When I took Ike out for the last time last night the sky had cleared completely, and it apparently remained so until I took him out again this morning. It did remain windy as well overnight with gusts reaching as high as 11 mph. That does put a bit more bite into the temperature. The sky this morning has a pink cast to it, and that could mean nothing or it could mean some foul weather in our near future. N.O.A.A. did have the predominant weather correct (we had no precipitation), but their prediction of the temperature was much lower than it actually got. They predicted that the cloud cover would dissipate, and it did so, but much sooner than they forecast.
For today the N.W.S. forecasts no precipitation and very low cloud cover (3%/4%/4%/44). The increase in the cloud cover late this afternoon may herald the arrival of a storm system around midnight tonight. That storm is expected to last until around noon tomorrow, and with the temperatures where they are and are expected to be it will not be rain. This appears to be our first real snowstorm of the season. The Weather Underground model forecast maps do indicate that to be the case. Right now the NEXRAD regional radar does not show any precipitation anywhere in the region, so we will just have to wait until this afternoon to see what develops.
My Weather Stick is responding to the 64% relative humidity by frowning just a little. That is to be expected. All three of my electronic instruments currently forecast fair weather with rising barometric pressure. The low temperatures recorded this morning were 24.8°F, 24.1°F and 31.5°F on the La Crosse Weather Station, the Min/Max Thermometer and the remote weather station in the barn. At 101°F the critters to keep things a little warmer out there. My sense for today is that it will be a pretty, but cold day, just the kind of day in Wilton, Maine that the firewood will keep me warm as I cut it and prepare it for splitting. As I do this I consider it my patriotic duty to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I do wish the American Lung Association and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection would stop interfering in our lives. If there are people using their Outdoor Wood Boilers as incinerators then make them follow the rules for incinerators. Do not make the rest of us pay for the few bad apples in the barrel. That is my opinion. This one size fits all style of government is counter to the concept of our forefathers. As I have said many times "We keep electing the same people and expect a different result." That is the definition of insanity. Again, that is my opinion, and I am still entitled to it. I will now stand down from my soapbox.
Low Temperature (°F): 24.9
Current Temperature (°F): 26.4
Relative Humidity (%): 64%
Dew Point (°F): 15.8
Heat Index (°F): N/A
Barometric Pressure (in Hg): 30.22
Wind Direction: West
Wind Speed (mph): 5.8
Wind-Chill (°F): 19.6
Precipitation (Type): None
Amount (Inches): 0.00
Cloud Cover (AM): Clear
Cloud Type: None
Weather Stick: Slightly Down
Comparative data for the overnight.
Temperature:31°F/36.3°F//26°F/33.8°F//24°F/30.9°F//21°F/29.6°F
Relative Humidity: 70%/74%//78%/72%//77%/77%//77%/66%
Well, this is a real switch. The 19:00 hour forecast temperature was close, but still no cigar. The N.W.S. missed all four of the actual temperature readings by more than 5°F. They did a little better with the relative humidity missing only the 04:00 hour point by 1%.
Forecast data for today.
Temperature: 26°F/32°F/36°F/34°F
Relative Humidity: 65%/45%/33%/36%

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