better safe than sorry...

Turns out there probably wasn't enough rain over the past couple of days to swamp me in for a Sunday departure but I'm glad I didn't take the chance.  Been quite comfortable where I have been encamped just off the highway and now I am planning to head to Lubbock tomorrow.  Will be staying within blocks of the doctor's office and the hospital.  49,57,50, .10",B

Just My Luck

Of course, there just has to be some rain in the immediate forecast that could throw a wrench in my departure plans.  I AM NOT going to hike out in the mud again - so if the forecast holds, I will leave tomorrow night and stay at a friend's easily accessible highway property until I head to Lubbock on Sunday.  Good thing I have a neighbor who will tend to Ben while I am away.

80,90,49,0,B

Storm Data

82,90,68,0,B

Waiting for Harold...

All stocked up from a major supply run to Alpine yesterday...

82,91,73, 1.10",B

Rain in the area...

80.99.74, .06",B

First rain?

Good chance of some road wrecking weather coming up.  Been seeing a lot of daily traffic lately.  Wondering how many of them are aware of what happens when it rains out here.  Any bets on how many vehicles will get stuck?  45,65,48,0,B

swamped...

Long/slow rain over four hours this afternoon.  

Three tanks overflowing:

house tank, barn tank, and one greenhouse tank.

71,77,67, .92",B

like a sponge...

Got 3/8" of rain at 2 AM this morning.  By 5 PM today, the desert was back to its old crusty self.  97,101,65, .38",B

unexpected...

Ended up with a nice little storm last night that wasn't in the forecast. Total accumulation over 5 hours ended up at .81". Caught 1600 gallons off my rooftops and pumped 2000 gallons into one of my creek tanks. Last time I got a good amount of rain out of one storm was on December 10,2019 with .74". Previous to that was 1.15" on December 7, 2017 (I keep very detailed weather records). I've been wanting to try adding my real time weather station data to a video and finally got my shot. My weather station is a discontinued model that I bought years ago from https://ambientweather.com. You can see my current conditions on WeatherUnderground at KTXALPIN105.

The desert sure soaks it up fast...

95,100,66,0,B

a little rain...

Got a little rain this morning in a heavy (but very brief) storm.  For a while it was looking promising as the rate was over 1/2"/hr.  The only problem is the storm only lasted about 10 minutes.  Forecast by early afternoon today called for another storm around 5PM with up to an inch more rain so I put stuff away and prepped my creek tank gear for some pumping.  Nothing as of 6:30 PM and the forecast is now down to less than a tenth of an inch - if any.  Still a slight chance of something later tonight...fingers crossed.  78,86,66, .14",B

a fast storm

One of the local isolated afternoon thunderstorms finally hit The Field Lab instead of anywhere but.  Got 5/8" of rain and a little hail in 25 minutes.  Topped off one of my 3,000 gallon creek tanks that only had 500 gallons in it.  Video tomorrow.  83,100,80, .625",B

rainbow

 

Had a tiny freak downpour this afternoon.  Got a fast 1/4" of rain then it cleared right up.  77,86,73, .25",B

that storm...

80,90,71,0,B

WATER

It has been almost two years since there has been enough rain in one storm for this arroyo to run (and this is several hours after it stopped raining).  A nice downpour around 9PM last night and again at 4 AM.  I almost forgot what a good thunderstorm was like.  Altogether I got just over an inch of rain.  That gave a much needed boost to my catchment tanks.  85,97,65, 1.1", B

fingers crossed...

 

68,78,56,0,B

Finally some rain?

A little rain prep. Took awhile, but I finally got the ol' water pump started in case I get a rain event that allows me to pump extra water out of the arroyo. I have two 3,000 gallon tanks waiting for a refill. It has been 2 years since I had enough sudden rain to do this.  A fast half inch will cause the arroyo to run for about an hour which is enough time to fill a 3,000 gallon tank with this pump.  89,99,65,0,B

after the rain

Had 1.20" of rain over the past 36 hours.  Checked the new road and job site by drone today and happy to see it didn't all wash away.  47,54,42, .10", C

a little rain?

Hoping this happens...I need to see how the road and job site hold up to some rain.  54,60,42,0,C

that stupid hurricane

Hurricane Willa off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico has been swirling clouds and moisture over TFL long enough.  Looks like I am in for one more good rain event tonight before the skies start to clear out.  The bad news is...I won't be able to start shipping out cross orders until probably Friday.  The good news is...I have plenty of food for me and my critters.

In other news...I reached a breakthrough today trying to cast an AA desire chip.  After 9 tries tweaking the pouring method without much success, I decided to give some sterling silver casting grain a stab at it instead of 999 fine silver.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out sterling silver is a champ when it comes to capturing fine detail.  This beefy chip comes in at one troy ounce and is twice the thickness of the aluminum chips they give out.  55,62,55, .10", B  

a little water...

It has been almost a year since I got enough rain at once for the arroyo to run'n'pump. My creek tanks are pretty low after all that time. Just bagged 2,900 gallons.  Video coming Monday.  68,74,69, .65",C