Tropical Storm SANDY wreaks havoc along the
New Jersey Coast, Hudson River, and NYC

Record Storm Surge of over 10 feet on the Hudson River

Different Storm Model Forcast Tracks and the Consensus Track

 SANDY came ashore along the New Jersey Coast just below hurricane strength, but the massive size of the storm, coupled with astronomical high tides and a phasing with the jet stream caused a massive storm surge that devastated many coastal areas. While the Hudson Valley was largely spared the ill effects of rain and wind, the storm surge up the Hudson River flooded riverfront properties all the way to the Federal Dam at Troy. The Hudson River Maritime Museum and the Saugerties Lighthouse both experienced flooding and record high water levels as did our informal clubhouse at Dock's place in Glasco.

To the south, our friends at the North Shrewsbury Ice Boat and Yacht Club experienced record flooding. A new high water mark now graces the shop above the work benches on the first floor -- they were very lucky that the building was not swept away or battered to bits by the flotsam in the Navesink River. The floor is buckled and a new furnace will need to be installed, but the building seems stable while slowing drying out and the historic material upstairs was not harmed.

Maine Update -- Early October

Late September and the month of October bring some of the most beautiful weather and scenery Maine has to offer. While the fleet of large schooners plying the summer tourist trade starts dwindling in number after Labor Day, numerous smaller yachts continue to run day trips with passengers enjoying the warm days and beautiful fall foliage until nearly November. Acadia National Park and the highway to the summit of Cadillac Mountain are much less crowded than in summer and the campgrounds stay open until mid-October.

 More photos are available in the 2012 October Picasa on-line album.

Rockport Marine Park is a nice stopping place for lunch when
taking the scenic drive Downeast from Brunswick to Belfast on Route 1

 Ocean Park and Old Orchard Beach -- home to Maine's largest traditional sand beach. We once caught mackerel here in 5 gallon buckets as they washed up on the beach with the breaking waves -- schools of hungry bluefish had herded them into the shallow water.

A brilliant red maple below Ron's barn is highlighted at sunset -- looking SE down Naskeag Point and across Tinker Island -- right click for the full screen view

Sunset under clearing skies after a cold and rainy day...

...lingering on as the sun works down and finds openings in the bands of clouds

Current Jetstream Forecast and Surface Conditions -- Image by Environment Canada

<  You can right click photos on this page to view them full sized and in highest resolution >

View towards Acadia before we began cutting tress and brush.

After a few days of cutting in August, Blue Hill Bay and the mountains of Acadia are starting to come to the fore.

...and two more days of cutting in October with five of us on the chain saws and pulling brush. Bernard, West, and Mansell Mountains across Blue Hill Bay in Acadia National Park now grace the view to the east.

Winter is coming

Normal Temperatures and Precipitation?

The current thinking of many forecasters is that we will be in a mild El Nino condition with the NAO index trending slightly negative and the Arctic Oscillation  returning to its normal pattern of bringing the cold air further south this winter. Factoring this all together, forecasters are calling for an average winter for the Northeast in 2012 / 2013. Expect some snow and cold weather, with some clear and mild spells in between. As always, if it plays out in a favorable sequence, we might have a great winter of iceboating with a snow, thaw, and extended freeze pattern. Or, it could go the other way, and leave us with ice buried under modest amounts of snow or never gaining enough thickness. Time will tell. The HRMM and Clearwater are on schedule to finish their new building on the Kingston waterfront in another month -- perhaps I'll get some rigging equipment set up with them and we can start splicing some new standing rigging for FDR's ice yacht, HAWK.