Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just after 6:30 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 46° under cloudy-skies, with winds of only seven mph that make it feel more like 43°. Today's high-temperature is forecast to reach 60°! Yes, you read that right, 60°! That's a lot warmer than yesterday's high temperature! The forecast from the NWS calls for a 50% chance for rain showers this evening. Unfortunately, that's it for the 60° temperatures. We can expect to see highs in the upper 30s, the lower to mid 40s, and perhaps the mid to lower 50s until at least April 26!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water or anywhere on land, the NWS is forecasting a High Wind Watch with wind gusts of 50 mph expected for tomorrow starting @ 8:00 a.m. and continuing until 8:00 p.m. Wind gusts of 60 mph will be possible. Tree limbs and power lines could come down, accompanied by scattered power outages. Tents may be blown over.

A High Wind Watch means that there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur.

A Gale Warning  has also been issued from 5:00 a.m. tomorrow until 5:00 a.m Tuesday! West winds increasing to 45 knot Gales and waves building to 8 to 12 feet on Monday are likely from St Joseph to Manistee! Strong winds will cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. Apparently, mariners should alter plans to avoid these hazardous conditions. They should remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure vessels for severe conditions. Apparently, a High Wind Watch differs from a Gale Warning as the former is for over land, while the latter is over the water.
 
Did I mention that our old friend, the Lakeshore Flood Warning  is also returning from 5:00 a.m. tomorrow until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday? That means that significant beach erosion and lakeshore flooding can be expected for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan and Van Buren counties. Significant erosion of beaches and dunes is expected along with damage to any property or buildings near the edge of the dunes could be in danger of possibly falling into the water.

Any preparedness activities to mitigate damage should be taken today! Moderate inundation of low- lying areas along the lakeshore and in river mouths is expected, and road closures are possible. Strong winds and high waves will continue to produce hazardous conditions on piers, breakwaters and unprotected shoreline so caution is still advised until the winds and waves subside. Winds and waves of this magnitude can produce moderate to severe beach erosion.

I guess it's time to once again add Gordon Lightfoot's The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald to my blog, so here goes, courtesy of YouTube™.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

But, in spite of all the scary things that I've reported in this blog, today should be a good day to get outside in the afternoon, sit on the deck with Mary, read a book and watch the fur-children as we enjoy what is likely to be the last nice day for the foreseeable future.

I went down to the man-cave yesterday and discovered that the first of our sweet pepper plants had sprouted in our indoor greenhouse. Hopefully, they will do as well as the tomato plants are doing.

Mary waited the requisite time before bringing in the groceries from the garage pantry yesterday afternoon. She had achieved the purchase of a vast trove of fruits and vegetables. Here is a pic of her bountiful harvest.

Green things! Salad fixings! Starchy things! Sweet things! What's not to like?

Mary and I had plans to do some organization of our desks today, in Mary's case to get her desk better prepared for her newfound interest in coloring. Me, to reclaim my desk from the clutter that always seems to accumulate over time. I believe that time on the deck in the afternoon is more appropriate. It seems that we'll have plenty of time and days for indoor activities for the next couple of weeks.

So, as is often said, "We'll see what happens." I spent the early morning hours adding to my manuscript too. Ciao.