Morning and Evening Asylum

The forecast last night was for rain extending well into the day today. Flash flood warnings were issued, but I live pretty high up on a hill so those don't worry me, but it was raining when I went to sleep last night and it was still raining when I woke up this morning.

I stayed in bed a little late because I'm retired now and I've earned that right and because it was an uninviting, dark, rainy morning. When I finally did get out of bed around 10 a.m., there were about a dozen text messages waiting for me on my phone. Another tree went down in the neighborhood, this time on Northside Drive, and although I still had power, electricity was out for many others.

Then came the tornado warnings. The rain outside didn't seem intense enough to generate tornados - I wouldn't even have called it a "storm" - but the NWS had issued high wind advisories in addition to the flash-flood warnings and the tornado watch. Good times. I made a pot of coffee and turned on the local news.

Kamala Harris is in Atlanta today for some reason, and most of the news was about traffic advisories and road closures associated with her visit. They noted the fallen tree on Northside blocking a major north-south traffic artery and showed flooded streets all over the city.  No concerns about tornados, though.   

According to the national news, at least three tornadoes were spotted in northeast Florida. One reportedly touched down in Panama City Beach, and tornado warnings have been issued for parts of Alabama and Louisiana. Severe thunderstorms remained at high risk, with warnings in place for southern counties in Alabama and Georgia. The Hartsfield Atlanta LaToya Jackson Chicken 'n' Biscuits International Space Emporium Airport had to delay 34% of its outgoing flights, a total of 336 departing planes.

It's all good, though.  I've still got power and internet access, at least for now, and I've got food, video games, some booze, and even a smidgen of recreational drugs (wheee!).  No reason to go outside today.

The rain's already letting up here, but high winds are still in the forecast for the rest of the day.  The wet weather, though, is forecast to return on Friday and then again on  Monday, bringing in cold temperatures (13°F!) behind it.  Oh winter, winter, winter, are you but a servant of the bad one?

The Universal Solar Calendar calls today Morning and Evening Asylum. Today, I take refuge at home. Agāra saranam gacchami.