Tower Grove Weather Vane

Hurricane Isaac, fresh from disrupting the Republican National Convention today, is barreling north and appears to be taking aim for New Orleans. If it holds to its projected course it will impact New Orleans seven years to the day that Katrina struck there . Further projections have what will be by then Tropical Depression Isaac arriving here in Saint Louis on Saturday.

An informal poll of my coworkers showed overwhelming approval of this weather forecast. Why would they want their Labor Day weekend marred by rain? Well, because we are currently undergoing the worst drought that I’ve ever experienced here in Saint Louis. Isaac will be a major rain event. I’m a little bit more ambivalent about the prospect of giving up part of my holiday weekend to Isaac though.

Part of my reluctance is due to the fact that we got rain on both Saturday and Sunday last weekend. So the need for rain here is not quite as critical as it was. Primarily my reluctance is bicycling based. Labor Day weekend host the Gateway Cup the biggest bicycle racing event of the year. I don’t race, but I do like to come out and watch the races. This Saturday night hosts the Moonlight Ramble. The Ramble is the largest nighttime bicycle ride. This ride normally occurs on the closest Saturday to the full moon in August. This year it actually falls in September. The current forecast shows rain Friday night and during the day on Saturday. This could spoil the first two days of Gateway.

These events are still days away, so there is no reason for me to get my undies all in a bunch about the weather. If the storm does strike it will be the first real test of our new roof and gutters. It will also give me plenty of time to prepare.