tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post5459138360299137863..comments2024-03-28T23:07:35.632-07:00Comments on Cliff Mass Weather Blog: Avoiding Falling Trees During WIndstormsCliff Mass Weather Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13948649423540350788noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-80181243728159352842016-03-28T14:48:39.907-07:002016-03-28T14:48:39.907-07:00Actually, the threshold for tree damage used to be...Actually, the threshold for tree damage used to be much higher - more like 60 mph winds. The real reason they are falling - and injuring people and property - so frequently now is that trees everywhere are weakened by air pollution. You can't see tropospheric ozone, but the background level is increasing as more and more precursors (NOx, methane) are released, and circumnavigate the globe. Ozone is toxic to people causing all sorts of heart and lung disease, asthma, cancer and even diabetes BUT it is even more poisonous to plants. Trees that are exposed season after season suffer cumulative damage and greater susceptibility to insects, disease and fungus - all epidemics around the world. See short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn1Xy_j48k0Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-9824939715897401312016-03-27T08:16:22.011-07:002016-03-27T08:16:22.011-07:00Seems like a little common sense is needed. Sad t...Seems like a little common sense is needed. Sad that some people seem to want to point the finger of blame Every time something bad happens. Government can't fix everything. Use common sense when the winds blow and stay away from potential hazards, keeping in mind that accidents can still happen when the greatest of care is taken. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-14967102841324657552016-03-26T22:38:30.197-07:002016-03-26T22:38:30.197-07:00My cousin Jonny and his son died when a tree fell ...My cousin Jonny and his son died when a tree fell on their camping trailer some years ago. My kids walk a longish trail through high forest from the bus stop and during gusty conditions I am often checking your site or NOAA and debating whether to pick them up and stay downtown (Mercer Island) until it blows over, or let them walk through it. It is a tough call, winds seem to often be peaking around the afternoon. At least it feels that way to me. While no one has been hurt so far there have been many, many trees down this winter. I have been hit by a branch while waiting for them. It's one of those gray areas. It would be over-reacting to keep them home or down the trees, but it can be a dangerous situation and is a hard call.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11626637035627174044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-16346363755657106482016-03-26T16:38:01.818-07:002016-03-26T16:38:01.818-07:00Perhaps we should ask the city to cut down all the...Perhaps we should ask the city to cut down all the trees in every park and along every trail - you never know when one might collapse and hit someone. We could always erect new "trees" made of green styrofoam.<br /><br />And, while they're at it, perhaps they should mandate a several-foot-thick layer of foam be placed around all cars, busses and trucks - it might save lives.<br /><br />Also, we need to replace the hard pavement of all roads and trails (such as Burke Gilman) and replace it with something less likely to injure a person when they fall.<br /><br />I'm not anti-government... but I find the idea that the government can somehow protect us from any and all possible harm ludicrous.<br /><br />Westside guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01515889347828936860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-21869593480697418142016-03-26T12:46:41.502-07:002016-03-26T12:46:41.502-07:00We lived for many year with acreage. Did not allow...We lived for many year with acreage. Did not allow tall trees near the house, and we did not go where the alder section was during wind storms. <br /><br />Parks probably should just have signage that winds and heavy snows create danger near large trees. You are at risk if you enter under those conditions.<br /><br />National Parks are seldom sued successfully, wilderness dangers are assumed when you enter. RLLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13850927095383579725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-72698746820426530632016-03-26T07:17:21.255-07:002016-03-26T07:17:21.255-07:00Once again, the Seattle Times uses misinformation ...Once again, the Seattle Times uses misinformation and hyperbole to try and impact policies. It's sad that's the paper that has lasted in Seattle. <br /><br />My deepest sympathy the family friends of the man who died. MEKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10638483825049388543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-37138582289310284102016-03-25T23:32:27.883-07:002016-03-25T23:32:27.883-07:00i knew the guy who was killed. :(
RIP, Erici knew the guy who was killed. :(<br /><br />RIP, EricBATTLEFINCHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09960023649219767737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-92049909167646926822016-03-25T19:41:48.378-07:002016-03-25T19:41:48.378-07:00How about a warning system at major park entrances...How about a warning system at major park entrances that flashes red when wind gusts approach 30 mph. Similar to the 'fire danger' signs located along Vashon's main highway. <br /><br />Even after the wind stops, large branches hung up in trees can fall unexpectedly as the wind shifts or rain adds weight to the broken branches.<br /><br />Winds can gust over 100 mph in Boulder, Colorado. I had a good friend and class-mate who thought it was cool to go walking during a strong wind-storm. A tree toppled over and the large branches struck her back. She survived and mostly recovered. She was young and young people like to do dangerous things.<br /><br />After a good blow, it can take me several hours to days to clear all the large branches and trees from my drive, yard and a couple miles of wooded pathways. I'm still working on a large Arbutus (Madrone) tree that fell last December. <br /><br />I don't even let our dogs out when the wind blows. It's not ambiguous. When the wind gets going it literally rains branches and twigs with the occasional big crack and crunch as trees fall colliding into adjacent trees on their way to the ground. <br /><br />It's not safe to drive either. Cars provide little protection against large trees. Dark, hilly roads can hide fallen trees and live power wires. My neighbor was driving on the island and suddenly came across a tree fallen over the road. He swerved to avoid colliding with it and landed in the ditch with water up to his waist. Totaled his SUV.<br /><br />I love trees, got a tree-house, but like the ocean, respect it.<br /><br />I have dozens of wind stories. I grew up in the upper Midwest. Had a small border line F1 tornado run over our house when I was 10. Yes, it sounded like a freight train. Watched another one dance through a corn field east of Greeley, Colorado. Like my friend in Boulder, I stood outside and watched the darn thing, it was way cool. <br /><br />I was chasing storms on my bike then in my car long before they were professional storm chasers. Now that I'm old, I watch storms on radar and weather cams or sit on the back porch.<br /><br />Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09751991294132134335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-65896501023678816402016-03-25T15:54:10.175-07:002016-03-25T15:54:10.175-07:00Hi Cliff. Great blog as usual. I wonder why the ...Hi Cliff. Great blog as usual. I wonder why the City Light people or whoever is responsible for dangerous trees doesn't do something about the large limbs over Ea. Madison from Lk. Washington Bl. east to McGilvra. To my untrained eye these lg. branches look like a widow-maker in waiting. Perhaps the trees are on pvt. property?<br /><br />Art Pasetteclayguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02866532219699476011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-24828362439686042602016-03-25T11:15:42.825-07:002016-03-25T11:15:42.825-07:00Hey Cliff,
Check out the UW radar loop at 10:48 A...Hey Cliff,<br /><br />Check out the UW radar loop at 10:48 AM today. It looks unusual to me. Thunderstorm? Anomaly?<br /><br />Thanks, Paul Henriksen, Lopez island.Paul Henriksenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123826419964814352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-74983887088228049202016-03-25T09:09:55.454-07:002016-03-25T09:09:55.454-07:00Thanks for the earthquake early warning plug!Thanks for the earthquake early warning plug!John Vidalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09871768524749705799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7478606652950905956.post-1311126353903601462016-03-25T09:07:58.775-07:002016-03-25T09:07:58.775-07:00Great blog post as always. I'm opposed to Sea...Great blog post as always. I'm opposed to Seattle closing their parks during any weather event because some parts of them can be safe and awesome places to go. A great example would be Lincoln Park during the last wind storm. Walking from the south end out to Coleman pool would be safe and spectacular. If Seattle closes the park, but then doesn't enforce the closure, they would likely be liable for not making certain people stayed out.<br /><br />Of course I did stop my son for heading out for his weekend walk during the storm as I felt it would be foolishly risky to be out walking towards Alki during that weather. <br /><br />I do like the app idea. It could be added on to on a regular basis for other information that could be useful for safety and convenience.JordanPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03512504026479840683noreply@blogger.com