It’s April 5. We’re still getting potential for snow overnight. The promise for 70 degree days is more than a week away. This week. Then it changes. The little forecast to the right shows how things are supposed to look now.
I’ve been out on the motorcycle a couple times on some nice, if cool, days in the last month. But, I’m used to being pretty active on it by this time of year. On March 22, I was out at the Turnbull Wildlife Refuge to get a picture of the memorial pond. It was a beautiful day in the mid-50s. Turns out it was just a tease.
April 3, we had snow again.
Based on the forecast above, we might see 60 degrees soon. But that changes all too quickly. Talked to my nephew in southwest Wyoming the other day. They got another two-feet of snow. Travel on Interstate 80 through southern Wyoming has been dangerous all winter.
More snow?
At this rate, we may see snow again next week.
Granted, we need the moisture. We’ve had a few dry summers over the last few years. That photo of the pond above is an almost annual thing for me. I want to see what the moisture levels are and that pond gives me a clue how things are going. Yes, it looks good. Also, the mountains have a lot of snow. Some in the region are reporting 50 to 100+ feet–that’s right, FEET.
What I saw on one of my rides in early March was the result of the early melt. The Hangman Creek watershed was overflowing its banks everywhere. And, there were still mounds of snow on the north sides of hills and along the roads. With that much water already, and the reported snow pack in the mountains, we should have a pretty good water year around here. Winter wheat is growing well in fields on The Palouse, however, the moisture will keep the farmers who want to plant spring wheat out of the fields a bit longer.
But, really, that’s life in this part of the country. Some winters are short and sweet. Some are long and dreary. And, everything in between. The blessing is the kind of country here. The Palouse with its fun little roads winding through the hills. The scablands out to the west were ancient flooding carved an amazing landscape. The mountains to the east and north with breathtaking views, and gorgeous lakes and rivers.
Keep writing!
