Extremely serious weather concerns today

[Clipper]

They just updated the weather alert status. They are now saying that some of the thunderstorms approaching may pack hurricane force gusts rather than 60 mph and we are now in a zone where spin up tornados are a serious threat.

I have everything battened down as well as possible and hoping for the best. This is NOT the usual weather warning that raises a small concern for wind damage or hail. These storms are packing not only the 70 mph winds but also golf ball size hail. The first storm cell is moving toward us at 50 mph. Say a prayer for us. We are really concerned for our safety with this weather event. I anticipate us losing power so I may be offline for an extended period.

[Clipper]

They say it is intensifying. We are going to take shelter in the cinder block garage shortly until it passes. This is the first time since we moved here that I am actually concerned for our safety. The weather radio, I-pad, and phone are all charged and we have a battery powered camp lantern and a kerosene lamp out there. The tall trees around the house are a serious concern with that kind of wind.

wcyb.com/watch

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Oh darn! Hope all goes well and both of you are safe.

[Clipper]

It was pretty scary for most of the afternoon. Both local TV stations pre-empted all normal programming and had their entire weather staff following the storms with constant radar tracking on screen all afternoon until around 4:30 or 5 pm. Some of the storm cells continued to intensify and winds reached 65 with gusts up to 70 or more. Fortunately those large and ominous storms that covered the map in red moved past us to the North in SW Virginia while a second front moved in an easterly across Tennessee between here and Knoxville with the high wind, flooding, and lightning striking at a rate in excess of 250 strikes per hour in some areas. That front moved over the mountains and into NW North Carolina. Downbursts caused severe damage to some areas to our South and flash flooding was a problem.

We actually only had a short period of high wind that I would estimate to be in the 50mph range, and a downpour that eased up and drizzled for several hours. It was a huge relief when they cancelled the tornado warnings for here in Bristol and reported that the fringe portion of the storm cell passing our way was weakening. It was scary watching the storm moving across the radar map with a huge red area where the winds and downpours were the worst. Tornado warnings were flashing both North and South of us as they tracked rotation in several areas.

I saw news reports of a couple of tornados in McGraw and Dryden NY that touched down briefly and weather was severe as the storm front moved through upstate NY also. How bad did it actually get in the Utica area? I spoke with a friend in Clinton around supper time and it was pouring sheets of rain and very windy in Clinton. I don't remember many instances of thunderstorms originating in the midwest and maintaining dangerous intensity all the way through the NE and out to sea.

I just read that a tornado touched down on a golf course near Vernon and tornado watches are still in effect for the area. Stay safe and stay alert. Our bad weather has passed us by and we are expecting only scattered showers through the night.

[clarencebunsen]

Very localized. During the time when all the wildness was going on in Vernon, it was dead calm here in Castle Estates.

[Clipper]

Lots of photos of the downed trees and damage to roads this morning. It seems that Bristol completely dodged major damage. This is the first time in 20+ years that we actually were very afraid and prepared to go to the shelter in the rear portion of the garage. We had lights, the weather radio, and all our electronic devices charged and on the kitchen table, ready to go at a moment's notice if it got dangerously close to us and we were glued to the tv watching the radar as the storm moved across the area in real time.

We are lucky in that the garage is built into the hill so that in that rear portion the roof is only about 2 feet above ground level. The portion where we would shelter was built as a fruit cellar where the previous owners stored their home-canned goods. It is 6x12 and surrounded by a cinder block wall so it actually stays cool in summer. I store shop supplies and paint on the shelves and keep garden tools in there. Much safer shelter than a wood frame house surrounded by tall trees.

It's not unusual for us to get tornado watches and the occasional warnings for areas around us in summer, but I was surprised to see tornado activity in upstate NY.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Glad that all went well for you.

[Clipper]

We had another evening of severe storms and tornado warnings last night. Once again we dodged any severe damaging wind and just had lots of lightning and heavy rain. Once again the local tv stations were tracking the storms on radar in real time, and once again the damage and dangerous winds stayed to the North and South of us. I was up until almost midnight watching the storm coverage until the system had passed our area and the warnings all expired. Having tornado warnings a in the dark of night is a quite unnerving.

There is a chance of a shower or two this morning but clearing this afternoon and we are supposed to have good, rain free weather all the way through next weekend and cooler temperatures.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

Guess what!!! Is this an early sign of what's to come. The white birch trees on the property are beginning to lose their leaves!!!!!

The atmosphere is very active.

[BHU]

It sure is. I mowed last Thursday & it needs to be done again. With all the rain it's growing like crazy & I may have to raise the deck & mow it twice. I was planning on doing it tomorrow but they:re calling for rain again. It would be nice if we could get 2 days in a row without rain.

[Clipper]

It is a pain in the butt having to mow every 4 days but if I don't mow the clippings become a problem. I mowed last night after supper. The temperature dropped into the mid 70s and it was quite comfortable to be outside. I also burned my brush pile. With all the trees around the property I have an ongoing pile at the back of the property where I deposit all the limbs and branches and when the pile gets big enough I burn it. When you live in the country there is no green waste pick up. The frequent rain, followed by 90+ temperatures makes the grass grow at a ridiculous rate and a 3/4 acre lot makes mowing a time consuming task.

The gate project is on hold until tomorrow when a friend is going to come by and help me hang the frames and then screw the pickets to them after they are securely hung. Today is weed whacker day and moving day for all our bowling equipment. Our small league here in Bristol was dissolved after losing two teams, leaving it too small to be fun or marginally competitive. We are cleaning out our lockers that we have rented for 20yrs and moving all our balls and equipment to newly rented lockers at Warpath Lanes in Kingsport where we have signed up for a daytime senior league that bowls at 1pm. It will be fun bowling on a larger league again and with the 1pm time slot we will be able to go out for an early dinner with friends after bowling instead of going to Perkins at 9:30pm. It will be rather sad to clean out my locker and no longer bowl on a league at Interstate Bowl after 20yrs. It is only in recent years that we have only bowled there one night a week. At one time I bowled on leagues 4 nights a week and subbed on a fifth. I have been president of a few leagues and was the president of the Bristol Men's Bowling Association for several years, giving me the opportunity to make friends on ALL of the leagues.

Time passes, our bowling average drops, and we don't bowl as often. We will now take our place on a "Senior League," bowling with people of our own age group, finally resigning ourselves to the fact that we are now "the old farts". LOL

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

I just noticed yesterday that the bowling alley on Genesee St next to McDonalds is CLOSED! When did that happen!

[BHU]

Aug 16, 2023 11:37:05 GMT -5 Atticus Pizzaballa said:

I just noticed yesterday that the bowling alley on Genesee St next to McDonalds is CLOSED! When did that happen!

Pin O Rama closed a couple months ago. Bought by a developer & only God knows for what reason. They bought that ebtire parcel except McD's.

[Clipper]

Yay! Gate project is complete. Our friend had a change in plans for tomorrow so we did the gate today. It came out great. It will be good to be able to get into the back yard with a vehicle and my trailer as well as making it easier to get in there with the mower. The gate outside the kitchen door is only 4 inches wider than the deck on the riding mower so I have to get lined up perfect to get through the gate or the deck would catch on a post.

[Clipper]

Aug 16, 2023 12:29:32 GMT -5 BHU said:

Aug 16, 2023 11:37:05 GMT -5 Atticus Pizzaballa said:

I just noticed yesterday that the bowling alley on Genesee St next to McDonalds is CLOSED! When did that happen!

Pin O Rama closed a couple months ago. Bought by a developer & only God knows for what reason. They bought that ebtire parcel except McD's.

It is sad to see Pin O Rama closed. It was our favorite hide away on snow days from school. During a storm in 1966 (if I remember correctly) a bunch of us from Keyes Road in N. Utica took a city bus to Pin O Rama to bowl. After several hours of bowling we stepped out to find Genessee Street almost deserted. City buses stopped running and we ended up walking back to N. Utica through snow that was up to our knees in some places right in the road. We walked all the way to the N. Genessee diner and finally one of the guys called his dad and his dad came and picked up the 6 of us. We were all wet and chilled to the bone. We all had coffee or hot chocolate at the diner. I didn't know if I wanted to drink it or pour it in my boots to defrost my freezing toes.