nature, Photography

More Rain

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We have been experiencing a rainier, cooler than usual summer punctuated by hot days where the temperature reaches 37 or 38 (98.6-100.4 F). A rainy night makes for comfortable morning constitutionals, however.

These clouds were moving into the north after being pushed out by …

… quite strong and gusty winds from the east. Surface easterly winds are unusual here since they have to make it past a number of mountain ranges in order to arrive, but I noticed that this one seemed to have quite a lot of altitude, too, probably about 3000 metres (approx 10,000 ft).

As the day wore on – and more clouds moved back in – our resident bald eagles weren’t too concerned as they perched in their favourite lookout tree to survey their territory. Some jostling from the winds didn’t stop them from having one of their regular, affectionate chats.

Happy Saturday.

48 thoughts on “More Rain”

    1. Yes, we definitely are and especially to be able to watch them from our deck. There are many of them in this region although you will usually only see them in pairs as they mate for life and are very territorial. They’re incredibly impressive birds.

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        1. Thank you very much, Suzette. Yes, definitely unsettled. For a region that’s classified as semi-arid desert, we’ve been getting a lot of rain. Not unwelcome because until recently we were in a multi-year drought, but there are now concerns that we may be getting too much!

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  6. Love the sky full of wind blow clouds Lynette. Strange weather indeed, more like what we used to call normal, before normal disappeared. Happy Saturday. Allan

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    1. Thanks, Allan. I agree, although the Okanagan has always been known for hot summers, there used to be rain interspersed, not these intensely dry periods or wet periods as we’ve been having. I took the time to look up weather records and to my eye, the climate is definitely changing.

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    1. The weather has been odd. This region is classified as semi-arid desert, but I’ve seen a lot of rain over the past 10 months or so. It was really needed since we had had a multiple-year drought, but now it seems to be going the other way. Rain in the Okanagan in July isn’t very common. On the other hand, you need rain and aren’t getting it and Ontario and Québec are sweltering. Ugh.

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    1. Thank you. 😊 This particular pair are year-round residents. They love to perch in that tree to look for prey and also to just socialise and chat; at least, they seem to be “chatting.” We have a great vantage point from our deck and love to watch them interacting.

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  12. Hi Lynette
    We had an exceptionally warm and sunny spring and an unusually hot summer until now. It’s just the other way round as at yours.
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    1. Hi Fab Four, this region is classified as semi-arid desert, so the amount of rain and cooler temperatures have definitely been unusual but not unwelcome as this time last year we were in a multi-year drought. There are some concerns now that it’s becoming too wet! I heard about your warm spring and hot summer; yes, unusual for the U.K.

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    1. I think we have been and the rain has certainly prevented fires in our region, something that was beginning to be commonplace during the summer (and the smoke, too). I’m hearing some grumbling that it’s now starting to be too much. I don’t know about that although we’re classified as semi-arid desert and should be drier, really. Yes, the conditions are providing great photo opportunities, though. 😊 Cheers.

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    1. This region is usually quite dry and hot through May-September as we’re classified as semi-arid desert, so temperatures of 36-42 are quite normal in July and August. This year we’re getting a few of those hot days but overall it has definitely been a cooler and wetter summer.

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  17. It occurs to me belatedly (and perhaps not entirely correctly) that you are particularly attuned to wind directions & velocities because of your experience as a pilot. This expertise adds enjoyable detail to your splendid photos of skies and clouds.

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    1. Thank you very much, Penny. Actually, you are correct. I learned early in flight training to really be attentive to the weather signs and signals but in effect, training had begun much earlier as a result of lots of backwoods camping and hiking throughout my childhood and then later there was my military training.

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    1. Thank you very much, Linda. We usually have those high temperatures in a solid block from about the end of June to the end of August. This summer they have really been tempered and spread out although we’re in the middle of a hot week right now; we had 38 today. At least this heat is dry, not humid as you’re experiencing. The humidity makes it so much worse in my opinion. I hope you get some rain soon!

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      1. I’m jealous of your dry heat, even if it’s that hot. Agreed, the humidity is much worse. We actually got some rain overnight, which was an unexpected surprise. This means I don’t have to water my garden this morning!

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        1. I’m glad to hear that you got some rain! I’ve spent a few summers in the Toronto area and I always found the humidity difficult, but what you’ve been getting lately has really been awful. Here, going outside in 38 is like sticking yourself in an oven, but I find it more tolerable to the humidity.

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