url for you, if you'd like to check it out sometime:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.08052761936274&lon=-120.18562316894531&site=sto&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

The link (copy and paste it into your browser) takes you right to the Mi Wuk elevation forecast.  You can tweak it to get other areas you'd like to check out.

Have a great and SAFE day.

UPCOMING DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Isn't one of your New Year's Resolutions to be prepared and organized for 2012?  Let me help you. :)

Add these Fire Auxiliary* dates to your Calendar (Community Events) and come on out to support your community and meet your neighbors:

Friday, May 18th          FASHION SHOW
Friday & Saturday, May 25th and 26th          RUMMAGE SALE
Saturday, June 30th     PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Saturday, Sept 1st        SPAGHETTI DINNER

These events are all fundraisers for our fire department.  Please come out in support of this great community and our great fire fighters!!!!

*The Mi Wuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection District Auxiliary is the largest, most active, and most supportive in the Mother Lode.  Chief Randy Miller loves us and the support he and the department receive from us.  At our meeting yesterday we approved a large expenditure for 'turnout' equipment for the 6 interns who are a now part of our station.  They can't fight fires without proper (fitting) clothing and gear!  And they are our future fire fighters.

We can always use, and we always need, new members.  New members mean new ideas and new energy.  Contact Pat Bremicker, 209-586-7347,  for a Membership Application OR go into the Fire Station on Hwy 108, and pick up a set of forms.  They're near the desk as you walk into the Great Room.  It's only $15/year and we would love to have you join us as active (if/when you're "in residence") or inactive (when you're away from the area) members.

And I'm wishing for this: