Category: Nature

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Post Bow, The Echo of the Hook

In continuing my theme of asinine titles for meteorological terms, here’s a more dramatic sequel to April’s inclement weather.

Don’t Squall Line – Take a Bow Hook

A particularly nasty bit of weather had descended upon us the evening of May 16, preceded by the familiar calm. And as the wind picked up, I checked the weather radar. This time, I was more concerned than my usual apathetic American High Plains upbringing self would normally be. And this static image doesn’t replicate the still image transitional timeline. There was a very clear storm rotation in progress, and one of the most easily recognized of radar signatures was to our southwest.

A hook echo, and so well-defined that the NWS had issued a radar-confirmed tornado warning. And it was 100 miles out and on a direct path to us. Admittedly, that’s a bit far to expect a tornado to travel on the ground, but it’s happened before.

There were 5 confirmed tornadoes in Indiana that day, presumably this among them. Fortunately for us, it dissipated before reaching our home. But as the remnants of the storm passed overhead, it was obvious it hadn’t lost its rotation.

There’s the devil’s sphincter for you.

Out west, these storms were always rain-wrapped, so the funnels were not so clearly defined. They were ominous masses of dark creeping across the cotton fields, and they were clear indications to move your ass. Here though, you can see shapes, and these were the clearest I’ve seen up close. This time, winning the meteorological lottery came with pictures.

(23 people died in the storms that weekend.)

–Simon

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Mosquito Wars

A year ago I installed a mosquito bucket, inoculated with Bacillus thuringiensis, which supposedly kills larvae before they pupate into bastard bloodsuckers. I remained unconvinced.

Eternal Damnation

It turns out that the color of the bucket makes all the difference, as mosquitos, being the tiny demons that they are, like darkness. So when last year’s bucket cracked, I replaced it with a black one.

And behold!

It’s difficult to tell from the photo, but there were larvae (those white grub things). And one was dead. I’ll take that as confirmation that the deathtrap is now finally working!

Small victories.

–Simon

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Parks with Ken: Bill Yeck Park, Prairie Trail Entrance

Continuing the series, here’s our 3rd park outing, once again to Bill Yeck, but the eastern entrance with the prairie trail:

Bill Yeck

Review:

Difficulty: 1/5

Points of note:

  • Definitely a bird-watching place.
  • Connects with the main Bill Yeck trails.
  • Crosses the Sugar Creek

It was okay, but not as diverse. It had also become rather saturated with all the recent rain, making the going somewhat unpleasant. Ken muddied his nice boots, about which there was much whining. So – proper footwear is required for this one.

–Simon

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Don’t Squall Line – Take a Bow Hook

Okay, despite the dumb title here, this is actually kind of cool. We got hit with some tornadoes here in Ohio, unsurprisingly, and during our oft-practiced ritual of late night basement shelter-seeking I checked the weather radar. And here’s the screenshot I saved.

With the approaching storm came some very noticeable backwards “C”s. I, uh, admittedly already knew what they were and represented because I spend many of my insomnia sessions reading internet articles about whatever happens to be on my mind at the time. And one night I had read about Doppler radar image signals. Yes – I am a nerd. But this was cool because I had never seen these so pronounced. And they are not, as you may have guessed, harbingers of happiness and inner peace. They are bow echos, and they’re indicative of rotation in a squall line storm front. And rotation is what produces tornadoes. And jet streams and the planet’s rotation send weather from west to east in this part of the world. And here we were sitting directly east of the storm’s path, with 3 bow hooks approaching.

But we won the meteorological lottery once again, and the storm passed us without incident. 4 tornadoes were recorded in Ohio that night, and they missed us. How long will our luck hold, I wonder?

But for now, I’ll avoid thinking how this could have gone and instead focus the novelty of having never seen 3 of these at once in such close proximity. Things that could kill me but don’t get to remain in the realm of coolness. For now.

–Simon

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Parks with Ken: Sugarcreek MetroPark, Main Park

Here’s park number 2 in the series:

Sugarcreek

This one’s part of the Five Rivers group, as opposed to Centerville Washington Township. A different governing entity!

Review:

Difficulty: 1-4/5

Points of note:

  • Consistent trail difficulty. Elevations don’t vary significantly.
  • Some different biomes, but one of the main trails was closed.
  • A cool-looking osage orange trail, but we went in winter so the coolness factor was tempered a little. But it looks like it’d be worth a summer visit.
  • Some informational signs.
  • Very clear trail markings.
  • The Three Sisters – white oak trees over 500 years old. Ken pointed these out during the hike but it was only once I visited the website later that I found out what these giant trees were. Definite coolness points there.

I’ll plan on revisiting the osage orange trail.

–Simon