• Friday-What'sUP April 19 - 11:07 am

The calm 'after' the storm, I guess that's what this week has been with the warmer temperatures, sunshine and lack of snow. I heard John Dee report on the weather forecast the other day, that it was the first time in 6 months that there wasn't snow in the forecast. Hooray! :->

Today's photos come from Greta Jones and illustrate just a couple of the treasures we find when the winter snows give way to the warm rays of sunshine in the spring. The rivers, streams and lakes are thawing out and running quite nicely, meaning Lake Superior's shoreline rocks are once again emerging to be picked over.
Greta also spotted a nest that had been made close to the ground and had somehow survived the weight of the snows and fury of the storms. Perhaps as the birds return to the Keweenaw, a new feathered family will take up residence there.

Her last gem, is one that I never tire of... the pink sky as the sun goes down at the end of the day. It's happening later and later now, causing us northerners to think it's earlier in the evening that it really is. You see, we're used to darkness meaning 6:00 p.m. from a few months back, in the throes of winter. Welcome Spring and all it's treasures!

Yes, Welcome Spring!

Three great treasures. Amid snow, what else could be wonderful?

Very nice pictures. Happily, there's no snow where I live.

The last one is my favorite. Spring is very welcome, summer will be more.

I just emailed Deb/Mr Deb that it must be spring....I just heard the whine and rumble of a barge heading north up up the Mississippi River!

MsKatie, the Mississippi River has passed flood stage? Or did it rise very much this year? You must be fairly close to the river where you live to hear the barges. Ever hear of Keithsburg? On the river south of you.

Hi
Downstate, we felt like the winter was longer than normal. This was in part because Easter was so early("at & after Easer it's supposed to be mild spring weather" said my subconcious)and in part because it was genuinely a colder spring, with more days where it snowed a little. It's been shirtsleeve weather all week here. Based on the snow cover map at NOOA, you folks in copper country are finally getting some significant snow melt.

The sign of spring for my mom & I is to hear the spring peepers and the chorus frogs.

,Kathryn I'm sure I heard some peepers last evening on my way home about 7:30 in the country. Tom...yes I live almost a city block from the shore of the river. It's up quite a bit but not flooding at least not here in the Lock & Dam 12 and 13 area. Had quite a bit south of here by the Quad Cities where the Rock River comes into the Mississippi, when the ice jams caused problems. But nothing real bad lately. The run off up north (Wis. & Mn.)hasn't flooded here so far. I've heard of Keithsburg, down toward Quincy maybe? Next to the Great Lakes I love the big Miss.!