Thursday, May 26, 2011
A Mix of Sun and Couds
Wednesday. I'm eating a bowl of Cheerios, putting random letters into the morning's crossword puzzle and listening for the weather forcast. "A mix of sun and clouds with a slight chance of severe storms after 2 p.m." Current temperature 69; winds brisk from the south/south-west. Perfect weather for a bicycle ride.
I head north, looking east and west as I approach the last intersection before I head east. The sky to the west looks rather dark... "a mix of sun and clouds," the weather man said.
As I head east, I watch the darkening sky in my rear-view mirror, feel a few light sprinkles on my arms. "Maybe I should take the shortest route home," I think.
As I head south, I've ridden out of the rain. But, no, a gentle rain begins to fall. Glad I opted for the shortest route home.
Heading west, I see gaggles of children clustered under their mothers' umbrellas waiting for the school bus. Not a good sign. My route passes three elementary schools, so I make an effort to be away from the schools when children are being delivered.
Thunder rolls and the lightening strikes. (I later learned that two tree trimmers were taken to the hospital after a tree near them was struck by lightening. This happened about 1/2 mile from where I was riding.) The skies open! My feet are soaked, rain is dripping down my face and not a dry porch is in sight! Yikes!
"I'll stop at the police station." "A mix of sun and clouds - stupid weather men!"
I head south again, the rain is slowing. I'm as wet as I'll ever be, stopping at the police station makes no sense.
Then west towards the last elementary school on my route. Yikes! Buses! Cars! A huge traffic jam! I get off my bike and walk past the school, through the buses and cars, soaking wet. What a mess!
Got home, the sun was out. Rain had beaded on my car and since it was so filthy and I was so wet, I got a bucket of soapy water and washed it -
Now I know what is meant by "a mix of sun and clouds." And the "slight chance of severe storms after 2 p.m.?" No storms until 12:30 Thursday morning, with a tornado that touched down less than a mile from here! No sirens, no warning. Boom! A house destroyed along with damage in the area!
I head north, looking east and west as I approach the last intersection before I head east. The sky to the west looks rather dark... "a mix of sun and clouds," the weather man said.
As I head east, I watch the darkening sky in my rear-view mirror, feel a few light sprinkles on my arms. "Maybe I should take the shortest route home," I think.
As I head south, I've ridden out of the rain. But, no, a gentle rain begins to fall. Glad I opted for the shortest route home.
Heading west, I see gaggles of children clustered under their mothers' umbrellas waiting for the school bus. Not a good sign. My route passes three elementary schools, so I make an effort to be away from the schools when children are being delivered.
Thunder rolls and the lightening strikes. (I later learned that two tree trimmers were taken to the hospital after a tree near them was struck by lightening. This happened about 1/2 mile from where I was riding.) The skies open! My feet are soaked, rain is dripping down my face and not a dry porch is in sight! Yikes!
"I'll stop at the police station." "A mix of sun and clouds - stupid weather men!"
I head south again, the rain is slowing. I'm as wet as I'll ever be, stopping at the police station makes no sense.
Then west towards the last elementary school on my route. Yikes! Buses! Cars! A huge traffic jam! I get off my bike and walk past the school, through the buses and cars, soaking wet. What a mess!
Got home, the sun was out. Rain had beaded on my car and since it was so filthy and I was so wet, I got a bucket of soapy water and washed it -
Now I know what is meant by "a mix of sun and clouds." And the "slight chance of severe storms after 2 p.m.?" No storms until 12:30 Thursday morning, with a tornado that touched down less than a mile from here! No sirens, no warning. Boom! A house destroyed along with damage in the area!
# posted by Martha @ 5:40 PM 
