January 2011 – The (Urban-Wildlife) Interface

January 31, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

How hot was it?

This weekend was one of the warmest ever in Arkansas for this date. Check out the NWS record report:

Record Report

000
SXUS74 KLZK 301834
RERLZK

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR
1235 PM CST SUN JAN 30 2011

...A NUMBER OF RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE SET OR TIED YESTERDAY...

THE FOLLOWING STATIONS SET OR TIED RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR THE
CALENDAR DAY JANUARY 29TH.

                                                     TEMPERATURE
STATION               NEW RECORD       OLD RECORD   RECORDS SINCE

RUSSELLVILLE          78 IN 2011       77 IN 1970   04/05/1883
JACKSONVILLE/LRAFB    77 IN 2011       75 IN 2002   01/01/1956
MOUNT IDA             76 IN 2011       75 IN 1947   03/01/1883
HOT SPRINGS AIRPORT   75 IN 2011       75 IN 1987   01/09/1948
NORTH LITTLE ROCK     75 IN 2011       75 IN 2002   11/01/1976

THE FOLLOWING STATION SET OR TIED RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES FOR THE
24-HOUR PERIOD ENDING SUNDAY MORNING JANUARY 30TH.

                                                 TEMPERATURE
STATION        NEW RECORD  OLD RECORD           RECORDS SINCE

BOONEVILLE     78 IN 2011  71 IN 2008...2002...  08/18/1949
                                 1967...1962
MORRILTON      78 IN 2011  75 IN 2002...1947     08/01/1919
NIMROD DAM     78 IN 2011  73 IN 2002            06/01/1942
CONWAY         76 IN 2011  74 IN 1917            11/01/1893
GILBERT        76 IN 2011  72 IN 2008            05/16/1936
MENA           73 IN 2011  71 IN 1987...1984...  05/01/1887
                                 1971...1962...
                                 1911

AT NIMROD DAM...IT WAS THE WARMEST JANUARY DAY SINCE JANUARY 10TH
1957...WHEN THE TEMPERATURE HIT 79 DEGREES.



Disclaimer from the NWS: 
These data are preliminary and have not undergone final quality control by the 
National Climatic Data Center (NCDC). Therefore, these data are subject to revision. 
Final and certified climate data can be accessed at the NCDC - http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov.
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January 30, 2011January 30, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

Cat(tails) and dogs

Yesterday’s hill workout (with camera, of course) was a story of cat(tails) and dogs.

Dogs tussle over a stick. — The two furry fellows from next door tussle over a stick after a dip in the pond. Both ere enjoying the 75-degree weather at the end of January.

January 29, 2011January 30, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

Here it is late January and according to the National Weather Service, it hit 75 downtown. However, as is often said, “if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” There’s a slight chance of snow in 72 hours.

Chipmunk enjoys a warm morning. — Squinting chipmunk enjoys a warm morning.

Cardinal in a tree — Cardinal gazes out from his perch.

1-29 M Fleche — It was so warm, it was a good day for car washing.

January 23, 2011January 23, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

Busy doing nothing

Life too hectic? Clear your mind. Take a two-minute timeout.

http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/

[You really have to work at it]

January 22, 2011January 23, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

Incoming geese

The drive to work was enlivened by an incoming flight geese. [Click on the photo so it opens on its own page; then enlarge it from there.] The first frames show the flock, silhouetted by the rising sun, on final, then flaring for landing.

January 21, 2011January 22, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

The two faces of Janus

Janus, the two-faced Roman god for whom January is named, showed both sides today in places less than 20 miles apart.

Snow covered trees — A fresh layer of snow falls in Ferndale -- just 48 hours after the remains of the last snow fall had disappeared. (cellphone photo)

And, near midtown Little Rock, spring is rising to the surface …

1-20-daffodils2 — Daffodils pierce the surface in a bed outside the Ottenheimer Library at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, while snow blankets other parts of the state. (cellphone photo)

January 15, 2011January 21, 2011 suburbanferndaleark Cement mixer

DYI Stalactites

Snow melt dripping off the deck and through the cement under the tiles is creating soda straw stalactites. Past stalactites have reached up to 3-4 inches before breaking off and shattering on the sidewalk. Below, flowstone builds up on the sidewalk. The question is how many years of rain and snow can the deck withstand?