Cold with a rain/snow/freezing rain moving in

Good Morning Augusta

This morning we have a Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 7 am to noon EST Wednesday. During today we’ll have cloudy skies with afternoon snow showers and a high of 34 ºF. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. 

Tonight we’ll have rain and snow during evening hours with rain and snow changing to all rain overnight. Low 32 ºF. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.

The readings from my weather instruments in the North field are:

Humidity is 86%, the dew point is 23ºF, outside it’s -3.7ºC and 25.6ºF.

The wind direction is North Northwest between 0.9 MPH and  2.7 MPH, generating a wind chill of 25.6ºF.

The Barometric pressure is 30.38 / HPA 1028.7 and falling with a weather graphic indicating rain/snow.

The UV rating is 0.0 out of 16, Sunrise is at 7:14 a.m. Sunset is 4:12 P.M. Moon rise is at 10:21 a.m., Moon set is 10:00 p.m. and the moon phase is waxing crescent.  

The RAW METAR reading from the airport in Augusta, Maine is:

SPECI KAUG 031218Z AUTO 33004KT 10SM BKN028 OVC060 M05/M07 A3034 RMK AO2 T10501072 $

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 Kilometers with Mostly Cloudy skies to 2,800 ft / 853 m., and Overcast to 6,000 ft / 1,828 m.

We didn’t receive any rain or snow here over the past 24 hours.

SPACE WEATHER

Today’s Solar flux is 73, the solar wind speed is 517 Kilometers per second and the chance of a solar storm is 1%.

Continuing with low fat recipes:

FRESH FISH CHOWDER

Serves:  6

You can use almost any fish in this chowder—we suggest halibut.

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 large garlic clove, minced

1 small onion, chopped

1 large green pepper, chopped

1 lb. crushed tomatoes

1 tbsp. tomato paste

½ tsp. dried basil

½ tsp. dried oregano

¼ cup dry red wine or white grape juice

Dash of salt and pepper

½ cup uncooked white rice

½ lb. fresh halibut, cubed

2 tbsp. chopped parsley

• Heat the olive oil in a 3-quart saucepan. 
• Add garlic, onion, and green pepper; sauté for 10 minutes over low heat until vegetables are tender.
• Add the tomatoes, 1 tbsp. tomato paste, ½ tsp. basil, ½ tsp. oregano, ¼ cup dry red wine, dash of salt and a dash of pepper.
• Let simmer for 15 minutes.  Add the rice and continue to cook for 15 minutes.
• Add the halibut and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes until fish is cooked through.  Garnish stew with chopped parsley and serve.

Exchanges:  1 carbohydrate, 1 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat

Calories:  181; fat:  6 g; cholesterol:  12 mg; carbohydrate:  22 g; fiber:  2; protein:  10 g; sodium:  72 mg

Blogger note: The sodium exchanges could use some work here, but in general this isn’t too bad.  IF you tinker with this recipe too much you’ll kill off it’s dietary impact, so leave it alone. And remember, no dessert. At all. None.