I had just begun to brace for a warm, dry autumn and winter. The jet stream, it was said, was going across the United States quite a bit north of Texas, blocking cold fronts from traveling down to us, and thus, thwarting any rain chances that we had. The prediction was for this to continue, and I have been concerned about another drought starting in autumn like the drought we experienced in 2011.
Then Norman came along. Norman was what The Weather Channel was explaining when I casually clicked to that channel, looking for the day's radar. Norman was different. Norman was unexpected. Norman was, well, not normal.
You see, here in east Texas, we watch for hurricanes or tropical depressions forming in the Atlantic Ocean. If these tropical depressions travel into the Gulf of Mexico, we have a pretty good chance of getting rain here.
But Norman was different. Norman was coming from the Pacific. Norman was traveling over Mexico toward Texas. And, Norman was south of the jet stream (the same jet stream that was blocking the rain from the north), so the rains coming from Norman were staying in the South. It would move across Texas, Louisiana, and other Southern states, slowing moving eastward and northerly. It was also bringing rain. Lots of rain.
Over the past two days, Norman dropped over 6 inches of rain on my garden. I am so pleased. My plants are looking perky. It had been dry, and I had gone back to watering. There was flooding in some areas, and I hope no one was adversely affected. Here, rain was very much appreciated. Six inches was thrilling!
Maybe the rest of the winter will be dry. But for now, I'm thankful for Norman.
The remnants of (what was) Norman are traveling eastward. Were you, or will you be, affected?
It's great to finally have some relief from the long dry spell. I bet you could almost hear your plants breathing a sigh of relief (almost...) :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I could! It is amazing how a little bit (or a lot) or rain really perks them up!
DeleteThat's wonderful that you caught all that rain. Hope it helped all the drought stricken southern states as well.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
Yes, I hope everyone that needs rain gets some. It was a nice surprise - I think it even surprised the Weather Channel!
DeleteIsn't it funny how we live our lives according to the weather. Last night a wonderful thunderstorm rolled in and as tired as I was...stayed awake through out it and enjoyed the show! It was wonderful. I'm so glad you have Norman!
ReplyDeleteI love to watch the storms come up, and when rain is needed, I love to just watch and listen to it.
DeleteWe've had a lot of rain this week in San Antonio also. At one point it was falling at the rate of 2" an hour and considering we get about 30" total in a very good year, this has been amazing. Because we are farther west, some years we get more rain from Pacific storms than Gulf storms.
ReplyDeleteI think that was Norman coming through! Usually the storms from the Pacific that go through here come from up north and across the continent from Washington, Oregon, even Canada. I don't remember many coming from as far south as Mexico.
DeleteYay! I am so glad. A good soaking rain is such a nice treat in the garden. We have had a dry summer, but autumn has brought some regular rain.
ReplyDeleteIt is comforting to me to get autumn rains. Ever since the autumn that didn't rain, and didn't rain all winter, or all spring, or that summer, I get nervous if it doesn't rain in autumn!
DeleteThat's the first I've heard of Norman. I guess I've been out of touch with the weather news. Glad you got much needed rain.
ReplyDeleteIt was news here I suppose only because the weekly forecast was for sunny, dry days. Then all of a sudden the forecasts changed to flooding in some areas! I was happy to have Norman enter the picture!
DeleteWonderful flowers, wonderful colours. I am greeting
ReplyDeleteWelcome! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteWe've been having rain more than enough for last six months. The whole summer was rainy and cold. Now we'll have cold and dark winter. I'm just wondering if we had summer at all?
ReplyDeleteSatu from rainy Finland
The weather all summer has been odd in many areas of the world. Here in Texas, even more strangely, was the fact that we had a normal summer! Very unusual to get anything normal anymore! It's the autumn that had started to turn and give us drier than usual conditions. So, I was very glad we got some rain! And I hope your summer next year will be glorious to make up for the lost one this year.
Delete6" - nice. I hope to see that for the entire year by Dec 31... But again, so glad for you. I hope El Nino comes through for you with some regular, gentler rain. It looks promising, though not until at least December.
ReplyDeleteI worry that we don't start getting some decent rains - like the kind Norman gave us - we will eventually turn into a desert. And I don't think my roses would like that at all! Yes, you are right. The forecast is for a dry autumn and hopefully rains after the first of the year. Unless more storms like Norman pop up!
DeleteHow wonderful to have 6" of rain! It is a different kind of blessing in some parts of the country.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how different the weather is in each area of the country. We all worry about the weather!
DeleteStormin Norman is headed my way and I am thrilled! I squeezed in some transplanting after work so he could water in my plants. :o) So glad you got the rain you needed.
ReplyDeleteGlad you'll be getting some rain from Norman! I, too, had put in some plants - and they loved being watered in with real rain!
DeleteI am glad you got the rain. Where I was it was raining each day but not storming. Not sure what happened in NY but I hope we got it there too. Your roses look happy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't look to see exactly where Norman was going - I just know he was heading westerly. I hope you get the rain you need. It surely does make the plants happy!
DeleteNorman was south of me, but I'm glad he could "sprinkle" on your garden!
ReplyDeleteI've been amazed how much the jet stream affects the weather. It has prevented anything from coming down here. I'm glad Norman slipped in underneath it!
DeleteHmmm, I'm wondering if Norman would explains last nights squall here? We haven't had a drop of rain in a solid month, and I was awakened in the night to the pounding, with a smile on my face.
ReplyDeleteI bet it was Norman! Like you, it has been dry here, and the rain is such a wonderful sight and sound! Sorry you were awakened in the night - but glad it put a smile on your face!
DeleteI'm glad we have no Norman here in Europe, it can be rather frightening I think, but yes you are lucky it gave you some rain, you needed it. We mostly have too much rain.
ReplyDeleteYou are right- these storms can be rather frightening. Here, it was wonderful to have all that rain. But some areas were flooded, which is not good. Too much rain can be a big, big problem.
DeleteHolly, I'm glad you had a lot of water on your plants! As my neighbor Satu, we had very rainy summer. when I walk across the lawn water squishes under my feet!
ReplyDeletePoor lawn!
Oh, that doesn't sound good! Too much water can be a big problem. I've always wished we could control the rain, each person individually. Then our gardens would get just the right amount of rain!
DeleteI had not heard about Norman but how wonderful...I don't know if we will get any remnants but we are now getting almost daily rain which is typical of fall here..the jet stream shifted finally
ReplyDeleteDaily rain is typical there? Wow! And I thought our typical weekly rain in autumn was a lot! :O
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