WIND GUSTS KNOCK DOWN A DOZEN (miniature) TREES SOUTH OF JEFFERSON PARK
According to an e-mail I received today at 5:47 p.m. (Wednesday, August 11, 2021) the National Weather Service predicted wind gusts up to 80 mph, accompanied with rain and possibly hail for our region.
According to the NWS:
“A thunderstorm watch will remain in effect in Cuyahoga County until at least 8 p.m.
As of 5:40 p.m., approximately 1,200 First Energy customers in Cuyahoga County were without power, according to the company's outages website. The majority of the outages were concentrated on the county's west side, hitting suburbs like Bay Village and North Olmsted.
Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter.
Mobile homes will be heavily damaged.
Expect considerable damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles.
Extensive tree damage and power outages are likely."
Well, before I even opened the e-mail – the electricity in our house (on Cooley Avenue facing the south side of Jefferson Park) went out at 5:35 p.m. – but fortunately came back a few seconds later – requiring re-setting of radios and microwave ovens.
I went out to survey any possible damage.
A dozen miniature trees (maples, mulberries, and others) growing out of pots and sitting in our driveway were knocked down as shown in the lead photograph.
As I don’t have a license to drive – there are no cars in our 2-car garage – and flower and tree pots line up the driveway and fill it up like a plant nursery.
No damage was observed to the miniature trees that grow up to heights of 5 to 6 feet.
The second photograph shows an empty garbage container knocked to the ground and moved nearly 15-feet from its original location. The metal driveway gate stopped the container from going further. It was headed in the southerly direction.
We got a half-inch of rain in the evening.
In the morning – between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. – we got 3/8 inch of rain.
I was out from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. I was walking for most of the time. Initially there was a light drizzle and then it was partly sunny and muggy – nearly 100% humidity.
Since last Saturday, (August 7) – according to my records – based on rain gage readings – we got nearly 3 inches of rain to fill all our multiple containers - all sizes – 1 gallon to 28 gallons -- front and back for a total volume of 150 gallons.
This is nearly 20 cubic feet – worth about 44 cents according to the Cleveland Water Department – but worth much more in the abundant joy I get in using the rain water from the clouds to feed our potted plants (sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, marigolds, and others).
The third photograph shows the filled containers in our backyard under the main roof spout.
While I was out inspecting the damage – Smokey and Gingy (mother in the back and son in front) – in the fourth photograph -- our two darling outdoor cats accompanied me. When I am out – they follow me everywhere – even crossing Cooley Avenue. It takes some effort to shoo them back. And, of course – Galena their dear friend and our golden retriever with a curly tail (now at the Rainbow Bridge) watches over them.
We have had a few very hot days.
Today, like yesterday (see 5th photograph) – the high reached 89 deg. F according to the SVDP (St. Vincent de Paul) electronic board. The reading got cut off a little – I was taking the photograph from the other side of Lorain – and it was very hazy – making it difficult to see what I was snapping.
And at 7:00 p.m. as I was writing this post – the temperature had dropped to 67 deg. F.
That is a drop of 22 deg. F in one day. No wonder this makes Nature go nuts – wind gusts up to 80 mph accompanied by rain and may be hail – bringing destruction left and right.
Supporting our Local Economy: From what I know: Six house-owners around Jefferson Park – invested approximately $15,000 to get trees cut and trimmed and another $6,000 for repairs made to electrical connections (from fallen trees or branches) during the past 15-months.
Have a storm-free rest of the summer season!
Link to previous reports on storm damage:
http://realneo.us/content/55-mph-wind-gusts-cause-tree-other-damage-north-east-ohio-region [1]
(Here is a link to the story of our Galena:
“THE PEACABLE KINGDOM ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF JEFFERSON PARK WITH GALENA -- A BIG BUNDLE OF IRISH LOVE"
http://realneo.us/content/peaceable-kingdom-south-side-jefferson-park-galena-bundle-irish-love [2]
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