HIDE Winter Storm Watch issued November 13 at 4:03PM EST until November 15 at 1:00PM EST by NWS Blacksburg
...Wintry mess expected Wednesday Night into Thursday...
.Low pressure over the Gulf Coast will stay west of the
Appalachians Wednesday night into Thursday, while another low
forms off the coast of South Carolina. At the same time, cold high
pressure will wedge southward into our area keeping temperatures
at or below freezing at and near the surface. This will result in
a threat of freezing rain and sleet Wednesday night into Thursday.
...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...
* WHAT...Light to moderate icing possible. Total ice accumulations
of a quarter to six tenths of an inch possible.
* WHERE...Portions of southwest and west central Virginia, north
central and northwest North Carolina and southeast West
Virginia.
* WHEN...From Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Power outages and tree damage are likely
due to the ice. Although road surfaces will be warm, some slick
spots could occur.
HIDE Flood Watch issued November 13 at 3:25PM EST until further notice by NWS Blacksburg
...Another round of moderate to heavy rain may produce flooding...
.Low pressure will move from the Gulf Coast States Wednesday
evening to west of the southern Appalachians Thursday morning. A
secondary low will form along the southeast coast during this time
lifting north to the Delmarva by Thursday evening. Precipitation
amounts of one and a quarter to 2 inches will be possible during
this time. That combined with already saturated soils and elevated
streams and river levels may lead to flooding.
...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY
EVENING...
The National Weather Service in Blacksburg has issued a
* Flood Watch for portions of North Carolina and Virginia,
including the following areas, in North Carolina, Alleghany
NC, Ashe, Caswell, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes,
and Yadkin. In Virginia, Carroll, Charlotte, Floyd, Franklin,
Grayson, Halifax, Henry, Patrick, and Pittsylvania.
* From Wednesday evening through Thursday evening
* 1 to 2 inches of rain on already saturated soils, and with some
rivers still elevated, could lead to more flooding, Wednesday
night through Thursday.
* Flooding of streams, and creeks, along with main stem rivers may
flood.
It has been a while since the last update, but the winter chill and the arrival in our region of several interesting ducks on Lake Hickory have folks looking hard for everything from Long-tailed Duck to Common Mergansers to Common Goldeneye. The recent warm up this week may make it easier on birders to get out and see what else is out there. My best recent birds have been very reliable Red Crossbills at Bass lake, both down at the parking lot and up at the apple barn. My three recent hikes out there have turned up about 6 to 10 each time. Not many reports of other interesting things at our elevations, but it is nesting time for Great Horned Owl and Bald Eagle.
The weekly Wednesday bird walks at Valle Crucis Community Park will start back on Wednesday, April 4, and continue through mid-October. However, the leadership of the walks will change.
Given recent changes in my health and most recently, changes in my role at Audubon North Carolina (now serving on the interim leadership team while a new Director is hired) and the demands of that added responsibility, I will have to step away from involvement in the Wednesday walks at Valle Crucis Park. Chapter volunteers did an amazing job of filling in last year (although actually filling in doesn’t do it justice, as I only did two walks after May last year).
It has been an amazing 15 years or so of weekly walks and we have seen some great birds and amazing nests and behaviors. The Park is a wonderful asset and I hope we keep showing how great it is to folks young and old. My new role just takes too much time for me to commit every Wednesday morning in a meaningful way and is unfair to those who are stepping up to lead or showing up to walk. I appreciate more than I can say the friendship, conversation, and dedication of everyone has been one of the great joys of my life, and I hope to be able to get back to it at some point in the future. Thanks to everyone!
For now, they will become High Country Audubon Society weekly bird walks, and HCAS volunteers will assume leadership of the walks. Please come join us every Wednesday starting on April 4 for Come Bird @ Valle Crucis Park, and invite others to come take part in the birding excitement there!
See the High Country Audubon website at www.highcountryaudubon.org for lists of field trips and other programs.
Some sparrows are around still despite our recent cold snap. Photo by Steven Bullock
Belted Kingfishers are finding it hard to find open water but a few linger on the New River. Photo by Steven Bullock
Thank goodness for a splash of Cardinal color. Photo by Steven Bullock
