With months of the pandemic, weeks of wildfires and dense smoke, I feel a need to share some words of a lighter nature. Please, as you read, imagine and smile with me.
First, however, the trough of low pressure off the coast will finally kick inland tonight and Friday with scattered showers, some heavy, some not so much and stronger winds. This will help greatly in many ways.
A chance of thunderstorms too. I can close my eyes and visualize true-blue skies and visibilities beyond 10 miles, by late in the weekend.
What could possibly be on the lighter side of things than the lowly woolly bear caterpillar, our companion each autumn. Some look forward to pumpkin-spice lattes or pumpkin anything. I look forward to the woolly bears.
As they crawl across your path, slow down. Perhaps even sit on the ground at their level to marvel and watch these little critters. I doubt they know of their reputation as a forecaster without a meteorological degree. But they persist and are back with the fall season.
Many of you have sent me your observations of them, so let’s share some news. Folklore says the wider the middle orange band, the milder winter we will have and a narrower, a cold one. Richard Beilsmith of Salmon Creek sent three pictures, all with wide middle bands. Doug Groiss, Fern Prairie, also had a wide band on one he saw. Toni Johnson observed another wide band on the WSU campus.
Lynda Wittren off St. Johns Road found another with a wide middle band. Steve Nelson of Hockinson found an undernourished specimen with yet another wide orange band. Are we getting a theme here? Oh, hold on, Katie Johnson found three in Camas with narrow bands. Someone always has to be different, huh? At least they are keeping to themselves.
Nancy Vargo at Cottonwood Beach, another wide band. Lynne Kingsley on the Salmon Creek trail, a wide orange band there. Alan Rasmor at Lacamas Lake saw a wide orange band. The majority rules. A mild winter on the way. Wait! Government scientists now tell us a new LaNina is upon us that may challenge the woolly bears. To be continued Sunday. Stay tuned.
