Time to Spring Ahead!

Don't forget, it's that time of the year again, when we "spring ahead" by moving our clocks ahead by one hour this evening before bed. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2AM EDT Sunday morning, March 9, 2008.



While you're at it, you might as well change the batteries in your smoke detector(s) as well!

Have you ever wondered why we observe Daylight Saving Time? Wikipedia has a great explanation.

High Wind Warning - Upgraded!

I guess the weather folks are thinking that it's going to be a bit windier tonite than they originally expected.

DEZ001-MDZ008-NJZ001-007>010-012-015>019-PAZ054-055-060>062-
NEW CASTLE-CECIL-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-
MIDDLESEX-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-
CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-
DE-PHILADELPHIA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF.WILMINGTON.ELKTON.NEWTON.
WA.MORRISTOWN.FLEMINGTON.SOMERVILLE.
NEW BRUNSWICK.TRENTON.PENNSVILLE.GLASSBORO.CAMDEN.
CHERRY HILL.MOORESTOWN.MOUNT HOLLY.JIM THORPE.
STROUDSBURG.READING.ALLENTOWN.BETHLEHEM.EASTON.
WEST CHESTER.NORRISTOWN.DOYLESTOWN.MEDIA
358 PM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

.HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY.

THE NATL WEATHER SVC IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING.WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT SUNDAY. THE WIND ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

LOW PRESSURE LIFTING OUT OF MD THIS AFTERNOON WILL INTENSIFY AS IT LIFTS INTO ME BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. VERY STRONG WINDS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE WAKE OF THE LOW.

OVER THE WARNING AREA.SUSTAINED WINDS OF 35 TO 40 MPH & GUSTS UP TO AROUND 60 MPH ARE ANTICIPATED WHEN WINDS ARE AT THEIR WORST TONIGHT. WINDS OF THIS STRENGTH CAN KNOCK DOWN TREES & POWER LINES AND RESULT IN POWER OUTAGES.ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE SATURATED GROUND DUE TO THE RAINS FROM THIS EXITING SYSTEM.

DRIVING WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS DUE TO THE WIND.PARTICULARLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. REMEMBER.WINDS ARE TYPICALLY STRONGEST ON BRIDGES & OTHER ELEVATED STRUCTURES. AVOID DRIVING IF YOU CAN.

PLEASE SECURE ANY LOOSE OUTDOOR OBJECTS THAT MAY BE BLOWN ABOUT BY STRONG WINDS.

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH OR GUSTS OF 58 MPH OR MORE CAN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.

I was out a little bit ago, it wasn't windy (yet) but I guess it's coming. "Auntie Em, Auntie Em . . . ."

First the Flooding - Now the Wind!

As if the torrential rains weren't enough, along with the potential for flooding, now it seem as though it's goig to get a bit breezy. This, according to our friends at the National Weather Service in Philadelphia are saying:

NJZ001-007-008-PAZ054-055-062-082200-
/O.CON.KPHI.WI.Y.0004.080308T2300Z-080309T1300Z/
SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-CARBON-MONROE-NORTHAMPTON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...NEWTON...WASHINGTON...MORRISTOWN...
JIM THORPE...STROUDSBURG...BETHLEHEM...EASTON
809 AM EST SAT MAR 8 2008

...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM EST THIS EVENING TO
9 AM EDT SUNDAY...

A DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THIS
MORNING WILL RAPIDLY MOVE TO THE NORTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON INTO
THE EVENING. THE LOW WILL CONTINUE TO RACE NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT AND
BRING STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF
THE SOUTHERN POCONOS...FAR NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY AND NEARBY
LOCALES. RAIN YESTERDAY AND MORE EXPECTED TODAY WILL SATURATE THE
GROUNDS ENOUGH SO THAT THE STRONG WINDS COULD TOPPLE SOME TREES
AND BRING DOWN POWER LINES.

A WIND ADVISORY MEANS THAT SUSTAINED WINDS OF AROUND OR IN EXCESS
OF 30 MPH AND WIND GUSTS OF AROUND OR IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH ARE
EXPECTED. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY
FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION.

Please make sure that you tie down those loose objects (like my trash cans) or better yet, bring them in. Also watch out for falling limbs, etc.!

Delaware River Flooding Possible

This Special River Statement was issued by the National Weather Service in Philadelphia earlier today. It looks like minor flooding is forecast for the Delaware River in Easton.

HYDROLOGIC STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MT HOLLY NJ
1133 AM EST FRI MAR 07 2008


...SPECIAL RIVER STATEMENT FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER AND LEHIGH RIVERS...

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ORGANIZING NEAR THE GULF COAST IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TWO DISTINCT PERIODS OF RAIN FOR THE REGION AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST. THE FIRST PERIOD OF PRECIPITATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE OVER ONE INCH OF RAIN BETWEEN 3 PM AND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE SECOND PERIOD HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE BETWEEN ONE AND TWO
INCHES OF RAIN OVER THE SAME AREA BETWEEN 7 AM AND 7 PM ON SATURDAY. SOME OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN ON SATURDAY COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. BY THE TIME ALL THE RAIN ENDS BY LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 2.0 TO 2.75 INCHES OF RAIN CAN BE EXPECTED.

BOTH THE LEHIGH AND DELAWARE RIVERS ARE RUNNING HIGH AS A RESULT OF HEAVY RAIN THAT FELL EARLIER IN THE WEEK. THE GROUND ALSO REMAINS NEARLY SATURATED IN SOME PLACES. AS A RESULT, THE HEAVY RAIN THAT FALLS LATER TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY WILL CAUSE RIVER AND STREAM LEVELS TO RISE QUICKLY, PERHAPS REACHING FLOOD LEVELS BY MID DAY SATURDAY ON THE SMALLER STREAMS AND ON A LITTLE LATER ON THE LARGER STREAMS AND RIVERS. BASED ON A FORECAST OF 2.0 TO 2.75 INCHES OF RAIN THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING, THE LEHIGH AND DELAWARE RIVERS ARE EXPECTED TO CREST BETWEEN ONE AND TWO FEET ABOVE FLOOD STAGE IN MANY LOCATIONS. THESE CRESTS WOULD MOST LIKELY OCCUR SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN THE FASTER RESPONDING AREAS, TO LATE SUNDAY IN TRENTON. A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION.

FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER NEAR TOCKS ISLAND, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 14.7 FEET AT 10 AM FRIDAY. A CREST OF BETWEEN 21 AND 23 FEET IS FORECAST FOR SUNDAY. FLOOD STAGE AT TOCKS ISLAND IS 21 FEET.

FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER AT BELVIDERE, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 13.4 FEET AT 10 AM FRIDAY. A CREST OF BETWEEN 17.5 AND 19.5 FEET IS FORECAST FOR SUNDAY. FLOOD STAGE AT BELVIDERE IS 22 FEET.

FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER AT EASTON-PHILLIPSBURG BRIDGE, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 16.4 FEET AT 10 AM FRIDAY. A CREST OF BETWEEN 22.5 AND 24.5 FEET IS FORECAST FOR SUNDAY. FLOOD STAGE AT EASTON-PHILLIPSBURG IS 22 FEET.

FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER AT RIEGELSVILLE, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 16.9 FEET AT 10 AM FRIDAY. A FORECAST CREST OF BETWEEN 23 AND 25 FEET IS EXPECTED SUNDAY. FLOOD STAGE AT RIEGELSVILLE IS 22 FEET.

FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER AT FRENCHTOWN, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 11.1 FEET AT 7 AM FRIDAY. A CREST AROUND THE FLOOD STAGE OF 16 FEET IS EXPECTED SUNDAY. FLOOD STAGE AT FRENCHTOWN IS 16 FEET.

FOR THE DELAWARE RIVER AT TRENTON, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 16.5 FEET AT 10 AM FRIDAY. A CREST OF BETWEEN 20 AND 22 FEET IS EXPECTED LATE SUNDAY. FLOOD STAGE AT TRENTON IS 20 FEET.

FOR THE LEHIGH RIVER AT WALNUTPORT, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 5.7 FEET AT 9 AM FRIDAY. A CREST OF BETWEEN 8 AND 10 FEET IS EXPECTED SATURDAY NIGHT. FLOOD STAGE AT WALNUTPORT IS 8 FEET.

FOR THE LEHIGH RIVER AT BETHLEHEM, THE LATEST STAGE WAS 6.1 FEET AT 9 AM FRIDAY. A CREST OF BETWEEN 11 AND 13 FEET IS EXPECTED AT BETHLEHEM SATURDAY NIGHT. FLOOD STAGE AT BETHLEHEM IS 16 FEET.

THESE FORECASTS ASSUME A CONTINUATION OF PRESENT RESERVOIR RELEASES.

THESE FORECASTS ARE BASED ON EXPECTED RAIN OF BETWEEN 2.0 AND 2.75 INCHES THROUGH SATURDAY. IF LESS RAIN FALLS, CRESTS WILL BE LOWER. IF MORE RAIN FALLS, CRESTS WILL BE HIGHER.

STAY TUNED TO DEVELOPMENTS BY LISTENING TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO...YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATIONS...OR YOUR CABLE TELEVISION OUTLET.

ONE WAY TO CHECK EXISTING AND FORECAST CONDITIONS ON WATERWAYS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION IS TO MONITOR THE ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE /AHPS/ AVAILABLE ON OUR HOMEPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PHI. JUST CLICK THE AHPS ICON ON THE LEFT HAND MENU.

Please make sure that you make whatever preparations you have to make for heavy rain and potential flooding are completed today.

One word of advice - NEVER EVER drive across flooded roadways - "Turn Around - Don't Drown". Be careful out there this weekend!

Flood Watch Issued

This just in from the National Weather Service :

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR THE PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON

* FROM LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT

* LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OVER THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO TONIGHT BEFORE MOVING ONTO THE CENTRAL GULF COAST EARLY ON FRIDAY. THE LOW IS THEN EXPECTED TO INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES UP THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE APPALACHIANS ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND
SATURDAY. THE LOW IS FORECAST TO PASS OVER EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA ON SATURDAY EVENING BEFORE MOVING UP OVER NEW ENGLAND ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

* RAIN SHOULD BEGIN TO MOVE INTO NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND, DELAWARE, EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY, AND IT WILL LIKELY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES. ONE AND A HALF TO TWO AND A HALF INCHES OF RAIN IS FORECAST FOR MUCH OF THE REGION FROM LATE FRIDAY INTO LATE SATURDAY. SOME LOCATIONS COULD RECEIVE UP TO THREE INCHES OF RAIN.

* RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE REGION CONTINUE TO RUN HIGH AS A RESULT OF THE HEAVY RAIN THAT FELL ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY ON WEDNESDAY. THE GROUND ALSO REMAINS NEARLY SATURATED AT MOST LOCATIONS. AS A RESULT, THE HEAVY RAIN THAT FALLS FROM LATE
FRIDAY THROUGH LATE SATURDAY WILL QUICKLY CAUSE RIVER AND STREAM LEVELS TO RISE. MINOR FLOODING IS POSSIBLE ON MANY AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS OVER THE WEEKEND. SMALLER STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY EXPERIENCE MODERATE FLOODING GIVEN THEIR FASTER RESPONSE TO
hEAVY RAINFALL.

A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODING IN THE WATCH AREA. IF YOU ARE AT A LOCATION THAT IS PRONE TO FLOODING, BE SURE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS. BE READY FOR ACTION IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED OR IF A FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED.

ONE WAY TO CHECK EXISTING AND FORECAST CONDITIONS ON WATERWAYS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION IS TO MONITOR THE ADVANCED HYDROLOGIC PREDICTION SERVICE /AHPS/ AVAILABLE ON OUR HOMEPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/PHI. JUST CLICK THE AHPS ICON ON THE LEFT HAND
MENU.

Tut Tut - Looks like Rain

It looks like my "Snow" post below may actually turn out to be another huge rain maker (image courtesy of AccuWeather).



With the Bushkill already running high from the recent rain storm(s), I would suggest that folks who have interests along the creek take action now to move whatever you have that you don't want wet to higher ground.

Keep tuned to the latest weather outlets for further updates. If/when I hear anything more, I'll post links here as well.

Tatamy Car Show - 2007

Despite a rather rainy day last year, we had a decent turnout at our annual Historical Society car show.

Here are some photos that I took - I thought I'd share them with you.

Snow?

How apropos is the "Snowplowing" post below - when I stumbled on this image courtesy of our friends at AccuWeather.

Now - we haven't had "the big one" yet this winter. Could this be our last chance? I guess we should just stay tuned.

Snowplowing

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to ride along with our Road Foreman, Frank Young in our nice shiny new red truck on a snowplow run.

Let me tell you - I now have a totally different perspective for what it takes to plow our roads and keep them safe for us to travel. Thank you Frank for allowing me to ride along with you, and for the great job that you and Zach (Albert) do to keep the roads clear for us.

Having had this experience, I now understand the importance of moving our cars off the street so that he has enough room to get by with the plow. Whenever it snows, all of us in the 600 block of Broad Street automatically move our cars to the side streets, or, if we're fortunate enough, we put them in our garages. This is always done - we don't wait for a "snow emergency" to be declared. I assumed (shame on me) that the rest of us did the same thing. I was disappointed to learn, however, that was not the case. I know it's inconvenient - we all like having our cars parked in front of our houses, but . . . if everyone moved their cars, Frank (and / or Zach) would be able to clear the roads from curb to curb, and we would all wind up better off in the end - no mounds of snow in the middle of the road, plowed in cars, etc.

So, I'm asking you - when it snows, if possible, please remove your cars from the main streets (Main, Broad, High) - and for those of you in North Tatamy, please park in your driveways so that the roads can be cleared. The next day, you can move your cars from the side streets, and they will be cleared as well. Let's all work together - it will benefit all of us in the end.

Thanks for "listening". Have a great day!

Tatamy Borough Council - 3/3/2008 Wrap-up

Hi Everyone -- here's a summary of the latest happenings and last night's Council meeting. Please keep in mind that these thoughts are mine only and are in no way to be interpreted as "official meeting minutes". Your thoughts, comments, and suggestions are welcome and encouraged!

1. Sidewalks. We (borough council) have recently formed a sidewalk committee to address the less than desirable condition of the (existing) sidewalks in town. There is a sidewalk ordinance, however, you're right - for the most part it's not enforced, and the time has come (long since passed?) to take some action. We are currently looking for guidance from neighboring communities to assist us with the process. With the warmer weather fast approaching (wasn't it great yesterday), I'm hopeful that things will begin progressing on this front. The goal right now is to get the EXISTING sidewalks (and I stress the word EXISTING) that are in really bad shape (e.g. broken, significantly heaved up due to frost/tree roots, etc.) into "compliance". We just need to determine what compliance means. Of course, there will be issues, the biggest one for most folks being $$$, which will need to be addressed somehow. What's the right answer? I don't know. My hope is that we can all work together as a council and community at large to come up a solution that everyone can live with and get this problem resolved. Stay tuned . . .

2. High Street Park. The grant has been received (the letter was read publicly last night at the council meeting) and construction should begin in a few weeks on the basketball and volleyball courts, along with the parking lot. I'm looking forward to getting that project finished, as it will be a huge asset to the community.

3. Technology Committee. Did you know that Tatamy Borough had a website? Well, it doesn't yet (it's under construction) but stay tuned. I'm actively pursuing that one and hope to have something online by June. What would you like to see available? Let me know your thoughts. It will be "your" website.

4. Police Committee. We hired an officer last night to backfill an open position that was left after the unfortunate incident last year. The officer that was selected will be a great asset to the department and the borough. Be on the lookout for him and say "hello" next time you see him.

5. Tatamy Hunt Lighting. We hope to have the street lights turned on in the Tatamy Hunt development as soon as we can. We're currently working with the utility to make the arrangements to turn them on. We recognize this is a critical safety issue and are working to resolve it quickly.

6. Annual Easter Egg Hunt - will be held in Braden Park on Sunday 3/16 (Palm Sunday). Come out with the kids and have some fun.

FYI - Borough Council meets the first Monday of every month at 7:30PM in the Borough Hall. Come, get involved, voice your opinion, see what's going on. The more the merrier! I look forward to seeing you there!