Back to the Black...

The semi-annual trek to Black Rapids was this past week (Back to the Black...6/2/17). The weather wasn't terrible, but we certainly didn't need sunscreen. At least it didn't rain or snow while we were out there, that's something.

The clouds were so low,  you could hardly make out the Black Rapids Glacier in the distance.

Rigging the boat to tow the doppler meter; the flows this fall were higher than in previous years. While the meter readings varied more than usual, Mike seemed satisfied we'd gotten a reasonable measurement.

The skies cleared a bit at the upper Delta survey site, but then the wind picked up. Fortunately the ridge blocked most of it where we did the work. A cow and calf moose followed by a bull crossed the river just downstream from where we were getting set up. Mike didn't have his camera out, it would have been a great shot. (Photos by Mike S.)

Chippin' away...

Back when I was working full time, we decided to get more attachments for the tractor so I'd have the equipment to run a small landscaping outfit. So every few years until I retired, we bought something new. So much so that several don't get used much. One is the chipper-shredder. Can't remember the last time it was on the tractor, but since there were more that a few piles of brush to chip, figured it'd be good to hook it up and use it. Since it needed to be greased, went ahead and also greased the tractor and pickup. That way I won't have to crawl around on the gravel driveway at near freezing temp's in Oct like I usually do when I've put off the fall maintenance.

The fall colors are still decent, though the leaves are dropping fast.

Andy got involved, speeding up the process. Now there's enough chips to cover the worst spots on the trail down to the garden.

Another fine day...

Been trying to finish up some carpentry projects around the house. But when the sun comes out and the leaves are close to their maximum fall color, it's just gotta be time for a bike ride.

The pull off at the Little Chena bridge has gotten so over-grown, you can hardly see the river.

The sun filtering through the trees brightens the colors so much it almost hurt the eyes

The fall colors usually max out in mid-September, so it's right on schedule this year.

Chinook!

After several days of cool, rainy weather, the winds shifted to the south and the downslope effect from  the Alaska Range gave the interior a chinook. The temperature rose from the forties this morning to near seventy by noon time. So of course had to take the bike out for a ride.

The pull off near the Nordale bridge was a good spot for some photos.

The light frost from the other morning has turned the leaves golden in the flats.

The ever popular NWS August weather summary for Fairbanks Alaska...

August 2017 was a warm and slightly wetter than normal month in the Fairbanks area. Overall the month was tranquil with no dail ytemperature or precipitation records set. The warmest temperature was 83 degrees which occurred on the 6th. The coldest temperature was 40 degrees which occurred on the 31st.

The average high temperature was 67.2 degrees which was 1.3 degrees above the normal high temperature of 65.9 degrees which ranked as the 43 warmest of 111 years of record.

2.15 inches of rain fell at the Fairbanks airport in the month ofAugust which was 0.27 inches above the normal rainfall of 1.88 inches and ranked as the 39th wettest of 105 years of record.

Looking forward to September, possible sunshine continues to decrease by nearly seven minutes per day with possible daylight decreasing from 14 hours and 35 minutes on the 1st to 11 hours and 22 minutes on the 30th.  The average daily high temperature decreases from 60.5 degrees on the 1st to 46.2 degrees on the 30th. The average daily low temperature decreases from 41.3 degrees on the 1st to 30.1 degrees on the 30th. The average rainfall at the Fairbanks airport in September is 1.1 inches and the average snowfall in September is 1.8 inches.

September can be a month of extremes. The warmest temperature on record for the month of September in Fairbanks is 84 degrees which occurred in 1957. The coldest temperature on record for the month of September in Fairbanks is 3 above which occurred in 1992. Measurable snow has been observed in September about 2 out of every 3 years. Heavy snow events are infrequent but are not unheard of. Long time residents will recall 1992 when over two feet of snow fell during a 10 day period and more recently 20.9 inches of snow falling during the month of September in 2015.

The forecast for the month of September from the Climate Prediction Center calls for increased chances for above normal temperatures and increased chances for below normal precipitation.

September brings dark nights,  cooler weather, and the leaves they are a turnin'.