Check out the photo below sent from viewers Tammy & Doug McFarland, Macclenny, FL. -- a classic shelf cloud on the leading edge (west edge) of a severe thunderstorm complex in Western Nassau & Duval County just to the east of Macclenny. Shelf clouds are caused by cooler air being pushed out in front of the storm thrusting the warm, humid air upward. Gusty winds often accompany the passage of a shelf cloud. In this case (Wed., June 25th), wind gusts reached 60 mph at Jax Int'l. Airport & rainfall across Northern & Western Duval County & Western Nassau County reach up 3"+.
A slow moving complex/line of storms will bring some locally very heavy rainfall to parts of the Jax metro area Thu. evening. There's the potential for 2"+ of rain from Macclenny to near downtown to Fernandina Beach.
Our wet, stormy pattern will continue Fri. through the weekend with rains becoming more widespread.
I mentioned Wed. that Sat., June 28th is the "Great American Backyard Campout" (which begs the question: will I be participating? Probably not -- I love the great outdoors, but I find camping to be too much trouble(!) -- o.k. call me lazy)........Below are some camping tips from the National Wildlife Federation:
#1. Decide Where You're Camping
You can go on a traditional camping trip or simply sleep out in your own backyard. You can find a campsite in your area from ReserveAmerica or join a local camping group. With gas prices being what they are, camping in your yard is a great way to have a stay-at-home vacation.
#2 Know What You're Packin':
First things first, it helps to have a thorough supply list for your campout. Don't forget to include items like your sun glasses, sunscreen and bug spray! (If you are a beginning camper, check out this list of everything you'll need.)
#3. Always Remember First Aid!
Safety is always important, and so is making sure you have a handy first aid kit. Once you create a first aid kit that includes all the essentials, you can take it with you and hopefully never use it.
#4 Be Extra Safe With Fire.
It's easy to get careless with fire. Here are some safe campfire tips to keep in mind.
#5 Camp-Friendly Recipes: Everything From Sloppy Joes to Cornbread.
Just because you're not cooking in your kitchen doesn't mean you have to miss out on delicious food. Here are some great camping recipes that also include some awesome pie iron tips. It doesn't matter if your cooking over a campfire or just your backyard grill, these recipes are sure to please.
#6 Observe Your "Neighbors"
NWF encourages people to learn about their natural surroundings and that includes your backyard or nearby park. Using great sites like Wildlife Watch and Night Watch, you can observe wildlife in a number of ways! Download wildlife lists and keep an eye, ear and nose out for fun things to spot.
#7 Camping Games and Activities:
If you're camping with kids, check out these crafts and campfire games. And don't forget to sing along to these fine camping songs!
