OSNW3 | OSHKOSH-NORTH

It's Dark Outside

2009-12-20T21:30:00.006-06:00

Max temperatures hovered around average for the most part this past week. With the warmer temps, though, we did see four measurable snowfalls. Nothing major as three of the four were under an inch. We are currently 4.2" above the December monthly snowfall average and for the third consecutive year have exceeded that average. Last December Oshkosh broke an all-time monthly snowfall record, recording 35.6" here at OSNW3 and 33.7" officially at the WWTP. An amazing 18 days recorded measurable snowfall (Days with Measurable Snowfall), and comparing last December to this December we are two days behind. Up to this point, last December had 10 days with measurable snowfall while this December has had only 8, which is still above the Oshkosh average (6.1 days).
(OSNW3 December Observations)

(OSNW3 December 2009 Summary)

(click on graph for the month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

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Weekly Snowfall
Each of the four snowfalls last week provided just enough to keep things white. I think it's safe to say we'll have a white Christmas in Oshkosh in 2009 (NWS GRB Christmas Stats). 6" of snow covers the ground here at OSNW3 and a snowcore reading on Dec 20 resulted a water content of 1.1", which I feel is a fairly wet snow pack (Snowcore). Looking back at the archived OSNW3 and NWS data, Oshkosh has had a white Christmas since 2002. 2001 was brown.

(Dec 13, 2009 - 0.8")

(Dec 14, 2009 - 0.2")

(Dec 15, 2009 - 1.9")

(Dec 20, 2009 - 0.2")

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Winter Season Duration
Congrats is in order to Bex (and myself) for predicting the "First Day of Winter" here at OSNW3. We both predicted Dec 12 would be the day. Like the "green-up" time lapse of this past growing season, I will be maintaining a "winter" time lapse as well. Below are the current images. (Winter Season Duration)

(Winter Season Duration - Thru Dec 20, 2009) - 4MB

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Front of House
The snow pack is starting to settle. Speaking of settling, I read about this snowfall on the WGN blog and I think that amount of snow would settle quickly due to the weight alone. Amazing.

(FOH - Dec 19, 2009)

The "standing still sun" of Winter is upon us. Happy Solstice.

December's Big Hand

2009-12-12T22:45:00.001-06:00

We have to give a big hand to the 12 beginning days of December 2009. In these 12 days we here at OSNW3 have experienced a plethora of seasonal firsts. First accumulation (Dec 3), first inch (Dec 7), our first snowstorm and the first day of winter (Dec 12) have all taken place. The first snowfalls came a week or two late, but the first snowstorm and winter were near "normal" according to archived data observed at OSNW3 (Firsts & Lasts).
(OSNW3 December Observations)

(OSNW3 December 2009 Summary)

(click on graph for the month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

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Weekly Snowfall
The past week was an exciting one for snowfall. The beginning of the week we were still wishing for snow. As of today we've got a fairly fresh base, seven inches deep. As for what is to come next in Oshkosh, follow these guys (Tim, Derek, & Chris) and you'll have an idea of the days ahead. If what they're reporting sparks an interest then check the OSNW3 Weather Brief for a detailed look at the Oshkosh area forecast.

-First 1"+ Snowfall - Dec 7, 2009
This snow came overnight. I had been lazy getting the light mounted this season and no better time to squeeze it in but the day before the first forecast calling for over an inch of snow. Click here for the daily movie of Dec 6-7, 2009. (daily movies)

(1.8" measured @ 7:44 on Dec 7 - Total 1.8")

-Snowstorm Dec 8-9, 2009
With each Winter Storm Warning issued by the NWS GRB, we here at OSNW3 give it special attention by following it step by step. The past storm qualified and got it's own blog entry. While there wasn't any damage from the storm in my backyard, Chris (WeatherScout) had tree damage on his property (blog entry) as did our friend Casey. Casey says "This tree was prob 60ft tall." See photos below of the fallen tree. Thanks for sharing Casey!

(Green Bay, WI - Dec 8, 2009)

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Front Of House
Now we're talking. A good base to start out the Winter.

(FOH - Dec 12, 2009)

Snowstorm - Dec 8-9, 2009

2009-12-09T21:25:00.005-06:00

Here comes Winter. The coldest air of the season is about to ride in on the heels of a top 5 snowstorm for many around the region. The storm proved to be what it was hyped up to be. The Wovel got a solid work out removing the almost 10" of fresh snow. It was heavy in most places and without fluff. I measured six times throughout the storm totaling 9.8". Each of the observations are listed below. For more on the storm from the NWS Green Bay and the NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan please click the links.

Two photos of the aftermath along with the storms duration webcam video (4MB). Radar loops of each day can be found here by clicking on the linked "Daily Weather Description". Pretty fun stuff.

(Front Of House - Dec 9, 2009)

(Back Of House - Dec 9, 2009)

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Measurements (6)
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Dec 9, 2009 @ 9:41am
Blowing snow. The winds have picked up considerably since the last observation. Starting to drift in the driveway. Radar indicates a diminishing snowfall. It's time to Wovel.

1.1" - New Snow
9.8" - Total Storm Snow
Current Snow Depth - 10"

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Dec 9, 2009 @ 6:46am
Light snow with blowing snow. The winds have subsided somewhat compared to the last observation. The snow pack is sticky and clinging to power lines on the property.

2.9" - New Snow
8.7" - Total Storm Snow
Current Snow Depth - 9"

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Dec 9, 2009 @ 1:48am
Moderate to heavy snow with blowing snow. The winds have picked up again compared to the last observation. The snow pack is wet and heavy and will make for some back breaking shoveling once day breaks.

2.5" - New Snow
5.8" - Total Storm Snow
Current Snow Depth - 7"

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Dec 8, 2009 @ 10:54pm
Moderate to heavy snow with blowing snow. The winds have picked up with gusts more numerous compared to the last observation. I noticed one of my backyard neighbors was snow blowing. It seems there are just as many cars out and about as usual.

1.6" - New Snow
3.3" - Total Storm Snow
Current Snow Depth - 5"

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Dec 8, 2009 @ 8:39pm
Moderate snow with blowing snow (E 16 G 23 MPH). It has taken a while for the snow to start accumulating. Radar indicates we could see moderate snowfall for the next hour or so.

0.8" - New Snow
1.7" - Total Storm Snow
Current Snow Depth - 3"

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Dec 8, 2009 @ 3:04pm
Light snow, breezy with occasional blowing snow. (Measurements with this storm may prove to be difficult with the blowing snow conditions. I've set up another snow board in a different area of the yard to get as many measurements as possible.)

0.9" - New Snow
0.9" - Total Storm Snow
Current Snow Depth - 2"

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More info on the Winter Storm located here.

Welcome December

2009-12-05T22:25:00.002-06:00

December is upon us and things are becoming interesting. Many forecasters are currently predicting the first major winter storm to affect the area early next week (Tue/Wed). All the while, it seems like forever since the last time the high temperature even stayed below freezing. It has been quite an extent of days, 266 consecutive days as a matter of fact, ending on Dec 4 as the temperature maxed out at 26.0°. Once the temperature tumbled, it allowed the seasons first accumulation of snow to occur. It was nice to see the white stuff once again. Last year at this time we had 5" on the ground.
(OSNW3 December Observations)

(OSNW3 December 2009 Summary)

(click on graph for the month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

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First Accumulation
The 2009-2010 winter seasons first accumulating snowfall took place during the day on Dec 3, 2009 (First & Lasts). It was somewhat unexpected as most forecasts kept accumulating snow out of the question 24 hours prior. The day started out with flurries mostly comprised of tiny white balls. The short lived burst of snow during the afternoon was of the large fluffy flaked kind. I measured 0.4" shortly after the burst of snow had passed. It flurried throughout the night but nothing else accumulated. (radar/video/daily movie)

(0.4" measured @ 2:50 on Dec 4 - Total 0.4")

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Front Of House
Perhaps the front yard on Monday will look like it did on Dec 7, 2008. It would mean I would have Woveled. :)

(FOH - Dec 5, 2009)

Snow!

2009-12-02T11:00:00.013-06:00

Nope, not here in Oshkosh, But in the Dallas, TX area. Seems the Dallas area received a measurable snowfall before Northeast WI this year. A good friend of ours who lives in Dallas reported early this morning that it was snowing. Below is his photo. His photo doesn't show any accumulation and it is hard to pick out the flakes, but in the distance it sure looks like it is snowing. I believe him. Also, below is a snapshot of a webcam in the Fort Worth area with some definite accumulation on the grass.

(Dallas, TX area - Dec 2, 2009)

(photo courtesy of Brett Eifler)

(Fort Worth, TX area - Dec 2, 2009)

(photo courtesy of WXnation.com)

(Regional radarloop)

(click on radar for a larger image)

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Fun Satellite Images
Last night I was surfing the WisconsinView site satellite images. I came across three that stood out to me. Below are descriptions of each.

-First is the day prior to the ice shoves on Lake Winnebago. The ice on the lake is noticeably cracked and separated. Not more than a day after this image, that ice was pushed onshore. To revisit the happenings that day, please see this blog entry.

(Mar 30, 2009 - Lake Winnebago)

(click on image for the entire image)

-Second is of what may or may not be happening on Lake Superior during the day of July 23, 2009. Looks like a major marine layer of fog encapsulating the entire lake! Perhaps Tim or Nathan could shed some light on this?!

(Jul 23, 2009 - Lake Superior)

(click on image for a larger view)

-Third is of a small low pressure that moved through Northeast WI and the Eastern Upper Peninsula this Summer. From both satellite and radar it looked like a small hurricane. Pretty neat in my opinion.

(Aug 14, 2009 - Low Pressure)

(click on image for a larger view)

(Aug 14, 2009 - Radar Loop)

(click on radar for a larger image)

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You guessed it. I'm patiently waiting for snow! :)
***Addendum - It snowed on Dec 3 here in Oshkosh. Patience is a virtue.

November 2009 - Fourth Warmest All-Time

2009-11-30T22:40:00.012-06:00

November 2009 finishes at number 4 for all-time warmest Novembers (records date back to 1893). Holding strong all month coming in with a mean temperature of 42.8° (follow this link for more on this statistic). It also becomes the fourth consecutive November which OSNW3 has measured below average precipitation (Annual Precipitation). As far as snow, no measurable snow fell all month (Days with Snow). As this November comes to a close, it is now 262 consecutive days the temperature has reached a daily maximum above 32° (2007[228], 2008[246]). However, with some Winter like temperatures forecast to move in the next couple of days then to stick around for a week or two, things will begin to feel and look more like "normal".
(OSNW3 November Observations)

(OSNW3 November 2009 Summary)

(click on graph for the month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

(OSNW3 Precipitation Through November 2009)

(OSNW3 Misc Climate Happenings)
Sunshine seemed to be out there this November with 22 Days with Sun but it is five less than the previous two. We recorded 0 t-storms at OSNW3 in November which keeps our yearly total at 16. For more daily climate information about November at OSNW3, click here.

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Front Of House
I am holding out until is snows. So I will remember these photos. The night before the deepest depth of the 2008-2009 Winter season was measured, and then measured again a few days later, 14".

(OSNW3 - Dec 20, 2008)

(OSNW3 - Dec 26, 2008)

November Warmth - Winter Outlook

2009-11-21T19:45:00.006-06:00

November has maintained the above average warmth. It's unusual for Oshkosh to experience such warmth in November. As of today, this November ranks SECOND all-time for warmest mean temp. However, there is a cold snap forecast to break through sometime next week and settle in as we move onto December. With that in mind, November could fall out of the top 10. We'll see.
(OSNW3 November Observations)

(OSNW3 November 1-21 Summary)

(click on graph for the summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

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November Warmth - Meteorological Winter Outlook
October was chilly and wet while November has been warm and dry to this point. These past two months have caused some speculation on what is to come this winter. Most people are not expecting a cold and snowy winter as the past two have been such. Dissecting the meteorological winter, that the top 9 warmest Novembers preceded, results show that odds are this winter will be above average in temperature and below average in snowfall. (with that said, "all seasonal forecasts should be taken with a grain of salt or even a bit of humor" - John Dee) A quick summary of the findings are below.

1. 2001- 45.4
2. 2009- 43.6 (thru 11/21)
3. 1999- 43.2
4. 1931- 43.2
5. 1975- 41.1
6. 1963- 40.6
7. 1944- 40.5
8. 1953- 40.3
9. 1998- 40.1
10. 2004- 40.0

-Mean Temperature
8 of the 9 winters mean temps were above average. The 1944-45 winter recorded a chilly reading of 17.3° mean temperature.

-Number of Days with Max Temp Below 32
8 of the 9 winters tallied less than average days below freezing. The 1944-45 winter crushed the average ending at 68 total days with a max temp below freezing.

-Number of Days with Min Temp Below 0
All 9 winters had less than average days with a min temp below zero. The 2001-02 winter had an astonishing zero days with a min temp below zero.

-Average snowfall
7 of the 9 winters had below average snowfall. The 1975-76 and 1944-45 winters had above average snowfall.

-Number of Days with Snowfall Above 0.1"
7 of the 9 winters had below average days with snowfall. The 1975-76 and 1944-45 winters had above average snowfall days.

For a much more detailed look into the "Meteorological Winter Comparison When November Ends In Top Ten of Highest Mean Temperature" follow the links below.

* DATA SET
* GRAPHICAL

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Front Of House
Not much has changed in two weeks. Looking forward to the white stuff.

(FOH - Nov 21, 2009)

November Warmth

2009-11-08T21:00:00.009-06:00

November of 2009 has come in like a lion. Pleasant weather with above average temps and sunny skies. The sites and sounds of yard clean-up are all around. The weather pleasantries are forecast to continue into the week as well. This puts a strain on some of the predictions for this upcoming Winter at OSNW3.
(OSNW3 November Observations)

(OSNW3 November 1-8 Summary)

(click on graph for the summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

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The Growing Season 2009
As I was adding the most recent images to my "green up" time lapse, I wondered what exactly it was I was trying to do with them. The first idea that came to mind was to present a "growing season". I am unsure of the possibilities, but one thing is certain, our first freezes are easily noticeable and I think that is pretty cool.

(The Growing Season 2009)

(click the image for 640x480 - 32M)

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Front Of House
I Cut the lawn for the last time this season. From what I can tell, this cut would be cut number 8. Winter is near, I can sense it. :)

(FOH - Nov 8, 2009)

October Top Ten Finish

2009-10-31T22:25:00.027-05:00

The last few days of October were no indication of what type of conditions prevailed for most of the month. Temperatures were down, and precipitation was up. Concluding the previous entry, October 2009 finishes in the top 10 for both the coolest and wettest of all-time. The active weather pattern of this October has got many thinking about what this Winter may have in store for snowfall. I am hoping for an above average season. See more details below... (OSNW3 October Observations)

(OSNW3 October 2009 Summary)

(click on graph for the complete month summary data - it will open a new tab/window)

(OSNW3 Precipitation Through October 2009)

(OSNW3 Misc Climate Happenings)
Sunshine was scarce this October with only 19 Days with Sun and only one of those days were completely cloudless. We recorded 0 t-storms at OSNW3 in October which keeps our yearly total at 16. The monthly low temperature was overtaken this October at OSNW3 as the overnight low on Oct 11 dropped to 25.5° (Monthly Extremes). For more daily climate information about October at OSNW3, click here.

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The October 2009 Top 10 Performance
This October has been one to remember. It has landed itself in the top ten all-time, since 1893, for coolest mean temperature and precipitation. A feat that stands alone. Analysis of the Winters which have followed Oshkosh's 9 wettest and coolest Octobers shows that 5, respectfully, of those Winters produced less snow than the long-term average. The lowest seasonal snowfall total came in at 17.9" while the highest seasonal snowfall total topped 100" coming in at 103.6". My end conclusion is that a wet and cool October may foreshadow an average Winter snowfall.

(Wet & Cool October - Seasonal Snowfall Outlook)

***Addendum
The NWS GRB ranked a hand full of Northeast WI cities mean temp and precip for October. Turns out that the OSNW3 data crunch was almost identical to the Oshkosh Airport data. Amazingly we had the same mean temp of 44.9° and only differed by .13" of total precipitation. Click here for the NWS rankings.

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Predictions for OSNW3's Winter
The final predictions for the upcoming OSNW3 Winter are listed below. Good luck everyone!

joshherman - September 16, 2009
Nov 18 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 12 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
54" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

DoubleJ - October 1, 2009
Nov 6th - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 3rd - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
67" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

atrain - October 11, 2009
Nov 11 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 5 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
57" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

WxWatcher - Oct 12, 2009
Nov 14 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 2 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
48" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

Bex - October 20, 2009
Nov 12 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 12 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
40" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

Dewdrop - October 20, 2009
Nov 15 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 8 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
84" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

Chris - Oct 31, 2009
Nov 18 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Nov 26 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
46" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

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Lake Michigan Waves
Last Thursday very strong N/NE winds brought the largest waves I've documented on Lake Michigan and the Sheboygan shore. The Deland park breakwall provided the location for mighty wave crashes. At times, the spray from the crashes would seem higher than the lighthouse and the lighthouse would disappear from sight. The wind was whipping (sustained winds of 20mph, gusts of 31 mph - link) at the time I was present, which was between 445 and 545 in the afternoon. Please click on the photo for the entire set of photos and videos.

(Sheboygan, WI - Oct 22, 2009)

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Front Of House
Things are rapidly becoming bare. This past storm system brought very windy conditions during it's exit and blew most of the remaining leaves off their branches. The fire bush is bare, which is almost a week ahead of last year.

(FOH - Oct 31, 2009)

(FOH - Nov 3, 2008)

(TAS - Oct 31, 2009)

Oshkosh's Top Ten Coolest Octobers

2009-10-21T21:40:00.002-05:00

Temperatures have been below average all around the Midwest so far this month, and because of it, regional NWS offices have been hard at work comparing this year to previous years. The NWS GRB ranked the top 5 coolest starts to October for Wausau, Green Bay, Appleton and Rhinelander. See data here. The NWS MKE ranked the top 10 coolest starts to October for Milwaukee and Madison. See data here. Neither of the offices reported on Oshkosh, so I felt it necessary to rank our top 10 coolest Octobers. After a few hours massaging the mother load of daily observations for Oshkosh since 1893 (see data here - 11M) I was able to parse out rankings of the mean temps for the month of October. Currently October of 2009 is the sixth coolest. The Rankings are listed below.

(Oshkosh's Top Ten Coolest Octobers)

Along with the rankings, I parsed out the actual daily observations from those years. Each of the years data tells a different story, but yet have one thing in common. It was chilly. To see the daily observations for the top 10 coolest Oshkosh Octobers please click here.

With it only being the 21st day of the month, it is conceivable that the mean temperature for October in 2009 could drop a degree and put it into the top five. However, 7 day forecasts are predicting max temps in the low 50's, most likely putting the kabash to that idea. I will revisit these rankings at the end of the month. It's been a fun little project.

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To see what the persistent cold air mass has done in MO, please see WxWatcher's entry here.

Chilly Start To October

2009-10-11T21:00:00.014-05:00

The first frost of the season came at a usual time (Sep 30), but the first freeze and first flakes made an early appearance, taking place this first full week of October. On Saturday the 10th the mercury dropped below 32° and the first flakes of the season fell. The flakes didn't last more than 15 minutes, but none the less they did fall. It was exciting to look out the window and see snow. However, this cool beginning sparks fearful thoughts of a mild, snow less December. (OSNW3 October Observations)

(OSNW3 Oct 1 - 11, 2009 Summary)

(click on graph for the entire data summary - it will open a new tab/window)

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More On The Season Firsts
The First Freeze of the season occurred October 10, 2009. The low temperature recorded was 28.5° around 7:30am. The temperature hasn't been that low since Apr 11, 2009 when it dipped to 28.8°, 183 days ago. The First Flakes of the season fell on October 10, 2009 as well. Last year they didn't fall until Oct 26, and two years ago we had to wait until Nov 8. (Winter History - First & Lasts)

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Predictions for OSNW3's Winter
With the three firsts of the season occurring, it's evident Winter is just around the corner. Each year a few friends and I make predictions for the first 1" snowfall, the first "actual" day of Winter, and this year for the first time, the total snowfall for the season at OSNW3. Below is how it breaks down.

Predict the:
First 1" snowfall at OSNW3.
First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3.
Total Snowfall for the season at OSNW3.

Last day to choose is Oct 31, unless of course the event takes place prior, then you're outta luck.

Climate data and info to help you choose.
Winter Firsts and Lasts
Winter Definitions of "Actual"
Average Date of First Snowfall

Current predictions are below...
joshherman - September 16, 2009
Nov 18 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 12 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
54" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

DoubleJ - October 1, 2009
Nov 6th - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 3rd - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
67" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

atrain - October 11, 2009
Nov 11 - First 1" snowfall at OSNW3
Dec 5 - First "actual" day of Winter at OSNW3
57" - Total Snowfall at OSNW3

Feel free to participate! You could win a t-shirt! :)

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Fall Foliage
Reading the 'Message of the Day' from CoCoRaHS the other day, I was surprised to read the quoted text below. I never really gave it that much thought, but it seems fair.

"Temperature and moisture are the main influences. The countless combinations of these two highly variable factors assure that no two autumns can be exactly alike."

With that in mind, here are two photos of the tree across my street. One from this year on Oct 7, and one from last year on Oct 7. See the difference?!

(TAS - Oct 7, 2009 & 2008 Comparison)

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Front Of House
Things are starting to change, slowly...

(FOH - Oct 10, 2009)

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Around The Region
Late in the week our Missouri friends had a deluge of a time. Major rains fell over portions of the Midwest. For more information on what went down in WxWatcher's neck of the woods please see his posts Flooding Rain Today and Storm Rain Total. Below is a time lapse of the US radar from Oct 7 through Oct 11. The cold air that was moving through the country is quite noticeable.

(US Radar - Oct 7 - 11, 2009)

(click on radar for a larger loop - 9M)

Autumn Has Arrived

2009-10-04T21:00:00.012-05:00

October is beginning just as any Autumn fanatic, like myself, would have it begin. A lingering Low pressure system positioned over the Great Lakes keeping the weather cloudy, cool, and wet. Three out of the first four days of October saw accumulating rain with temperatures topping out below average. We had our first frost of the season the day before October started, but it was followed up with a light frost on Oct 1 (Winter History - First & Lasts).
(OSNW3 October Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | October 1 - 4)
Max Avg: 57.6 / 57.2 / -0.4
Min Avg: 40.4 / 40.9 / +0.5

(October 2009 Precipitation | October 1 - 4)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 0.58"
Snow.... 0.0"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 2.20"
Snow.... 0.1"
Departure
Precip.. -1.62"
Snow.... -0.1"

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Millers Bay
I had a few extra minutes to spare on Oct 4, so I took a bike ride over to Millers Bay. I snapped the usual photos to merge into a panoramic. The dock was jam packed with seagulls when I rode up, but as I approached about half of them flew off. The rest of park area is filled with Canadian Geese, per usual this time of year.

(Millers Bay - Oct 4, 2009)

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Front Of House
Change is in the air. Autumn is feeling just right...

(FOH - Oct 4, 2009)

(Tree Across The Street - Oct 4, 2009)

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OSNW3 September 2009 Climate Summary

Temperature--
(Temp Comparison | September 1 - 30)

2008 / 2009
Max Avg: 70.6 / 72.7 / +2.1
Min Avg: 55.9 / 54.0 / -1.9
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(September 2009 Temperature | September 1 - 30)

OSNW3 2009 Average
Avg Hi... 72.7
Avg Low.. 54.0
Oshkosh Average
Avg Hi... 70.9
Avg Low.. 50.9
Departure
Avg Hi... +1.8
Avg Low.. +3.1
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(September 2007-2009 Mean Temperature)

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(OSNW3 Dog Days 2009)

For graphs of 2007 and 2008 click on the respected year.
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Precipitation--
(September 2009 Precipitation | September 1 - 30)

2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 1.59"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.47"
Departure
Precip.. -1.88"
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(OSNW3 Precipitation Through September 2009)

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Other--
Sunshine was abundant this September with two complete overcast days (Days with Sun). We recorded 0 t-storms at OSNW3 in September which keeps our yearly total to 16. The monthly low temperature, Monthly Extremes, was overtaken this September at OSNW3 as the overnight low on Sep 30 dropped to 33.4°, and so was the maximum precipitation as 0.70" of rain fell on Sep 21. For more daily climate information about September at OSNW3, click here.

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Other September Climate Summaries...
CoCoRaHS Station MO-CW-1 (Fulton, MO).
WX Ranger NW (Lincoln County, WA).
Tim's Weather Blog (Duluth, MN).

The Pattern Persists

2009-08-31T21:40:00.017-05:00

As soon as the heat came, it went. Since this past Winter, Tim (Tim's Weather Blog), has been preaching the consistent NW pattern would stick with us. No matter how much I didn't want to believe him, he was and is correct. My guts told me August and September would be hot, August was for a few days, but overall ended up being the coolest August on record here at OSNW3. I am up for whatever is thrown our way this September (as always), which brings great excitement as September is my most favorite month.
(OSNW3 August Observations)

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OSNW3 August 2009 Climate Summary

Temperature--
(Temp Comparison | August 1 - 31)

2008 / 2009
Max Avg: 77.5 / 75.7 / -1.8
Min Avg: 61.2 / 60.7 / -0.5
-

(August 2009 Temperature | August 1 - 31)

OSNW3 2009 Average
Avg Hi... 75.7
Avg Low.. 60.7
Oshkosh Average
Avg Hi... 79.1
Avg Low.. 59.8
Departure
Avg Hi... -3.4
Avg Low.. +0.9
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(August 2007-2009 Mean Temperature)

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(OSNW3 Dog Days Through August 2009)

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Precipitation--
(August 2009 Precipitation | August 1 - 31)

2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 3.75"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 4.15"
Departure
Precip.. -0.40"
-

(OSNW3 Precipitation Through August 2009)

-

Other--
Sunshine was abundant this August with one complete overcast day (Days with Sun). We recorded 5 t-storms at OSNW3 in August which brings our yearly total to 16. The monthly low temperature, Monthly Extremes, was overtaken this August at OSNW3 as the overnight low on Aug 29 dropped to 48.0°. For more daily climate information about August at OSNW3, click here.

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Other August Climate Summaries...
CoCoRaHS Station MO-CW-1 (Fulton, MO)
WX Ranger NW (Lincoln County, WA)
Tim's Weather Blog (Duluth, MN).

Another Dry September

2009-09-27T21:30:00.012-05:00

The first 20 observed days of September brought nothing to the rain gauge. With that said, September of 2009 is not far behind 2008, continuing the dryness of the past 2 years for the month. Just .08" behind 2008, we are considerably below the Oshkosh average for September (Annual Precipitation). Temperatures have been above average for the most part the entire month, but a cool down is in the near forecast. (OSNW3 September Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | September 1 - 27)
Max Avg: 71.1 / 73.7 / +2.6
Min Avg: 56.1 / 55.4 / -0.7

(September 2009 Precipitation | September 1 - 27)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 1.23"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.47"
Departure
Precip.. -2.24"

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Consecutive Days Without Precipitation
This past dry spell has become the longest ever observed at OSNW3.

1. Aug 31, 2009 - Sep 20, 2009 (21 days)
2. Feb 5, 2007 - Feb 23, 2007 (19 days)
3. Apr 2, 2009 - Apr 18, 2009 (17 days)

(OSNW3 - Consecutive Days Without Precipitation)

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Cloud Appreciation
We were on our usual walk before the rain came on the evening of Sep 25, and I saw some cloud formations I do not usually see. With our household now up to date with 2005 technology I have a cell phone with a camera in it and was able to put it to good use.

(Looking Southwest - Sep 25, 2009)

(Looking West - Sep 25, 2009)

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Front Of House
Two weeks ago at this time I was thinking we were ahead of schedule as far as color was concerned. After a trip to CA for work and now being back in Oshkosh I realized that this is not the case. The trees that had color when I left are loosing their leaves but the majority haven't changed since.

(FOH - Sep 27, 2009)

(Tree Across The Street - Sep 27, 2009)

As I type this we are under a Wind Advisory. This is the most wind I've experienced in some time. Wish I had the anemometer up and running... for up to the minute conditions here on the north side of Oshkosh please visit Mike Davey's Northeast Oshkosh WI Weather Station .

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:: Addendum - High Winds & Large Waves On Winnebago
With the winds being as they were and my day proving to be spent waiting for software to load on an olden XP machine, I decided to take a stroll to the other side of Lake Winnebago on my "lunch hour". First stop was the end of Faro Springs Road and then a short hike in High Cliff State Park.

(Eastern Shore Of Lake Winnebago - Sep 28, 2009)

More photos of this event in the OSNW3 Picasa Web Album, located here.

Sweet September Continues...

2009-09-13T08:15:00.006-05:00

The pleasant beginning to September has crept into the second full week. Plentiful sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and not a drop of precipitation are the conditions that continually grace Northeast WI. The down side to all of this is the lack of precipitation. Currently we here at OSNW3 are in the 3rd longest consecutive streak without precipitation since conception back on Nov 1, 2006.
(OSNW3 September Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | September 1 - 13)
Max Avg: 70.7 / 74.3 / +3.6
Min Avg: 56.9 / 56.0 / -1.0

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Lack Of Precipitation
Since Nov 1, 2006 there have only been two longer streaks without precip at OSNW3 than the current streak we are experiencing. As of today, Sep 13, 2009, we are 14 days in. The second longest occurred earlier this year and the longest occurred in early 2007.

1. Feb 5, 2007 thru Feb 23, 2007 (19 days)
2. Apr 2, 2009 thru Apr 18, 2009 (17 days)
3. Aug 31, 2009 thru ???

(OSNW3 - Consecutive Days Without Precipitation)

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Front Of House
The landscape is becoming more and more colorful as the days go on. I think we're a couple weeks ahead of scheduled foliage compared to last year, but we'll find a definite answer once October rolls around.

(FOH - Sep 13, 2009)

(Tree Across The Street - Sep 13, 2009)

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A Late Summer Fog
I drove to Sheboygan, WI this past Friday for work. Once I got south of Oshkosh on Hwy 45 I was greeted with some fog. I took as many random quick pics as I could with out running off the road. The photos do not do it justice and there were some formations that I regret not stopping to photograph. (more photos)

(Fog - Sep 11, 2009)

Sweet September

2009-09-06T21:25:00.000-05:00

A pleasant beginning to September has greeted all of Northeast Wisconsin. Plentiful sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and not a drop of precipitation. There isn't much to speak of weather wise... only that an abrupt change is forthcoming... but not until next weekend. (OSNW3 September Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | September 1 - 6)
Max Avg: 75.2 / 71.2 / -4.0
Min Avg: 60.0 / 52.6 / -7.4

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Front Of House
I've cut the grass 7 times in 2009. I see a few more opprotunities before the growing season comes to an end. Our garden has produced one solid batch of salsa thus far and as September continues onward more batches will be produced. As far as "color", there is plenty of it around giving the landscape a sweet autumn feel.

(FOH - Sep 6, 2009)

(Tree Across The Street - Sep 6, 2009)

(Tree At End Of Street - Sep 6, 2009)

(Green-up Continuation - Through August, 2009)

(click the image for 640x480)

The Heat Is On

2009-08-12T20:34:00.013-05:00

Just as I suspected. August is repaying us for a cool July. I am certain my weather stations hygrometer isn't the most accurate, but with a reading of a 75.8° dew point and a temperature of 85.8° on Aug 9 there is no denying it was HOT. Temperatures are forecast to be above average for the next seven days and for some of the population out there, "it's finally starting to feel like summer". We had a brief bout with lightning and thunder a few nights ago which brought some 3am excitement. As the storms rolled through during the early morning of Aug 8, the threatening sights and sounds seemed everlasting. Beneficial rain greeted us at observation time which put smiles on all our faces. (OSNW3 August Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | August 1 - 12)
Max Avg: 78.0 / 77.6 / -0.4
Min Avg: 60.8 / 62.2 / -1.4

(August 2009 Precipitation | August 1 - 12)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 1.91"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 4.15"
Departure
Precip.. -2.24"

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Oshkosh City Tournament
Since the early 1930's, the city of Oshkosh has held an annual city golf tournament. I'm fortunate enough to have been participating in it since 2005. This weekend is the big weekend for 2009. 170 participants will battle through a two day 36 hole grind. I say grind because it's going to be warm. Warmer than the past four, from what I can remember...

(Weekend Forecast)
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

(City Tournament Weather since 2005)

For information on the tournament please visit the Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course website. Good luck to all the golfers!!

Here Comes The Heat

2009-08-04T16:20:00.007-05:00

It was only a matter of time until the pattern changed and the heat would arrive. It's Summer after all, it will get hot. The highly talked about coolness of July is a thing of the past. The upcoming weekend sees forecast temps in the upper 80's, with a possibility of topping 90. The dew point will be up and it will feel sultry. Dog days of Summer will soon be here... but for how long? No matter! Bring it! (OSNW3 August Observations)

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OSNW3 July 2009 Climate Summary

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | July 1 - 31)
Max Avg: 79.6 / 74.9 / -4.7
Min Avg: 62.7 / 59.9 / -2.8

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(July 2009 Temperature | July 1 - 31)
OSNW3 2009 Average
Avg Hi... 74.9
Avg Low.. 59.9
Oshkosh Average
Avg Hi... 81.8
Avg Low.. 62.1
Departure
Avg Hi... -6.9
Avg Low.. -2.2

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(July 2007-2009 Mean Temperature)

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(July 2009 Precipitation | July 1 - 31)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 2.16"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.58"
Departure
Precip.. -1.42"

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(OSNW3 Dog Days Through July 2009)

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(OSNW3 Precipitation Through July 2009)

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Sunshine was abundant this July, however 2 days were 100% overcast and for the first time at OSNW3 we didn't see the sun every day in July (Days with Sun). We had 4 recorded t-storms at OSNW3 in July which brings our yearly total to 11. No Monthly Extremes were overtaken this July. For more daily climate information about July at OSNW3, click here.

Other July Climate Summaries...
CoCoRaHS Station MO-CW-1 (Fulton, MO)
WX Ranger NW (Lincoln County, WA)
Tim's Weather Blog (Duluth, MN).

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A Weather Event?!
On Sunday July 26, 2009 a small thunderstorm rolled through the area. It mostly just scraped by my house, but for the first time all Summer I actually felt threatened by Mother Nature. It only lasted minutes but was the heaviest downpour of the season in my backyard. 0.22" in 10 minutes.

(OSNW3 - July 26, 2009 Video)

(OSNW3 - July 26, 2009 Radar)

(Winnebago County Observations)
900 AM CDT MON JUL 27 2009
MNSW3, WINNEBAGO, MENASHA-JEFFERSON PK*... 0.01
OSKW3, WINNEBAGO, MENASHA-1W-FRITSE PK*... 0.02
EENW3, WINNEBAGO, NEENAH-5 NW-CLAYTON
NAHW3, WINNEBAGO, NEENAH-EAST............. 0.11
WNCW3, WINNEBAGO, WINNECONNE-5NW-LK POY*.. 0.04
OMOW3, WINNEBAGO, OMRO-2 SW-WAUKAU-USGS*.. 0.00
OMWW3, WINNEBAGO, OMRO-2 SW............... T
OOHW3, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-5 N
OSNW3, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-NORTH........... 0.33
OSH, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-AIRPORT......... 0.01
OKHW3, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-WWTP............ 0.14
OSSW3, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-FOX RIV.*....... 0.01
OSHW3, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-LAKE WINN.*..... 0.34
OOSW3, WINNEBAGO, OSHKOSH-6 S............. 0.01

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The Queen City of the North
We took a short jaunt to the motherland and vistited Marquette, MI for some biking, hiking, eating, and drinking this past weekend. The weather was delightful. We biked to Presque Isle, hiked Sugarloaf, hiked Little Presque Isle beach, drove to the top of Mount Marquette, wined and dined at Latitudes, Northland Pub, Sweetwater Cafe, Vango's, and the Vierling, and visited the Peter White Library, the Marquette Farmers Market, Donckers, and various other shops and stores. Two thumbs up! (photos)

(Atop Sugarloaf Mountain - Aug 1, 2009)

(View from a cove at Presque Isle - Jul 31, 2009)

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Front Of House
I am up to five times cutting my grass this season! The photo of our front bush, below, is a sign of an early Fall perhaps?! I don't know, but I'll certainly make a note of the early reds.

(FOH - Aug 2, 2009)

(Signs of an early Fall - Aug 2, 2009)

A Pleasant July Thus Far

2009-07-19T11:25:00.013-05:00

The first half of July has kept us dry (state drought monitor) and temperatures have been amazing. From what I can recall about July, regardless of the climate averages, it's always been hot and dry. The dryness of this July, in my opinion, is expected... but the temperatures, well they are a surprise, and a welcomed one at that. With these fabulous temps comes great uncertainty that they will last and my guts are telling me to expect a hot August and early September. (OSNW3 July Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | July 1 - 19)
Max Avg: 79.6 / 75.0 / -4.6
Min Avg: 62.2 / 59.4 / -2.7

(July 2009 Precipitation | July 1 - 19)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 0.37"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.58"
Departure
Precip.. -3.21"

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Heat Wave July 13-14, 1936
Earlier this past week my buddy Rebecca Schuld (WFRV-TV Meteorologist) and I were discussing the heat wave that hit WI during early July back in 1936 (blog entry). Temperatures topped the 100° mark several days with short stints of consecutive days. Looking back at the Daily Weather Maps of July 13 & 14, 1936 which brought the all-time record heat, it would seem the Missouri Valley was the culprit as a Low Pressure moved NE into our area.

(Oshkosh Obs | July 6-15, 1936)

(Daily Weather Map | July 13, 1936)

(Daily Weather Map | July 14, 1936)

(Oshkosh Obs | All-time 100° Temps)

For more information on the Heatwave of July 1936...
The Heatwave of July 1936 - NWS LaCrosse, WI
1936 North American heat wave - Wikipedia

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Record Low Maximum
With the talk of the past heat wave, it's only fitting that we were near all-time low max temperatures for July. The July 17th all-time record low max, 65° set back in 1939, was not broken here at OSNW3 unfortunately as we recorded 66.0°. Trending the max temperatures for the remainder of the month, history would tell us that we'll rebound and things will not stay this way for any extended period of time. July of 2009 has proven to be "cool" as only one daily max has hit the average.

7/14/1939- 78, 65, M
7/15/1939- 75, 49, M
7/16/1939- 75, 55, M

7/17/1939- 65, 58, 0.24

7/18/1939- 80, 61, 0.02
7/19/1939- 80, 59, M
7/20/1939- 82, 58, M
7/21/1939- 80, 63, M
7/22/1939- 85, 67, M
7/23/1939- 90, 57, M
7/24/1939- 94, 66, M
7/25/1939- 91, 68, 0.05
7/26/1939- 98, 67, M
7/27/1939- 94, 68, M
7/28/1939- 90, 63, 0.63
7/29/1939- 86, 53, M
7/30/1939- 78, 57, M
7/31/1939- 97, 63, M

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Bears!
A large Black Bear was photographed on our land. I was amazed when my Step-Father sent these photos to me. This Bear is huge! They named him Yogi.

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Front Of House
I have not cut the grass since my last entry. That keeps me at four times this year.

(FOH - July 19, 2009)

It's July Already?!

2009-07-02T21:00:00.006-05:00

One thing is for certain, Summer time flies by in Wisconsin. During the Winter months things seem to meld into a "hibernation" mode with people spending more time at home and doing things slowly. That all changes completely when Summer arrives. GO GO GO is the way of the land. Weekends are rarely spent at home... with a festival here and a festival there, a party here a party there, birthdays, reunions, holidays, etc... I believe we are nearing the peak of craziness. Weather trends towards the "not so exciting" spectrum this time of year, with plenty of sunshine, warm temperatures, and the occasional downpour lasting only minutes.

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June Summary
June was a month of ups and downs. Extreme cool and extreme heat. On June 7 OSNW3 recorded a min temp of 46.2 which broke the previous min of 50.5 set on June 6, 2007. On June 24 OSNW3 recorded a max temp of 93.5 which broke the previous max of 86.9 set on June 27, 2007 (Monthly Extremes). Precipitation made it slightly above monthly average totaling 3.74". We had 2 thunderstorms roll through which brings the yearly total to 7. We experienced 27 days with at least a peak of sunshine while the remaining 3 were completely overcast (Days with Sun).
(OSNW3 June Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | June 1 - 30)
Max Avg: 75.1 / 74.1 / -1.0
Min Avg: 59.2 / 58.0 / -1.2

(June 2009 Precipitation | June 1 - 30)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 3.74"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.66"
Departure
Precip.. +0.08"

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Dog Days of Summer
For 6 consecutive days from June 20 through June 25 we experienced what we here at OSNW3 call "Dog Days". With dewpoints in the 70's and temps in the 80's and 90's, not even the shade could keep you from sweating during the day. At night, there was no relief from the sticky warm air which meant the windows remained closed and the AC remained running. BAH!

(OSNW3 - Dog Days thru June 30, 2009)

Staying with this theme, WxWatcher compared our June daily temperatures. A striking contrast is displayed by the graph below. If you caught any of Chris's Missouri climate posts you'll gain a good idea why such an extreme contrast exists between MO and WI.

(June 2009 Temperature Compare | MOCW1, OSNW3)

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Front Of House
Since Jun 14, I've cut the grass once. That puts me at four times this year.

(FOH - July 2, 2009)

My continuation of the "Webcam Green-up".

(High Noon, Apr 11 - Jun 30)

Summer Has Arrived

2009-06-14T17:30:00.010-05:00

The first two weeks of June in 2009 have been cool. So cool that since 2000 no first two weeks of June have been this cool. Is it an official record? I do not know, but I'd like to find out. As for Summer arriving, it indeed has. Max temperatures are above 70 and as far out as I am willing to believe a forecast, things will stay this way. The cool start is now history. This past week brought some drenching rains early, nearing the 2" by the week end which is keeping us well saturated thus far. (OSNW3 June Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | June 1 - 14)
Max Avg: 73.0 / 67.4 / -5.6
Min Avg: 59.1 / 51.1 / -8.0

(June 2009 Precipitation | June 1 - 14)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 2.39"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.66"
Departure
Precip.. -1.27"

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A Record Cool Start
Here at OSNW3, the first two weeks of June in 2009 have been the coolest on record. Data recording began at OSNW3 in November of 2006. Comparing the first two weeks of the first two Junes that are now in the books with this June, their mean temperatures are some 6+ degrees higher. Astounding differences in my opinion. For the fun of it, I compared the precipitation data as well. Nothing out of the ordinary for this June, really, but there is quite a difference seen between the maximum precipitation total and the minimum since 2000. Referencing the precipitation graph below it stands out quite noticeably.

(June 1-14 | Mean Temperature)

(June 1-14 | Total Precipitation)

If you are interested in the complete data set used for this summary, please click here.

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Front Of House
No grass cutting took place this past week, again.
That keeps me at 3.

(FOH - June 14, 2009)

The Oshkosh Derecho - June 11, 2001

2009-06-11T00:00:00.005-05:00

In honor of Mother Nature, I have provided many informational links to what went down this day in Oshkosh's history. After such, is my deteriorating memory and other memories from friends who were around Oshkosh that day.

Severe Thunderstorms in East-Central Wisconsin
During the late evening of June 11, 2001, a large thunderstorm complex (which included a bow echo and subsequent "bookend vortex") moved across central and east-central Wisconsin. Winds exceeded 70 mph across the area, resulting in thousands of downed trees and damage to homes and businesses
More...

Storm Surge On Lake Butte Des Morts
The storm passed over several shallow lakes including Lake Butte des Morts near Oshkosh, WI creating a storm surge.
More...

Packerland Weather News
The comma head of the derecho is sometimes associated with hurricane-like conditions. More... (Page 4)

City Of Oshkosh Emergency Government Operations
The Damage Assessment Teams also finished their initial assessment on Tuesday, June 12th, estimating $8 million dollars in structural damage throughout the city
More... (Page 4)

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My story
My wife and I were in between apartments at the time. The apartment we were moving out of was on Kentucky St, and the apartment we were moving into was on New York St. A few blocks apart. While she was working at the Chalice that evening, our roommate Todd and I got to become one with the storm. Todd and I were at the new apartment on New York St when the storm approached Oshkosh, and from the vantage point this apartment gave us we decided to head over to the Kentucky St apartment for a better and rain free experience. The porch at the Kentucky St apartment faced East and the storm was approaching from the Northwest. Todd drove and parked in front of the house on the street. As the storm got closer the winds and rain were really packing a punch. We wondered if what we heard from the winds was a tornado coming towards us. At that point we both agreed that Todd should move his car from the road into the garage. No more then two minutes after Todd moved his car, the top of a very tall evergreen tree snapped off and landed exactly where Todd's car was parked. It was a hefty chunk of the tree as it was at least 8' long. That was the beginning of the major winds that would cripple Oshkosh soon after. The winds gained strength and it was now impossible to peak around the corner as the rain was horizontal and felt like tiny needles penetrating the skin. These winds lasted for what seemed like forever. During the duration of the winds you could hear/see trees falling and power poll transformers blowing. It was a spectacular site. Once the storm passed we decided to head back to the new apartment and assess damage, however our route there was completely blocked by fallen trees, as was pretty much every street in Oshkosh. We decided to walk. The scene was chaotic with people driving on lawns over fallen power lines. The damage was extensive. Oshkosh suffered many natural and man-made losses.

Alicia Herman
It was a Monday evening... another ordinary summer night at the Chalice. We had the usual crowd for the beginning of the week. As the night went on, the wind picked up and the weather took a turn for the worse. We decided to turn on the radio to see what the "experts" had to say... They had determined tornado-like conditions were on their way. A neighbor came to tell us that there was a BIG storm headed our way. We looked out the window, only to see the traffic light whipping uncontrollably in the wind. It was horizontal. The glasses began to hum and howl... there are no windows to open at the Chalice. The pressure was beginning to build and the glasses had the whistle to prove it. I began to panic. My co-worker told me to relax and stay calm. I had customers to tend to and I wasn't about to jeopardize their safety. I told everyone they had to remain here until the storm passed. I made sure they had their fill of food and drinks as the worst of the storm approached. The wind picked up, trees were bending in ways that I didn't think were possible. It all happened very quickly and before I knew it, there was an eerie calm outside. The neighbor came to let us know that there was a power line down in our parking lot. I welcomed the customers to stay but everyone decided to leave. We did our nightly duties and closed up shop. I quickly got into my car to hurry home to my sweetheart, only to find a downed power line, preventing me from getting home. I parked in the local church parking lot and began to walk home. A neighbor of mine came running out with a flashlight, screaming, "Be careful! There was a line down three feet in front of me. I almost stepped on it... who knows what could have happened. I finally reached the homestead, only to find every light on in the house and candles blazing furiously. I searched and searched for my sweetie, and could not find him anywhere! I assumed the worst... that he had fallen off the roof! I panicked! I cried, I screamed, I blew out candles... I waited and waited... and finally my sweetheart returned. He was at our old house, on the porch, watching lightning strike a tree! The next day was INSANE! 95% of Oshkosh were without power. Except us. We didn't have cable... but the city was a mess. Tree limbs down everywhere! Full trees out, even the roots! People out helping one another clean up what Mother Nature had left us. I worked at the Chalice that day, serving hundreds of people that were without power. It was a long, yet exciting day!

Todd DeMerit (roommate from above story)
Awesome! That was an amazing night. Well, I think we saw some of those pine trees almost bending over and touching the ground, but not breaking....a few garbage cans flew through the yard and somehow the more we tried to drive the 3 blocks to your new place, the farther away we got due to blocked roads. Not sure if you want to mention that you left candles burning at the other apartment and your wife got really mad at you. haha

Ryan Ackerman
I was working at the late Pioneer Inn when it hit and we lost power pretty quick. I got a call on the walkie from the maintenance guy saying that he needed some help by the loading dock. I met him down there and he said that we needed to secure the dumpsters. I was pretty confused because these are your typical, huge, green industrial sized dumpsters you see at restaurants and on construction sites. When I opened the door, all 3 of the dumpsters were basically doing a ballet in our loading area. They were being blown all over the place and were completely full (luckily the lids were closed).

Marie Martin
I was at Peabodys for MarkMartin's birthday. The lights went out, but they served drinks by candlelight.

Aaron McAninch
We almost got trapped in our basement. If we would've went down into the cellar, a gigantic tree limb/stump fell on the access doors from the outside

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If you're made it this far and you have a memory of that day, please share your story by posting a comment! Happy birthday Mark Martin!!

A Cool Start To June

2009-06-07T17:00:00.005-05:00

The heat is on... inside the house. Temperatures were seasonable for the most part this past week with a weekly max of 77.0°, but no more then 12 hours after that reading the temperature fell 25° and then didn't move much the following day. Currently as I type this (15:30-Jun 7), the temp stands at 56.7° threatening yet another low max daily temperature record. Precipitation was light early in the week, but as the week came to an end a system pushed through dropping nearly a half inch of rain. Foliage is thick around here and it's getting close to my favorite part of Summer, when everything is at it's peak green. (OSNW3 June Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | June 1 - 7)
Max Avg: 72.0 / 69.1 / -2.9
Min Avg: 57.0 / 48.6 / -8.4

(June 2009 Precipitation | June 1 - 7)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 0.45"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 3.66"
Departure
Precip.. -3.21"

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Record Low Max Broken?
On June 6, 2009 OSNW3's recorded max temperature for the 24 hour period topped out at 54.7°. The all time record low max temperature for Oshkosh on June 6 is 55°, set back in 1943. Unofficially, if the data wasn't rounded, a new record would have been set. Even with a tie, it's abnormally cool for this time of year. Below is a graph of mean temperatures for June 1-7 dating back to 2000. Analyzing the data, 2001 comes in on top (or bottom) with a chilly mean temp of 53.4°. 2009 stands as the second coolest opening week of June since 2000.

(June 1-7 | Mean Temperature)

For the complete data set used for the summary, please click here.

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Front Of House
No grass cutting took place this past week...

(FOH - June 7, 2009)

... and in honor of watching the grass grow, my continuation of the "Webcam Green-up".

(High Noon, Apr 11 - Jun 6)

Goodbye May, Hello June!

2009-05-31T21:40:00.003-05:00

After the above average temperatures and dry conditions of two weeks ago, this past week was just the opposite. Temperatures dropped below average and the rains came. The maximum temperature for the 24 hour period ending on May 28 never broke the 60° mark, topping out at 53.4°. There were four days in a row where we measured accumulating precipitation here at OSNW3. Two of those days were at or above three tenths of an inch. A thunderstorm rumbled through as well on May 30 during the late morning hours creating a 15 minute rain delay as we made the turn at Lakeshore.

Overall May of 2009 was below average... in temperature (2nd straight year) and precipitation (3rd straight year). Also, May of 2009 was cloudier than the previous two. Click here for the "Days With Sun" data. (OSNW3 May Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | May 1 - 31)
Max Avg: 65.5 / 66.9 / +1.4
Min Avg: 45.3 / 49.4 / +4.1

(May 2009 Precipitation | May 1 - 31)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 2.39"
Snow.... 0.0"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 2.96"
Snow.... T"
Departure
Precip.. -0.57"
Snow.... -T"

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OSNW3 Precipitation
Year to date, we here at OSNW3 are above the Oshkosh precipitation average (link). Comparing the past 3 years, 2009 is zeroing in on the middle road. I am anxious to find out what this June will bring as last year (June 2008) we had a record breaking month receiving 11.75" of precipitation.

(OSNW3 Precipitation Summary | 2007-2009)

Click here for the spreadsheet format.

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Front Of House
Keeping up with the grass cutting count, I am up to three.

(FOH - May 31, 2009)

Memorial Day 2009

2009-05-24T21:35:00.003-05:00

Just a tenth of an inch of precipitation fell this past week. Things do not seem dry currently, but if we fail to reach our average monthly precipitation mark with the remaining days I am sure the lack of precipitation will start to show. If that scenario transpires it will be the third straight May that has failed. Click here for the State Drought Monitor. Temperatures soared this past week as well. We recorded three consecutive days of 75° or above with one of those days breaking 80° here at OSNW3. (OSNW3 May Observations)

(Temp Comparison 2008 / 2009 | May 1 - 24)
Max Avg: 63.9 / 67.4 / +3.5
Min Avg: 44.3 / 48.9 / +4.6

(May 2009 Precipitation | May 1 - 24)
2009 Monthly Total
Precip.. 1.68"
Snow.... 0.0"
Oshkosh Average
Precip.. 2.96"
Snow.... T"
Departure
Precip.. -1.28"
Snow.... -T"

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Past Memorial Day Climate
As a child I can remember plenty of Memorial Day weekends being cold and rainy. I recall jet skiing in 50° temperatures with a moderate rain. Wet suits were worn, no doubt. However, as I peek back to 2000 until now, it seems many of them have been quite warm and pleasant. Listed below are temperatures and precipitation amounts for each Memorial Day since 2000.

(Memorial Day Climate, 2000-2008)

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Front Of House
The grass has been cut twice this growing season. Same as WX Ranger NW, which is kinda neat to think about as we live in completely different climates.

(FOH - May 24, 2009)

(Lilacs - May 24, 2009)