Old Weather Forum

Thank you, Morgan. I hope you are staying dry!

How are you doing, Morgan?



NYT: "California has a history of floods: In 1862, the governor-elect took a rowboat to his own inauguration because Sacramento was so deep in floodwaters."

Many years ago, when I was living in Sacramento and we had had heavy rain, I passed an apartment parking lot that was a foot or two below the street level. I don't know how the adults felt (I think most of them had moved their cars earlier), but the kids were having a wonderful time wading and even paddling a little inflatable raft!

Thanks for yours concerns. We are fine here in Long Beach. Particularly located here to avoid forest fires, north of the fault and liquifaction zone, too far from the coast for a tsunami, or sea level rise but close enough to get a bit of cool summer ocean influence. Not about to fall off a cliff into the ocean and not in a canyon or foothills that flood. ...Boring... We've had 5 inches since Christmas, and expect more tonight. That's more than either of the past 2 years all totaled. My pond- which I only add water to when it is dire - is filling up. Wish I had a cistern. I am planning a trip in a few weeks to see wildflowers which should be GREAT this year. Weeds are growing crazy!

NYT: "California has a history of floods: In 1862, the governor-elect took a rowboat to his own inauguration because Sacramento was so deep in floodwaters."

Gee, massive floods in the winter of 1861/62. Someone on the science team should ask us to dig out any ship weather data for that winter to see if it can shed any light onto this phenomenon.

Oh, right. They did and I'm doing...

10- or 15 years ago I participated in a study on mega-hazards, including Atmospheric River flooding risk. It was lead through US Geological Survey at Cal Tech and Dr Lucy Jones, our earth quake specialist. It is one thing that drew me to Old Weather. Someone went through all the old newspapers to develop as much of a picture of that 1860's event as possible. From that, they built a model for current land use. My part was to help evaluate the flood's impact on the Los Angeles' water System and how long it would take to get back up and running. Land weather records in those days were not as reliable as ships'. Particularly in Central California. The risk, besides immediate danger was that if we could not get things up and going fast enough, people would leave and permanently relocate to other areas. One of the issues they had in Hurricane Katrina. Interesting history meets science meets technology impact on society project.

As for ship's records, here's USS St. Mary's in San Francisco Harbor...

https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorag ... 16-067.JPG

For our UK transcribers.
Seems like it is a bit chilly over there. This link may help pay something off your heating bills.
For those who don't like ads then here is the direct payment link without the story.
https://coldweatherpayments.dwp.gov.uk/search.php

For the full story with ads see.
https://metro.co.uk/2023/01/18/cold-wea ... 5-18122166

(Sorry I cannot un-link the article from the ads.)

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Christopher Stoneking, aka Hanibal94, on January 19th. As you all know, Chris has been with Old Weather since the beginning of this project. He was our most prolific transcriber, and he kept us on track during our games of Shipopoly. We looked forward every Saturday for his contribution to the Dockside Gallery. He was active in the forum, and a pleasure to know. He will be greatly missed.

His family has set up a memorial page here.

What a shocking, tragic waste. I've watched his life developing since he was at school, a young man of many talents who overcame many difficulties in his life and who seemed to be have found a niche where he could develop his career. May he rest in peace.

Such terrible news - I don't really know what to say.

The life of the party he was, OW will not be the same.

I, too, don't know what to say. I had not met Chris, nor even written to him personally, but his humor and energy reach all the way around the world in a time of worry and isolation. His work and contribution to the body of knowledge is more than most people several times his age.
May fair weather be yours always.
Morgan - the Shipopoly Buoy.

Oh my... what a terrible news

Rest in peace mate

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATTEO!!!

That's one cool bear