As you all probably know, it barely rains here anymore. (Except for the three inches or so that just dropped on Goose Creek, but I digress.) With the relative lack of rain and above-average temperatures for this time of year, fire danger is definitely out there.
Right now there’s a giant cloud of smoke hanging low over Downtown and the rest of the Lowcountry. This smoke is coming from some wildfires burning south of Georgia, and the southwest winds are blowing the smoke up this way. Needless to say, air quality sucks right now. It’s pretty nasty out. Last night, I was walking to a friend’s house, and the moon was bright orange from all the smoke in the atmosphere. Ugh.
Let’s hold out hope for some rain that doesn’t come from a severe thunderstorm (my parents reported extremely heavy rains and quarter-size hail — NEXRAD backed them up on that) that can make things a little bit better, because right now, it seems like late June versus early May. Next week should bring relief with a cold front set to come through during the day Sunday.
Discussion of Smokin’! is now closed
I only heard the thunder in Moncks Corner.
I did notice the orange moon last night. Thought it was pretty hazy out, as I couldn’t see a lot of stars that I can usually see just fine.
As far as that storm in the GC, I can back that up. I was coming home from work (TTC, Main campus) and it was sunny and hot, so I had the windows down and sunroof open, and then I got to pretty much 52 & 78 and decided it was about time for windows up and AC on, because at the top of the hill coming into GC, traffic slowed to 30 and you couldn’t see anything.
Drove the rest of the way home in 3rd gear (stick shift) and was doing some pretty good evasive driving to go around fallen limbs from trees on 176. Got home and sat in the driveway for 20 minutes before getting the courage to make a break for the front door. Did it, got inside and went out on the back porch (nice roofed shelter) and there was lightning pretty much every 10 seconds. I could hear occasional hail fall, and then it stopped raining and became sunny within about 5 minutes.
Came inside and brought up noaa.gov to check out the radar, and it really did develop from nothing, and sat in one spot for an hour before starting to drift ENE. Crazy afternoon, for sure.
All I know is, I’d love to have some more wicked weather. I’m all about sitting outside in the midst of it.
The smoky haze did make for a cool sunrise this morning though
Goose Creek got rain tonight? If I supply the buckets will they haul some to West Ashley?