Weather Geeks

It seems that many of the bloggers I’ve been reading have shared my pain with the summer drought…In fact, everyone is commenting on the weather.

I know. I know. It’s the nature of gardeners to be worried about the weather. But I have to confess. I am more than a little interested in the climactic events in our world.

When I see a mackerel sky, backlit in oranges and yellows by the sun, I always wonder “Why?” I know the old sailors’ adage, “Mackerel sky. Not long wet and not long dry.” But I don’t know why that’s the case.

And when I see a weather map in the local paper with those spiky little lines ominously headed my way, I don’t know whether to be worried or overjoyed.

Given my curiosity about our natural world, I really need to learn more about the weather. In fact, I have long contemplated putting in my own little weather station.

No. I am not kidding you. And no, I do not think this is an abnormal interest.

I knew a fellow a while back who was miraculously elected to public office. I say “miraculously” because he was singularly unremarkable. Even his friends had to contemplate whether or not they wanted to vote for the guy. So, naturally, I was curious to what he attributed his electoral success.

“It was the Weather Channel,” he told me.

The Weather Channel?

He told me that with his limited campaign funds, largely weaseled out of his parents (he didn’t tell me that part), he dumped ALL of his campaign advertising dollars into the Weather Channel. It seems that people who are interested in watching the weather on television also make their voting decisions by watching Weather Channel television ads.

Apparently, there are a LOT of weather geeks out there.

The reason I bring it up today is that there was an article in the Washington Post on Thursday that featured a number a weather geeks. You can read the whole article, “Eyes on the Skies: Backyard Weather Watchers, Tracking Raindrops and Wind Gusts” by searching for it on the Washington Post website.

But since I DETEST websites that require you to provide your name and contact information before sharing what they have to offer, I will tell you, more or less, what the article had to say.

1) There are a LOT of weather geeks. (Already proven by the above, I think.)

2) Sometimes, chance encounters, such as meeting the esteemed Willard Scott, inspire the interest. Sometimes it’s just in the DNA.

3) You can spend a LOT of money on a home weather station. The Post reported one fellow with more than $1,000 of weather equipment mounted on top of his garage.

4) If you are hot on the weather, you can join the American Meteorological Society. (There is a society for EVERYTHING. I happen to know this because I do research for bunches of them.) There is also a system of observer networks located regionally.

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to have your own personal weather station. In its sidebar, “Five Basic Weather Widgets,” the Post tells you that the basic tools are:

1) A thermometer (duh). The Post advocates one of those digital thermometers with sensors you can place outdoors and monitor that goes indoors. And who are you to argue with the Post, eh? The weather geek quoted liberally in the article says the Radio Shack EMR662, for $29.99, has a range of 100 feet and is a good one. You can also go upscale with a thermometer that has a radiation shield for $65 from Davis Instruments.

Personally, I have one that I bought from Wal-Mart for a song. Sure, the time/date feature never did work, but the temp is more or less on target.

2) Rain gauge (duh, again). Mostly, the key is location, location, location. Put it away from the house and trees. (Duh.) You can go digital here too, but that seems to be overkill for what it does. Just talk outside and look at it already.

Personally, I have a small rain gauge with little frogs on it. Even the local weather guesser quoted in the article has a small decorative one that she says works just fine and dandy.

3) Barometer. Now this I don’t have. I desperately want a barometer. A barometer seems a very desirable thing to have. I LONG for a barometer. I want to boast to people I am a barometer owner and watcher. A barometer is on my Christmas wish list. What does a barometer do? No idea. When I get one and read the instructions, I will report in.

4) Weather radio. Now THIS, I DO NOT agree with. These are annoying little electronic contraptions that squawk any time they get the idea that something weather-related is happening and talk to you WHETHER YOU WANT IT TO OR NOT. I do not like intrusions. I do not want an electronic report bleeping at me that there is a rise in air temperature.

5) Journal. This is a handy place to keep good records of precipitation, temperature, wind direction, humidity, air pressure and such.

Get real. This is geekery beyond what I can support or even humor. Yes, I know that some bloggers notate the temperature for the day. That is okay. But to go into more detail is too far close to the edge for comfort. I’m thinking that some Obsessive Compulsive Disorder medication might be in order. Like for that goofy food blogger I was reading for a while who posted EVERY SINGLE DAY what she had for dinner the night before. It was like peeking into a psychologist’s notes to see what that girl was thinking about.

So go forth, my friends. I wish you fair weather. And reliable instruments.

Ciao,