Starship Asterisk*

rstevenson wrote:Oh, I don't know. It's pretty nice around here too. :)

Chris Peterson wrote:
It is. Nice just about everywhere, I think.

Chris Peterson wrote:It just doesn't get much better than autumn in the Colorado Rockies.

IMAG2417p.jpg

IMAG2415p.jpg

BMAONE23 wrote:Chris,
What is the White Stuff surrounding the edge of the lake in the first image??
White stuff is foreign to me!

Looks like the beginning of Icing Over.

orin stepanek wrote:
We had our first freeze of the season this morning!

BMAONE23 wrote:
Is that Pluto from Charon, or Charon from Pluto?

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
`Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,'
. I said, `Art sure no craven.
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!'
Quoth the raven, `Nevermore.'

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2559&#91 wrote:
Super Typhoon Francisco Becomes Earth's 3rd Category 5 Storm of 2013
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 5:02 PM GMT on October 19, 2013

<<Mighty Super Typhoon Francisco has intensified to become Earth's third Category 5 storm of 2013. The other two Cat 5s were Cyclone Phailin, which hit India earlier this month at Category 3 or 4 strength, killing 44 and causing at least $1 billion in damage, and Super Typhoon Usagi, which hit China just east of Hong Kong as a Category 2 storm on September 22, killing 50 and causing at least $3.8 billion in damage. Satellite loops show a spectacular, well-organized storm with an impressive area of heavy thunderstorms and a prominent eye. With warm waters that extend to great depth and low wind shear, Francisco is likely to stay at Category 5 strength until an eyewall replacement cycle begins. Francisco is headed northwest towards Japan, and will likely stay at Category 4 or stronger intensity until Tuesday, when the storm will encounter higher wind shear and cooler waters. By the time Franciso makes its closest approach to Japan on Thursday, weakening to Category 2 or lesser strength is likely. In their Saturday morning runs, both the European model and GFS model predicted that Francisco would turn northeastwards on Wednesday, and hit Japan on Thursday. There is very high uncertainty in the storm's track that far into the future, though, since the timing of Francisco's turn the northeast is difficult to predict.>>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2013/10/18/double-whammy-drenching-in-japan-super-typhoon-francisco-may-follow-wiphas-path/ wrote:

[b][color=#0000FF]MODIS satellite image of Typhoon Francisco, taken at approximately 03 UTC on October 19, 2013. At the time, Francisco was a Category 5 storm with top winds of 160 mph. Image credit: NASA.[/color][/b]

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Double whammy drenching in Japan?
Super typhoon Francisco may follow Wipha’s path
By Jason Samenow, Washington Post, October 18

<<Just one week following a deadly dousing from Typhoon Wipha, a second typhoon could deluge Japan. On the heels of Wipha comes super typhoon Francisco, about 250 miles west-northwest of Guam, tracking north-northwestward.

Long-term track guidance takes super typhoon Francisco on a course generally towards Japan, with another round of rain and wind possible some time between Wednesday and Friday next week. Over the last 36 hours, Typhoon Francisco has rapidly strengthened and, with maximum sustained winds around 155 mph, is the equivalent of a high-end category 4 hurricane. As its peak winds exceed 150 mph, it has earned super typhoon status.

Its current satellite presentation exhibits the traits of an extremely powerful cyclone, with a well-defined eye surrounded by heavy thunderstorms. By next Wednesday, around the time Francisco may be approaching Japan, peak winds are expected to have decreased to 80-85 mph. Still, should even a much weakened Francisco make a direct hit on Japan, it would likely bring a second round of torrential rain following up to 33 inches of rain from Wipha. Wipha’s rain caused mudslides and flooding, leading to 18 deaths. At the Fukushima nuclear plant, the level of radioactivity spiked after heavy rains may have lifted contaminated soil according to EuroNews.>>

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-braces-severe-storm-20695127 wrote:
UK Braces for Severe Storm
LONDON October 27, 2013 (AP)
By CASSANDRA VINOGRAD, AP, October 27, 2013

<<The worst storm in several years is forecast to hit the U.K. on Sunday, bringing heavy rain, hurricane-force winds and the expectation of flooding and transport disruption. As winds picked up and Britain prepared for the storm — dubbed St. Jude officially and #Stormageddon on social networks — major sports events such as a regular NFL game in London between the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium appeared set to go on regardless.

Prime Minister David Cameron told government agencies to ensure that contingency plans are made for transportation, schools and power supplies during the storm, which could have gusts stronger than 80 mph. The storm is expected to move across the country and head out over the North Sea by Monday afternoon. Britain's Met Office said it could cause widespread and severe disruption from falling trees, power cuts and flooding. Ahead of the storm, Heathrow Airport warned travelers to expect delays. Rail networks canceled many trains preemptively up through Monday morning, citing the high risk of trees and other debris expected to fall on train lines.

Once St. Jude — named after the patron saint of lost causes — passes through Britain, it is expected to hit parts of the Nordics Monday afternoon. The Danish Meteorological Institute issued a warning, saying winds of hurricane-strength are expected in some parts of Denmark and heightened water levels in western Jutland near the town Esbjerg. The Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute also issued a warning, saying it expects hurricane-strength winds to hit southern and western Sweden on Monday evening, potentially causing damage and disruptions to travel services. It said the stormy weather is expected to subside as it moves north on Tuesday and Wednesday.>>

geckzilla wrote:Of course there are J's everywhere in the cloud formations on St. Jude Day.