The cold week helped to form ice on Lake Superior along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, but not safe enough yet to venture out to see the ice formations. The above freezing temperatures this coming week but break up the ice that has formed.
Checking out the Ice Caves
The day started out at zero degrees but it very slowly warmed to the 20s by afternoon with the sunshine brightening up the snow cover on a wintery Saturday.
Winter Sunshine
With the temperature dropping to -21 overnight, it sure has me wishing for a nice summer day down at the pond watching fluffy clouds floating by, dragonflies darting about, bees landing on the flowers and listening to frog croaking.
Pond on a Summer Day
Punxsutawney Phil and Sun Prairie’s Jimmy the Groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, but if winter only lasted six more weeks, that would be an early spring for here. It was too cold for any of my furry rodents to poke their heads out of their winter dens, but they wouldn’t have seen their shadow at sunrise, but the dozen turkeys crossing the road at noon did see their shadows so it might be a really long winter.
Turkey Predicting Long Winter
After another morning chilly start of seeing the white coating of snow, it may be hard to remember that in six months, the Black-eyed Susans will be adding its bright yellow color to the landscape again.
Sunny Summer Susans
Summertime may bring some severe thunderstorms, but at least the temperatures would be warmer during the heavy downpour.
Approaching Thunderstorm
With the artic air today, it is almost hard to remember needing to sit in the shade while on the beach last summer because it was too hot. A little of the hot summer air would feel good now and to be able to wade in the water that isn’t covered in ice.
Warm Beach Day
The below zero temperatures can cause frozen fingers, but it can also create interesting frost patterns on windows which resemble fern leaves.
Frosty Patterns
With the temperature below zero this evening, livestock would appreciate a warm barn, even if it is in the shape of an octagon. This barn was built in 1893 in Sauk County of southwestern Wisconsin and the red color stands out against the summer greens as well as winter white but I prefer the green over the cold white.
Octagon Red Barn
The sky finally cleared enough tonight to see the stars, but in January, clear skies often means cold temperatures. But since tonight might be the only clear sky with little moon the next few day, I did venture outside tonight to search for the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF). I saw a shooting star first before spotting the comet but I didn’t try setting up my camera since the wind chills were below zero. It is more fun to observe a comet in July instead of January, like this comet visitor in 2020.
2020 Comet NEOWISE
