Perfect Weather

I know that most of you have not been experiencing perfect weather lately. In the words of Douglas Adams, “don’t panic”; it will all be over soon. You just need to look at it in a geographic perspective. Or better yet use an astronomical perspective. For an interesting and short article see this link to the Universe Today web site Astronomical perspective.

Around 1920 Milutin Milankovic (a Serbian mathematician 28 May 1879 – 12 December 1958), proposed that fine changes in Earth’s orbit around the Sun could explain an approximately 100,000 year cycle in glaciation seen from geological evidence. Ice core samples bear this out.

Anyway, here we are with rapidly increasing CO2 levels when, according to the cycles, we should be seeing decreasing levels. Gee, I wonder why? It could be difficult to understand if your perspective is such that the earth is 6,000 years old. I love it when they (those who believe that) deny global climate change is being influenced by our species. Rather, it is just part of normal cycles.

Back to our weather. Started raining a few days ago and we got 9″ in 48 hours. At least there were no tornados; we got off lightly. Yesterday Roger texted that Table Rock Lake had risen 10′ and the runoff from upstream should keep it rising for a couple of days.

Here are a few shots of the lakeshore from the DeJean’s deck.

That is the 24 hours after the 10′ rise. The last one was taken this morning; it is still rising. I’ll edit this post with update photos in the next few days.

There have been several deaths from people being swept off roads trying to cross flooded creeks and rivers. There are flood warnings for Branson as well as surrounding counties. So naturally, I ventured out to see.

The Branson area was under flood warning because of the water release from Table Rock Lake. So I drove into town.

The dam is a tourist attraction.

The photo on the right shows the Taneycomo River where Roger and I fish by wading the bank. Usually there is little to no discernible current. Today it looks like it is flowing better than 15 kts and several feet above our heads; wading not advised.

Downstream in what is usually Taneycomo Lake……

Above is the “Yacht Club” just upstream from the Branson waterfront shopping mall

This is the RV park for the Mall

RV park up close.

This is the upstream end of the mall. Mid river current is better than 7 kts, normally little to no current.

Hard to see but the first building is the Bass Pro Shop. I might come back tomorrow and try to walk out on that bridge. It will be closed because the water is already up to the road in the upper left hand corner of the photo.

Same section below.

This is the entrance to the RV park.

This is the normally 20′ wide Turkey Creek in Hollister.

The DeJean estate will remain safely above the water.

I know there were much worse outcomes for lots of other areas and this storm is not finished with the rest of the country. I hope you all faired better, with nothing worse than shoveling a bunch of snow.

Stay Warm.