Sunday, October 17, 2021

Mid-Autumn 2021_High Knob Massif

  
12 October 2021
Pickem Mountain of High Knob Massif
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

Autumn colors were at or approaching peak in upper elevations of the High Knob Massif, above 3000 feet, during 12 October.

About as many trees were dropping leaves or bare as still remaining green at the summit-level.

 12 October 2021
Upper Norton Reservoir
Reflections of the Autumn Season
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

Color changes were much greater along and above the great bands of sandstone and limestone cliffs that ring the High Knob Massif, with much less change below them where it will be another week or two before 
color change approaches or reaches peak.

12 October 2021
Upper Norton Reservoir
Pickem Mountain of High Knob Massif
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

12 October 2021
Upper Norton Reservoir
Reflections of the Autumn Season
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

12 October 2021
Upper Norton Reservoir
Reflections of the Autumn Season
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved


Precipitation Update

High Knob Massif
(Upper Elevations)

(Totals Listed By AM Measurement Format)
Monthly Total Precipitation
Big Cherry Lake Dam
(Elevation 3139 feet)

2019

January
6.14"

February
12.50"

Winter 2018-19
(1 Dec-29 Feb)
26.56"

March
5.93"

April
6.64"

May
6.75"

Spring 2019
(1 Mar-31 May)
19.32"

June
10.68"

July
10.77"

August
4.15"

Summer 2019
(1 Jun-31 Aug)
25.60"

September
0.63"

October
5.01"
( 5.89" to Midnight 31st )

November
5.20"
( 7.04" to Midnight 30th )

Autumn 2019
(1 Sep-31 Oct)
10.84"

December
8.52"

2019 Total: 82.92" (M)
 (January 1 to December 31 Period)

2020

*January
7.15"

**February
13.01"

Winter 2019-20
(1 Dec-29 Feb)
28.68"

March
9.55"
( 10.77" to Midnight 31st )

April
11.59"

May
8.73"
(6.90" on Eagle Knob of High Knob Massif)

Spring 2020
(1 Mar-31 May)
29.87"

June
7.48"

July
9.72"
(10.48" to Midnight 31st)

August
8.12"

Summer 2020
(1 Jun-31 Aug)
25.32"

September
6.21"

October 
7.06"

November 
1.96"
(Eagle Knob Snowfall: 0.5")

Autumn 2020
(1 Sep-31 Oct)
15.23"

December 
6.22"
(Eagle Knob Snowfall: 34.0")

2020 Total: 96.80" (M)
 (January 1 to December 31 Period)

2021

January
6.35"
***(Eagle Knob Snowfall: 34.0")

February
7.42"
(Eagle Knob Snowfall: 19.5")

Winter 2020-21
(1 Dec to 28 Feb)
19.99"
(21.70" on Eagle Knob)

March
10.82"
(11.14" to Midnight 31st)

April
2.53"
(Eagle Knob Snowfall: 2.5")

May
4.54"
(Eagle Knob Snowfall: Trace)

Spring 2021
(1 Mar-31 May)
17.89"

June
4.79"

July
5.55"

August
10.39"

Summer 2021
(1 June-31 August)
20.73"

September
5.82"

October
3.80"

Nov 1-14:
1.36"
(Eagle Knob Snowfall: 1.5")

2021 Total: 63.37"
 (January 1 to November 14 Period)

November 2019-October 2020: 102.34"

Autumn 2018 to Summer 2019: 91.21"

Autumn 2019 to Summer 2020: 94.44"

Autumn 2020 to Summer 2021: 73.84"

(M): Some missing moisture in undercatch and frozen precipitation, with partial corrections applied for the 24.4 meter (80 feet) tall dam structure where rain gauges are located.  Corrections are based upon 86-months of direct comparisons between NWS and IFLOWS at Big Cherry Dam (including occasional snow core-water content data).

12 October 2021
High Knob Lake Basin
In Orographic Clouds
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

Orographics are an integral part of the Appalachians.

An Orographic Forcing Perspective
Climatology of the Southern Appalachians

 With the transition between Convective and Orographic forcing seasons currently underway, and winter weather only a few weeks away at most for the high country, the above video will help to stimulate interest in the way mountains communicate their existence.

12 October 2021
Upper Norton Reservoir
Near Peak Color In Upper Elevations
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

Orographics are important to all aspects of weather and climate, including the often large differences observed in spring green-up and autumn color change.

12 October 2021
Mostly Green In Lower Elevations
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved


Color Peak 2021
Low-Middle Elevations

One of the later color peaks on record fits a climatic trend observed during recent decades that features warmer-than-normal September-October periods that tend to be followed by colder-than-average Novembers (and colder air is coming).

31 October 2021
Color Peak Along Pine Mountain
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

Milder September-October periods tend to generate color climaxes that are later than observed during previous decades (such as during the 1970s and 1980s), especially at lower-middle elevations.

31 October 2021
Birch Knob Lookout (Right Peak)
Color Peak Along Pine Mountain
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

This climate trend is acting to length the color period, with early changes beginning in the high country during middle-late September and now extending into November during many seasons 
at lower elevations.  

Halloween 2021
Color Peak Along Pine Mountain
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

Although this color season is featuring nice to spectacular color, this new climate trend often disjuncts the season.  This occurs as early autumn cool spells act to trigger initial changes, especially in upper elevtions, that are then slowed by prolonged mild conditions.  

31 October 2021
Color Peak Along Pine Mountain
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

 Progressive color changes following initial cool surges are becoming more atypical, with grand climaxes that span the entire vertical elevation range (as observed during numerous seasons in the 1970s and 1980s) becoming more unusual.

The "grand climax" being used for upslope zones within the Appalachians where coolness is more connected.  Significant differences in development of peak color periods are typical across the Mountain Empire, with initial changes starting in upper elevations and working downward over the period of several weeks into milder portions of lower elevations.

31 October 2021
Jesse Gap Peak of Pine Mountain
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved

31 October 2021
Autumn Color Peak Along Pine Mountain
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved


Breaks Interstate Park
Past Peak But Still Beautiful

Majestic Breaks Interstate Park is typically the last 
area to reach peak color within the 680 square mile watershed of the Russell Fork of Big Sandy River.

8 November 2021
The Towers of Breaks Gorge
Late Autumn In Breaks Interstate Park
Wayne Browning Photograph © All Rights Reserved