March 13, 2011
Above The High Knob Massif - Wise County, VA
Heavens Glory - Sunday Morning Wave Clouds
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
[ Even without the gorgeous mountain waves this photograph would be important as it clearly illustrates how the northwestern flank of the High Knob Landform joins its remnant massif of highcountry, with union at the wind gap ( Little Stone Gap ) near Powell Valley Overlook and the City of Norton.
The ring of mountain crestline above marking the northeastward most point of headward erosion which has opened up the great calcareous core of the High Knob Landform to form this truly magnificent natural wonder ].
What better way to spend a Sunday morning than beneath heavens glory as captured by gifted photographer Roddy Addington from the rolling floor of majestic Powell Valley.
Getting to this awesome photograph, and beyond, will be illustrated by a series of scenes captured by Roddy over a period of time on this wondrous Sunday morning!
March 13, 2011
High Knob Landform
Just Before Sunrise - Rippling Waves
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
Just enough moisture was present in the atmosphere to reveal waves rippling through its fluid of air, on WNW-W flow aloft and a light SW stream of predawn air at the surface near a weak cold frontal boundary.
Morning Surface Chart at 8:15 AM on March 13, 2011
NAM Model Initialization at 8 AM on March 13, 2011
Images Courtesy of the Unisys Weather Processor
It appears that a combination of conditions allowed this wondrous scene to take shape, with orographic lift & convergence along the High Knob Massif in low-levels joining lifting beneath the right entrance region of high altitude jet stream winds.
March 13, 2011 ( Sunrise )
Remnant Highcountry Mass of High Knob Landform
Myriad Of Waves Become Illuminated Above Massif
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
[ Big Cherry Basin spreads outward beyond the high crestlines seen above, southwest of Grindstone Dome, to form headwaters of the South Fork of the Powell River, wetlands, and 632.6 Million gallon Big Cherry Lake ( water elevation of 3120 feet ) ].
An amazing number of wave clouds are layered, or vertically stacked, upon each other in the above setting, with a notable concentration observed lee of Grindstone Dome ( as in the opening photograph ).
March 13, 2011
High Knob Massif & Powell Valley
Mountain Waves Add To Gorgeous Sunrise Setting
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
Very colorful lenticular waves are highlighted in the above scene as sunrise approaches a truly glorious climax illustrated by the first photograph opening this section.
A few minutes later, as the color climax begins to fade, this next scene is captured by Roddy.
March 13, 2011
Sunrise Begins To Fade
Above The Breached Powell Valley Anticline
Morning Glory Over The High Knob Massif
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
Rod Addington Photography
Reference the following section of this website to see another sunrise featuring precious moments in time:
Heavens Glow - A Pure Inspiration
Reference this section to view another glorious Sunday Morning:
Sunday Morning Upon The High Cumberlands
Reference this to view a magnificent sunset from the High Knob highcountry:
December 2010 Opens Wintry & Wild
For an array of gorgeous sunrise and sunset views, reference this section of the website:
Glorious November Amid High Knob Landform
Start Of Meteorological Spring
Climate Statistics
( As of March 15, 2011 )
March 13, 2011
The High Knob Landform
Looking to Morris Butte of Powell Mountain
Rugged Mountain Landscape & Wave Clouds
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
[ Note a large and beautiful multi-story home in the far distance resting upon the base of Morris Butte of Powell Mountain, which marks the southwestern opening to South Fork Gorge and the beginning of the large southwestern expanse of the High Knob Massif ( known locally as the Powell Mountain Block ) ].
An abundance of clouds, precipitation, and wind during the first half of March kept nightly temps relatively uniform across lower-middle elevations, with somewhat colder conditions amid the upper elevations where snowfall was most significant.
Climate Statistics For
March 1-15, 2011
Clintwood 1 W - Elevation 1560 feet
Average Daily MAX: 53.6 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 29.7 degrees
MEAN: 41.6 degrees
Total Precipitation: 4.58"
Total Snowfall: 2.5"
( 2011 Precipitation: 9.28" )
City of Norton - Elevation 2141 feet
Average Daily MAX: 50.2 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 29.5 degrees
MEAN: 39.8 degrees
Total Precipitation: 5.99"
Total Snowfall: 6.0"
( 2011 Precipitation: 11.94" )
Nora 4 SSE - Elevation 2650 feet
Average Daily MAX: 49.5 degrees
Average Daily MIN: 30.1 degrees
MEAN: 39.8 degrees
Total Precipitation: 5.48"
Total Snowfall: 5.9"
( 2011 Precipitation: 9.54" )
In the High Knob highcountry, March 1-15 temperature means varied from low-mid 40s by day at the highest elevations to mid-upper 20s at night. Coldest conditions were in lofty basins where 8 of 15 days had 1" or more of north slope snow depth.
[ Snowfall totals during the first half of March varied from 10" to 16" above 3000 feet in the High Knob Massif, with greatest totals at highest elevations above 3400 feet ].
March 13, 2011
Powell Valley of High Knob Landform
Post-Sunrise Wave Clouds & Pre-Spring Beauty
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
If the second half of March was productive it would be a significant precipitation month, given 7.00" to 8.00" having already been tallied in the High Knob highcountry during March 1-15.
Highland Vistas
From The Tennessee Valley Divide
Southern Dickenson County
Cows With A View - March 12, 2011
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Riner Thoughts...
"Warmer temps have helped the cows with green grass starting to grow while the woodlands remain a winter grey."
[ A general 4.50" to 5.50" of precipitation was measured across much of the Russell Fork Basin during the first half of March, with totals being reduced leeward of the High Knob Landform on numerous SSE-SW air flow events ].
March 12, 2011
Tennessee Valley Divide
Having Fun Amid Fields Of Gold
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Riner Thoughts...
"The west wind blows through the golden grass left over from last year. The sun brings new green grass and other new life."
[ Westerly wind components are most common in the mean at this latitude in the Northern Hemisphere, with SSW to NNW trajectories observed during many weather settings ].
March 12, 2011
Tennessee Valley Divide
West Winds Supply Electricity
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Riner Thoughts...
"The west wind blows to provide power to a barn and near the ground a Tree Swallow was observed. This Tachycineta bicolor was the first one seen this year. It winters in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean and returns to Dickenson County to nest."
March 12, 2011
Tennessee Valley Divide
A Sign Of Warmer Weather ( Windy Too! )
Photograph by Wayne Riner - © All Rights Reserved.
Wayne Riner Thoughts...
A kite flies against a blue sky as a child calls, "Watch me fly it!"
A very "cool" kite & great photograph by Wayne!
( Updated: March 17, 2011 )
Gorgeous Sunset Ends The Day
With An Array Of Colors!
The High Knob Landform
Powell Valley Overlook ( Along U.S. 23 )
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
A frosty cold morning MIN of 25 degrees in the City of Norton gave way to a wonderful March day and MAX of 64 degrees.
March 17, 2011
Calcareous Core of High Knob Landform
Gorgeous Sunset From Powell Valley Overlook
Photograph by Roddy Addington - © All Rights Reserved.
What better way to end such a day than with a simply gorgeous sunset!
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