2013 Rocketry Season Saved?

[SteveA]

Forecast calls for 10 to 14 inches of snow. It's pretty dry, but hey, we'll take it. Now it needs to follow up with a week of rain after this melts down. Maybe we'll have a rocketry season after all. Even if it is brief before the blast furnace kicks-on.

 

[MG13]

I've always wanted to try some snow launches, but never seem to get around to it.

 

[BeerorKid]

Congrats. That storm should hit us this evening. Stuff is closing down already. State worker here, we do not shut down and I live the closest to work. Snow launches are fun, but I could go for a warm and dry launch one of these times.

 

[Green Jello]

Do you mean that your seasons have recently been ruined because it was too dry?

 

[JPVegh]

What is this ,"snow", that you speak of?:confused2:

 

[SteveA]

Do you mean that your seasons have recently been ruined because it was too dry?

Yes, last year was a complete wash. Kansas has been a tinder box since last May. One continuous Red Flag Conditions. I just didn't want to risk setting the entire county on fire. If there's an astronomical chance of something going wrong, it's going to happen to me...

 

[BeerorKid]

How is it there today? Not a flake yet here, but school and the university closed.

 

[BeerorKid]

someweatherdude by beerorkid, on Flickr

Jim Cantore is in my town bored as heck right now

 

[DAllen]

I've always wanted to try some snow launches, but never seem to get around to it.

If you're dressed for it the snow isn't that bad. The nice thing is you certainly don't have to waste any time clearing away any "flammable undergrowth" because there is no way you are going to set the grass on fire if it's below any snow.

Another plus is when you fly off of fresh snow. Every now and then when a piece comes off a rocket that will make it slightly easier to find. I had a 38mm case kick out and the only reason someone found it for me was because of the imprint it left in the fresh snow.

On the other hand...it can suck - especially when the snow starts to melt and the ground thaws then getting around on foot is a real pain.

 

[SteveA]

How is it there today? Not a flake yet here, but school and the university closed.

The main event began rolling in here about 2AM, they haven't closed the Interstate because the wind is out of the east and the snow is not drifting across the lanes. Forecasts still call for anywhere between 12 and 20 inches. If I had to guess, I'd say we've had a foot of snow. If the wind shifts to the north as expected, it's gonna get messy. The dog is driving me nuts. She wants out and then wants right back in...I thought I was finished with this after my kids grew-up. All Kansas roads are being reported as snow-packed and icy. The wind backed-off around 7AM, but it howled all night.

 

[SteveA]

The wind has shifted, the storm center is spinning over top of us and even heavier bands are on the way. 14 inches on the ground right now. We may just get our 20 inches yet! Just closed I-70 from Hays to Salina.

 

[paul.nortness]

God I love living on the west coast!

 

[SteveA]

What is this ,"snow", that you speak of?:confused2:

Here you go JP:

 

[boomtube]

I’m not sure how much the few inches of snow we received here in western Oklahoma is going to make after 3 years of drought but every little bit helps.

 

[SteveA]

I’m not sure how much the few inches of snow we received here in western Oklahoma is going to make after 3 years of drought but every little bit helps.

I hear you. The moisture content of this one wasn't that stellar, but it's a start. Forecast shows snow again Sunday. I hope this is the beginning of a long wet cycle for all of us here on the plains.

 

[boomtube]

I hear you. The moisture content of this one wasn't that stellar, but it's a start. Forecast shows snow again Sunday. I hope this is the beginning of a long wet cycle for all of us here on the plains.

Western Kansas is probably much like Western Oklahoma in that the majority of its precipitation is due to a rather narrow “Storm Track” that runs north/south between the Gulf and the Arctic or east/west along an equally narrow band.

I once attended a lecture about the natural history of Western Oklahoma and apparently this region of the country can go back and forth between desert and near rainforest conditions in less than a generation and has done just that many times.

We newcomers just haven’t been hear long enough to go through one of these cycles though the Native Americans who resided in these parts have been forced to migrate many a time when conditions got so harsh even the scorpions packed their bags.

Supposedly about the time the “White Man” showed up Western Oklahoma was just about recovered from the last desertification. All it takes is for the storm track to shift a few degrees one way or the other and we could see a return to those conditions within a few years.

 

[BeerorKid]

the storm really puttered out here in Lincoln. Folks went insane and I even got to go home at 3, but the snow seems pretty much done. Neighborkids shoveled the whole block including my driveway. Thittle jerks stole my thunder. I love shoveling. It is like manicuring a white lawn. I was able to go out and sweep off the little that was left. At least they made nice piles. Not as nice as I would of though.

The drought hurt most of Nebraska bad this year. Never even crossed my mind that drought would be bad for rocketry, but it makes total sense. I will keep a couple fire extinguishers in the launch truck from now on and avoid really dry days.

 

[SteveA]

Western Kansas is probably much like Western Oklahoma in that the majority of its precipitation is due to a rather narrow “Storm Track” that runs north/south between the Gulf and the Arctic or east/west along an equally narrow band.

You have more sand... and armadillos.:grin: I live at the edge of where the rain shadow ends (by 20 miles) and where I am from, which is about 40 miles from the Colorado line, they've had more precip than we have had here. It's crazy. Regardless, we're (most of Western Kansas) still in exceptional drought conditions and it would take about 30 inches or more to bring us back to normal. Are you in Lawton by chance?

 

[SteveA]

I love shoveling.

Get in your vehicle and head southwest. I'll put the coffee on.

 

[chuck5395]

God I love living on the west coast!

Yep, you never have to shovel the rain.

 

[BeerorKid]

Get in your vehicle and head southwest. I'll put the coffee on.

I am just starting to get into the burnt bean water. My wife gets the gourmet crap and it is good. I normally only use it like a drug when needed. She made me up some full strength frozen cubes because I like it lukewarm or cold. I am not to the addicted stage yet.

SOMEONE STOP ME

https://radar.weather.gov/Conus/uppermissvly_loop.php

It is just circling around Lincoln right now and dumping like crazy. We had a pocket of dry air swing under it for a bit and it was chill, but now it seems to be focusing on us.

[video=youtube;fLZU3pw0Mh8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLZU3pw0Mh8[/video]

Husker fans are crazy

There was also a horse it seems too.

I freaking love living here

 

[cruzsergio]

This is why I'm at the very end of Florida

 

[Rex R]

after visiting the UK for a 2yr stay...I prefer Tea.
rex