The Birth Of A Thunderstorm

There was a cold front that was expected to move over the area yesterday, and with the temperatures hot and the air very humid, thunderstorms were expected. As the clouds began to bubble up in the afternoon, we decided to drive to the nearby Mentor Headlands Beach to watch the storm roll in. We had to wait about an hour and a half for the front to come in, but it was well worth it. We were able to see the storm from its early stages of thickening clouds and crepuscular rays to a full blown, massive thunderstorm. As the storm moved in off Lake Erie, the wind picked up considerably, blowing sand which stung our skin. The clouds and winds dropped in at the eastern edge of the beach, over the Fairport Harbor West lighthouse, causing the gulls lounging there to quickly scatter. As we were on the western side of the beach, this was the perfect signal to run for cover. We easily made it to our car before the full force of the wind and rain hit.


Here are some photos and a very short video that I am sure cloud and storm lovers will enjoy! (Click on any image for a larger view.)

All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com

Check out my blog home page for the latest information, chriszimmer.blogspot.com, here.

Tall Ships Visit Fairport Harbor & Mentor Headlands

 
Last week, the “Tall Ships” were visiting Fairport Harbor in Lake County, Ohio,  and we viewed part of the Parade of Sail from the Mentor Headlands State Park vantage point. The Headlands dunes trail leads to the break wall on the western side of Fairport Harbor -  a perfect place to view the event  It was hot and muggy but we found a spot where a few trees provided shade. We watched as the ships exited the harbor,  raising their sails as they entered Lake Erie.

Saturday evening we returned to Mentor Headlands, hoping to catch some of the ships sailing on the lake. Three ships did head out of port. It was extremely windy and a small storm was coming in from the east and the skies looked ominous. As a result, those few ships that ventured out were not out long. They quickly returned to Fairport Harbor and lowered their sails. Here are a few photos from both days that we visited. The ships featured are the El Galeon Andalucia, Draken Harald Harfagre, When And If, Appledore IV, and Appledore V.  I also included photos of the Fairport Harbor West lighthouse, Lake Erie, and the Mentor Headlands dunes.  (Click on any image for a larger view.)

All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com

Check out my blog home page for the latest information, chriszimmer.blogspot.com, here.

Record Warmth in December in Ohio

The temperatures hit 70 degrees yesterday in the area – a record high for December 12th. Temps were in the low 60s when we took a walk yesterday morning on the dunes trail at Mentor Headlands State Park in Ohio. There was only a light breeze and the clouds were thick and very grey. Still, who would want to pass up a December walk by Lake Erie when the weather was so warm? Here are a few photos.

All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com


Check out my blog home page for the latest information, chriszimmer.blogspot.com, here.

Fall Sunset at Mentor Headlands

The fall colors are arriving and the weather has been beautiful. It was a good time to watch the sunset at Mentor Headlands Beach State Park. The dunes grasses were beginning to show warm colors, which made for a nice frame on the dunes trail to the west breakwater lighthouse. The Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and marine museum is also in view from the dunes trail. In some of the photos, the “Belt of Venus” is visible. Here are a few photos.

All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com


Check out my blog home page for the latest information, chriszimmer.blogspot.com, here.

Fairport Harbor Lighthouse

The Fairport Marine Museum (Fairport Harbor, OH) sits at the base of the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and can be easily seen from the eastern side of Mentor Headlands Beach. Walking the Headlands Dunes to get to the Mentor Headlands Lighthouse (which is on Lake Erie at the eastern end of Headlands beach and the western end of the mouth of the Grand River), the Fairport Lighthouse can be spotted just a short way inland on the eastern side of the Grand River.

Last Sunday my husband and I headed to the Fairport lighthouse, both of us planning to make the trip to the top. Unfortunately, I only got a third of the way up before the open steps of the spiral staircase gave me a slight case of queasiness. I think I was more worried that I would be able to make the trip down without being frozen in fear. My husband braved it all the way up to snap a photo of the view from the top. I took all my pictures safely on the ground.

Panorama photo © John J. Zimmer

All Content © Chris A. Zimmer and chriszimmer.blogspot.com except where noted

Check out my blog home page for the latest information, chriszimmer.blogspot.com, here.