MikJournal Monday 05/15/2017...TornadoTalk

Welcome to another installment of MikJournal Monday. Unfortunately, I haven't been as regular as I would like to when it comes to posting information.

But this is gardening season. Gotta get the crops in the ground. And lately, well, it's been too cool and damp to suit my taste. So, I am running a little bit behind schedule. But, that's okay. Last year, I did not get all my vegetables in the ground until almost Memorial Day, and I had the best pepper garden ever.

This year, my garden will have these plants: 4 Bell Peppers, 2 Bertha Bell Peppers, 2 Anaheim Chili peppers, 1 Jalapeno pepper, 2 Sweet Banana peppers, 1 Habanero pepper, 2 Zucchini, 1 Yellow Squash, and Tomato.

In addition to the Rosemary that is already in the garden, I also have Thyme in a pot by itself that keeps coming back year after year. I am also supplementing 3 more herbs in a large rectangular pot that will house Cilantro, Spearmint, and Spicy Oregano.

Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. I already have my 66-gallon rain barrel completely full. So, even if I am running low in the rainfall department, I have plenty to draw from to get the plants established.

In Louisville, we are running about 2.5 degrees below average for the month. In fact, the last time Louisville had a monthly temperature below average was May of last year.

The average temperature for the next few days is about 66 degrees here (when you take the high temperature and add the low temperature, then divide by 2). We will be probably be running above the mean at least for a few days before another brief cooldown by this time next week.

Speaking of average temperatures, on the days of May 8-10, our average temperature was supposed to be 65 degrees. Here's how we fared...

May 8th - 8 degrees below average
May 9th - 7 degrees above average
May 10th - 12 degrees above average

Interestingly, that 65 degree average is seen somewhere else besides above or below average statistics. It is also found in the heating and cooling degree days calculation. Primarily used for estimating power and/or fuel consumption for residential and business dwellings, this 65 degree base is used. Any average over 65 degrees counts as cooling degree days and any average below 65 degrees counts as heating degree days. Therefore...

May 8th - 8 heating degree days
May 9th - 7 cooling degree days
May 10th - 12 cooling degree days

Finally, you will notice that I have added another Pick on the side of the blog. It's called TornadoTalk. Usually, I subscribe to the podcasts of all the episodes. I have really enjoyed the podcasts. Even without video, you still capture the human emotion behind the interviews. From an adrenaline rush to compassion to disbelief.

I just recently listened to Episode 30 entitled How Close is Too Close? An excellent panel with storm chasers, emergency management officials, reporters, meteorologists. I discovered a wide range of personal emotions as I listened to how close some are willing to go to get that shot of a tornado doing its thing.

I have listened to at least 4 episodes and have enjoyed every one of them. They also have a twitter feed and a NWS twitter feed from various local offices on their Web site. I highly recommend it!

Have a good week.

MS