Summer's Upon Us!

Our Little Lana (she's heading this way for the weekend!)

Mornin'!  It's 72° in Wildwood NJ.  Happy Summer!  It's officially the longest day of the year...almost 15 hours of daylight...5½ more hours than the Winter Solstice.  The Summer Solstice marks the exact moment when the sun's direct rays reach as far north as they get (appearing straight overhead)...highest and longest path through the sky, the Earth's position is causing our Northern hemisphere to tilt right toward Ms Sun bringing more direct sunlight thus warmer temps. We may not see much of Ms Sun today though as it'll be mostly cloudy with a 40% chance of showers and/or thunderstorms today (mostly after Noon).  She'll definitely be peeking through the cloud cover off and on today though.  Temps will barely hit 80° with West winds at 6-8mph becoming NE by this afternoon.  Tonight...20% chance of showers and/or thunderstorms with temps in the mid-60s and Easterly breezes at 6-10mph.  Sorry to report that tomorrow and Saturday don't look too promising.  Both have mostly cloudy days with chances of rain in the forecasts (especially on Saturday) as Sunday's the keeper on this one!  Whatever way you look at it...it's Summertime and the livin' is easy! Happy Summer!  We'll be celebrating this weekend with our little ones visiting!
High tide:3:43p.m.
Low tide:9:15a.m.
Ocean temp:66°
Sunset 8:30p.m.
UV Index:7-8 (med-high)
Rip Currents: Low risk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWFJLUBwpSY

Nice Hump - Last Day of Spring

Mornin'!  It's 71° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and shining down with hardly a cloud in the sky.  Breezes are very light out of the East at 2-4mph.  It'll be a mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-upper 70s with breezes out of the S-SE at 5-10mph.  Tonight...clouds begin to roll in as temps drop down into the low 70s with breezes out of the South at 9-12mph.  Tonight brings a cloud/rainy weather system that seems to be checked in for awhile.  Tonight's overnight will bring rain (60-70% chance) which will be continuing through most of tomorrow and I'm sorry to report Friday and Saturday.  I've tried to pull up some better weather reports and can't find one.  This was supposed to be clear sailing of a near-perfect weather start to summer week but it's not the case. Things change tonight as rains are due in.  At this point, Sunday looks great.  I'll continue to report my findings because we all know how unpredictable and fickle the Weather can be.  By the way...my porch thermometer read 91° yesterday afternoon and there was no mention of that in any forecast.  It was a really hot and humid one yesterday. Ending on a good note...this last of Spring's a keeper!
High tide:2:48p.m.
Low tide:8:16a.m.
Ocean temp:66°
Sunset:8:30p.m.
UV Index: 10 (very high)
Rip Currents:Low risk

Doppler Tuesday

Mornin'!  It's 81° in Wildwood NJ.  The blog's a little late due to sleeping in as that ol' "insomnia thing" snuck in during the night again.  Whew...it's warm and humid out there this morning!  We're under cloud cover at the moment with no breezes to report.  No...wait...Ms Sun just broke on through.  That's exactly the kind of day it's going to be...mostly cloudy with Ms Sun peeking through as temps get even higher...mid-upper 80s.  Breezes will eventually begin out of the N-NW at 9-11mph.  Rain...15-20% chance depending on where those rain clouds are, so keep that doppler nearby.  In fact, before beginning this morning's check on the forecasts out there...the doppler had a rain "green" system heading right for our section of the island.  So far, so good though.  Tonight...mostly cloudy with temps in the low-mid 70s and breeze out of the S-SE at 3-5mph.  Tomorrow...partly sunny / partly cloudy with cooler temps...mid 70s.
High tide:1:52p.m.
Low tides:7:16a.m. and 7:36p.m.
Ocean temp:66°
Sunset:8:29p.m.
UV Index:8-9 (high)
Rip Currents:Low risk
FOOTNOTE: At 3p.m. this afternoon, the back porch thermometer was on 91°!!!

Lovely Monday

Mornin'!  It's 69° in Wildwood NJ.  We're in the soup as we've got some very heavy fog over the island.  No breezes to note.  It's quiet and still and drippy.  It'll be a warm one today once Ms Sun breaks through all this moisture covering the island.  We're supposed to have some lovely clouds in the deep blue sky a bit later. Temps will be tapping the 80° mark with breezes commencing out of the S-SE at 9-12mph.  Tonight...more cloud cover moving in, temps in the mid-70s with breezes out of the S-SW at 10-14mph.  Beginning on the overnight, we might see some heavier clouds roll in as there's a 20% chance of a passing shower and/or thunderstorm.  All the forecasts I've checked are now saying 40% chance of rain tomorrow as the temperature rises into the mid-80s.  It'll be another lovely day down the shore today.  Just keep your eye on the doppler tomorrow.
High tide:12:55p.m.
Low tide:6:19a.m. and 6:31p.m.
Ocean temp:66°
Sunset:8:29p.m.
UV Index:10 (very high)
Rip Currents: Low risk

It's Father's Day!

Mornin'!  Happy Father's Day!  It's 70° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and shining brightly.  No breezes to note.  It's not too humid and just a tad warm.  There's more of that loveliness out there kicking off yet another beautiful morning!  It must be alll those father's up there who ordered up another perfect day for all the Dads out there! Expect plentiful sunshine, light Southerly breezes 5-10mph and temps in the low 80s.  Tonight...more lovely Spring weather with temps in the upper 60s, breezes out of the South at 6-11mph along with that lovely, big crescent moon shining along with all those stars.  Last night's sky was breathtaking.  Oh...did a beach day yesterday from 11-3 and it was everything you'd want for a beach day...blue skies, cool breezes, hot sun, comfortable (not too cold and not too rough) ocean along with light crowds.  A couple things though...the sand is "hot" already in this early season.  I'm talking burnt feet if you were to wear no foot covering traversing that beach.  I'd also suggest a canopy of some kind as I saw many folk sunburnt just frying in the blazing sun with no cover.  Remember Ms Sun's great to have around but she's very serious when it comes to sunburn.  Think umbrella, canopy, chair with a sunshade, hat (floppy's an even better idea), sunblock, rash guard swim tees (rashie)... think smart.  Today's blog is dedicated to my husband as he's one of those terrific fathers in this world of ours. So very blessed to have him as my partner but even more so as the father of our children. Love you sweetheart. And, also to my own father who was a sweet, kind, fun-loving man and who was the catalyst behind the revelation of the seashore and coast to me at a very early age.  He's the reason there's salt to my pores and sand in my shoes!  Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there!
High tide:11:56a.m.
Low tide:5:33p.m.
Ocean temp:65°
Sunset:8:29p.m.
UV Index:9-10 (very high)
Rip Currents: Low

Happy Sunny Saturday!

Photo from "Wildwood 365" 

Mornin'!  Happy Weekend!  It's 68° in Wildwood NJ.  It's sunny with no breezes to note.  It feels like a perfect morning down the shore.  I could just cut and paste yesterday's blog into today's.  Many more weather blessings are being bestowed upon us with some "near perfect" weather days continuing up ahead.  It'll be sunny today with barely a cloud in the deep blue sky.  Temps will tap 80° with breezes first wifting (wafting) from the W-NW then by mid-day S-SW all at 4-6mph.  Keep in mind breezes coming from any westerly direction could bring the ol' biting greenhead flies so pack the insect repellent (I got bit a couple times yesterday but didn't need to apply). Tonight...more great sleeping weather with clear skies with temps back down into the upper 60s and breezes out of the S-SW at 8-10mph.  Tomorrow...ditto and Monday...ditto.  In fact, anyone reading this who's had a vacation planned here this coming week (a bit cheaper rates prior to the 4th of July too) has hit the weather jackpot (it's the start to Wildwood's restaurant week by the way).  It'll pretty much repeat this weather all throughout next week (maybe a thunderstorm/rainy period on Tuesday night), but a blessed weather week up ahead overall!  Enjoy the "Jeeps" as it's "Jeep Invasion Weekend" in Wildwood!
High tide:10:56a.m.
Low tide:4:39p.m.
Ocean temp:65°
Sunset:8:28p.m.
UV Index:(9-10) Very High
Rip Currents: Low risk

Friday Weather Blessings

Mornin'!  It's 67° in sunny, beautiful Wildwood NJ.  Not a cloud in the sky and breezes to note as it's just a perfect morning down the shore.  We just might be looking at an extremely nice beach day today!  It'll be warm (tapping 80°) with plenty of sunshine and winds out of the NW at 9-13mph.  Later as temps drop and the island cools off (back into the mid-upper 60s by tonight) and the breezes shift from off the ocean (E-NE to SE at 4-6mph) it'll make for an extraordinary evening. The weekend's looking like a repeat of all of this as well!  Weather blessings are bestowed upon us as Spring begins to fade.  Summer's checking-in in 6 days!
High tide:9:59a.m. and 10:11p.m.
Low tide:3:46p.m.
Ocean temp:65°
Sunset:8:28p.m.
Rip Currents:Low risk
UV Index:very high (9-10)
It's Friday...you know what that means...
Friday Beach Etiquette tips~
~Never leave trash on the beach and even better yet...pick up any that you see whether it's yours or not.   Note trash and recycle containers are situated everywhere.
~Don't forget those cigarette butts...collect and trash them.  Or just don't smoke and pollute the lovely sea air. Never stick them in the sand and leave them...that'll be tomorrow's find for the little kid digging in the sand.  Plus, cigarette filters take years to decompose and could be taken to the ocean by the tides giving sea life harmful/toxic cigarette filter tidbits to swallow. Smoking is banned on the Boardwalk in all the towns by the way.
~Remember to pack headphones for your music device (believe it or not no one wants to hear your music).  Big, loud boom boxes are not welcomed on the beach.
~Kindly give your neighbors space when selecting your beach site. Courtesy is key. Careful not to plop only inches from others' blankets/umbrellas.
~Teach children beach etiquette. Running (basically "kicking") nearby others and throwing sand is a no-brainer but sometimes you'd never know it.  
~Feeding the seagulls is a big no-no. Eat and snack smartly. Using hands to express emotion when holding your sandwich up or out is a magnet for swooping gulls. Dropping one potato chip thoughtlessly will create seagull havoc. Eat under your umbrella or hooded sand chair as the seagulls are much like vultures and are endlessly eyeing beachgoers eating habits.  They're relentless trying to find the right opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  If successful, seagull havoc begins as 40 other gulls come in for a food fight of your scattered lunch.  By the way, seagulls know "chip bags" and if they see one sticking out of your unsupervised beach bag, they will think nothing of helping themselves and remove the bag of chips from your bag as well as share their newly acquired snacks with their gull friends while you're taking a walk or a dip (seen it happen many times).
~Playing ball, frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, or kite-flying etc is a no-no at the beach.  I mean on the back side of the beach (dune side) or other designated areas is more appropriate for active beach games.  Stay away from those camped out that are simply trying to enjoy their quiet, relaxing beach day.  The beach patrol will probably stop you if playing in the wrong area anyway.  
~Shake towels and blankets away from others noting the wind direction.
~Observe and follow posted beach warnings (closed beaches, no alcohol, strong rip currents, surfboard/boogie board area etc) and always pay attention to lifeguards.  If in doubt...ask the lifeguard (they're terrific people).
~Let's all enjoy our ocean and beach together! We must live together in peace with kindness to each other as well as to our beaches and oceans.