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Post by daveh on Mar 24, 2019 9:29:23 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera where it is more of the same. A sunny but hazy start, Albania is visible through the haze but seems so distant, the sea is grey in colour and calm. There is the gentlest of breezes and the air if filled with birdsong. It was 12.0c at 8:30am. It is cloudless but the haze is all around, as soon as you look to the hills you can see the reduced visibility but of course the sun comes through it.
Yesterday was another lovely sunny day, a light wind in the early afternoon, the odd passing cloud. The haze remained though it did thin as the day passed. This stopped the temperature rising but we still had a real feel of 24c. It is noticeable that more and more people are now in t-shirts and shorts. It is also noticeable that more and more people are having fires to clear their lands. These can be in gardens, on the roadsides, in the olive groves or on smallholding; everywhere you look you will see columns of smoke around, mostly white but sadly sometimes almost black as they throw on something that maybe shouldn't be burnt. In the evenings though still mild most a wearing a light jacket, others just a jumper or fleece. There was a fine burning orange sunset around 6:40pm; the sky once the sun had gone was yellow in colour for a short while. There was a starlit start to the night but by 11pm there were a few thin clouds passing. The moon was visible and was more cream than of late as it shone through the cloud.
The maximum temperature was 20.7c and the minimum was 9.9c. Todays UV is 5.
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Post by daveh on Mar 25, 2019 10:09:57 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera. Again we have a still, sunny but hazy start. There is slightly more mist over the sea today giving the appearance it is further away than it is; it is also more grey in colour than blue. At 10am it was 13.9c. A perfect day for the Parade in Acharavi at midday.
Yesterday was another glorious day of sunshine with a light afternoon wind. There was hardly a cloud to be seen but the haze remained for most of the day only thinning a little. The sunset was again bright orange leaving a yellow look to the horizon. We then had another mild starlit evening with the moon looking a bit more white that yesterday.
The maximum temperature was 21.2c (real feel 24c) and the minimum was 10.8c. The UV today is 6.
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Post by daveh on Mar 26, 2019 8:41:15 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera. Today we start with plenty of high thin clouds around; the sun is up and struggling to break through and it is a hazy sun we see at present. There is also plenty of haze around with Albania again barely visible. The sea is a very grey and calm. It is 13.8c at 8:30am.
Yesterday was again a lovely day. The sun shone, the breeze was gentle and there was hardly a cloud to be seen but the haze did remain all day. In Acharavi there was a large crowd to see the Parade and a couple hundred schoolchildren marched with pride behind the band, some in old National Costumes. A small service in the Town Hall square by the memorial was held. All the coffee shops and tavernas were full to overflowing long after the Parade had finished; others returned to the village tavernas where battered cod and garlic mashed potatoes was the meal of the day. The late afternoon had a slight increase in the wind for a short while before it stopped altogether. Another bright orange sunset was followed by a yellow horizon before it quickly turned dark and there was a starlit night.
The maximum temperature was 21.7c and the minimum was 10.5c. the UV today is 5.
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Post by daveh on Mar 27, 2019 8:43:15 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera. We have plenty of blue sky behind a layer of haze; the haze is thick and Albania just about visible. To the SW there is a bank of large fluffy clouds. The sun is out and the air is still. It is 12.7c at 8:30am. Today there is a forecast for 60% chance of rain so we will see how the day goes but so far it is good. Time to do outside jobs just in case the weather changes later.
Yesterday the sun shone through the thin clouds which slowly disappeared leaving just haze. Some of these rolled down from our peaks covering Episkepsi before clearing in the olive groves. There was a light wind that came in the early afternoon and the haze thinned to leave us with brighter sunshine. A large bank of white fluffy clouds began to build to the S and SW but never rolled in. The sunset was a large ball of very bright orange of a very dark colour to its edges; the sky yellowy orange after it had set. The night was starlit except to the SW but there was again a haze forming to reduce its brightness.
The maximum temperature was 20.4c and the minimum was 12.5c. Todays UV is 4 to 5.
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Post by daveh on Mar 28, 2019 8:56:11 GMT 2
Good morning from a wet Sfakera; yes we had rains for a couple of hours from shortly after 2am; constant but not heavy. It was most welcome; just the 3rd day with rain this month after a dryer February than usual. The sky remains grey at dawn with full cloud cover and it is particularly darker to the West. The air is still but visibility not much better than of late with Albania now just seen through the clouds and sea fog. The sea looks calm and grey. It was 12.5c at 8:30am.
Yesterday a light wind soon picked up and whilst the sun shone so the clouds came; a large one over the sea by Roda but the ones in the SW were moving in quickly and before midday we had almost complete cloud cover. There was the odd short glimpse of sun and it felt pleasant in the periods the wind dropped. However by mid afternoon the wind picked up to a gusty F5 and the clouds intensified. As night fell we had the higher full cloud cover with very large lighter fluffy clouds underneath going from NE to SW; these looked like they were dropping rain but if they were there was none in Sfakera and it was probably over the sea. After 8:30pm there were some rumbles of thunder but again no rain. The noticeable thing was.....mosquitoes!! There were several come into the house, possibly to avoid the coming rains, and I had to use plug ins and spray for the first time this year. The thunder eased after 10pm and by then the wind had also stopped completely.
The maximum temperature was 17.8c, the minimum was 11.4c.
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Post by daveh on Mar 29, 2019 9:39:18 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera. There were winds in the night but we awake to just a light wind with a dark blue sea full of whitetops. It is almost cloudless and clear; there is the thinnest of sea mists towards Albania but we can see that the recent snow is already melting quickly. The sun is up and bright; the olive groves looking silver in its rays. It was 13.1 c at 9am. The washing is on as today will be a good drying day.
Yesterday the weather soon started to clear and the clouds got higher. Albania came into view revealing fresh snowfalls on its highest peaks with more to the north. Slowly the odd patch of sun; first on the newly snow covered peaks of Albania with a large white and grey fluffy cloud above. We then got some sun but just in short bursts. The wind picked up but the clouds were always around, grey and high, white clouds underneath but always gaps around for the sun to find. At times it got more grey but the wind seemed to make sure we had no more rains. During the late afternoon the sunny intervals grew in length as the winds, by now gusting at F5-6, started to clear the clouds away although it was still very dark grey to the SW. However they had cleared sufficiently to the West for us to see the yellow sun setting under a layer of clouds. The clouds had cleared for us to have a good view of the stars above us though there were still clouds to the NE, E and S but they were thinner and moving away. The wind eased and finally stopped by 10pm by which time it was almost cloudless and starlit; there was also an owl somewhere near that was very vocal well into the early hours. In the afternoon as the sun came out so did the locals to clear their gardens and make ready to plant their potatoes now there has been some rains. The voices of neighbours (sometimes several houses apart) floating on the wind another sign that spring is awaking everyone.
The maximum temperature was 17.1c, the minimum was 12.0c. Todays UV is to be 4 but care should still be taken due to the wind.
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Post by daveh on Mar 30, 2019 8:12:18 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera where there is a chill in the air but the winds have dropped away to almost nothing and the sea is now looking almost calm again. The sea mist is a bit thicker but we see Albania with a strip of thin cloud high above its peaks. Elsewhere it is almost totally cloudless and the sun is up. There are several columns of smoke from the early morning bonfires as the spring clean continues before the fire ban comes into force. It is just 9.9c at 8am.
Yesterday was a lovely spring day; sunshine all day with a wind that in the early afternoon really picked up for a while to F5 but was gusting and in between the winds were periods of much lighter wind. The sea however remained full of whitetops all day. There was the odd passing cloud, large, fluffy and white but they never troubled the sun. By late afternoon the wind had died down to nothing more than a stiff breeze and after sunset it was calm. The sunset was again a bright yellow ball but there was almost no colour to the sky once it had set and it wasn't too long before the stars became visible and the owls began their calling.
The maximum temperature was 20.8c and the minimum was 11.9c. Todays UV is 6.
Please remember to put your clocks forwards 1 hour in the early hours tomorrow morning. This may soon be a thing of the past as the EU (and UK) have agreed to scrap it. It is up to member states to agree whether to stick at summertime hours or wintertime hours but they all have to agree, at least in groups, so as not to have a patchwork of different hours (in addition to timezones) across Europe. We already have oddities like where all Greece has the same timezone meaning we in Corfu are +2 whereas Albania to our East is only +1 and as Albania are not in EU following the changes it could be +2 at times if they stay as at present. This is meant to take place in 2021. Here the summertime hours would be good in my opinion as from tomorrow we will have sunset at around 7.50pm and the longer lighter evenings are much preferred.
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Post by daveh on Mar 31, 2019 13:49:07 GMT 2
Good afternoon from Sfakera. This morning we woke when it was darker but the sun soon started to rise in the almost cloudless sky; there was a sea mist towards Albania and a few very thin layers of cloud to the NE. There was a very gentle breeze and it was 11.5c at 8:30am. The sea looked to be calm and was a greyish colour.
Yesterday remained a very sunny day but the wind picked up as the day went bye and there were the odd strong gusts. There were surprisingly few whitetops despite the wind. There were very thin layers of cloud around but they had little affect on the sun nor did they prevent us seeing a nice yellow sunset at 6:55pm. As night fell so the wind began to die away; the stars came into view and were clear despite the still thin layers of cloud.
The maximum temperature was 19.9c and the minimum was 9.5c.
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Post by daveh on Apr 1, 2019 8:13:13 GMT 2
Kalo Mina from Sfakera and a Happy April Fools Day. A darker start following the clocks going forwards so the sun didn't rise until just before 8am and is only just reaching the village. The sea mist and haze is thicker today and Albania can be seen but only just. The sea too looks more distant and is a light grey but looks calm. It is 11.4c at 9am and there is a hint of a breeze from time to time.
Yesterday was another perfect spring day. The walk up to Nymphes was delightful and the olive groves sheltered from the light wind. In just a t-shirt with a rucsac on my back I was warm and glowing when I arrived. The football stand is in the shade so I needed the body warmer I took with me as the winds run down the cliffs behind onto your back. It was cloudless and the wind was never too strong but it was gusty. The walk home was just as pleasing and you don't have to turn round to see the view across the channel to Albania which by now was clearly visible. It was great to enjoy the sun later into the evening and it was gone 8pm by the time the yellow sun had slipped from view leaving a yellow, pink, light purple sky on the western horizon. It was coming up to 9pm before it was dark and the stars came out. Tonight we could see lights on the Albanian coast for the first time in what seems ages.
The maximum temperature was 20.6c and the minimum was 10.4c.
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Post by daveh on Apr 2, 2019 7:56:17 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera. Though mild it is cloudless and there is a chill in the still air but the sun is rising. The sea mist is more like a fog today with Albania just a line in the mist; a small tanker passed Roda going west but was only just visible from my balcony. It is 11.5c at 8:45am.
Yesterday was another lovely sunny day with a gentle breeze, just the odd stronger gust. The sea blue and calm. There was the very odd small piece of cloud form and then vanish during the afternoon. Fires in the olive groves everywhere around with their smoke going almost straight up to the sky. A noticeable increase in the locusts (giant brown grasshoppers) on the grass verges in places; hard to see if they stay still but these were on the edge of the road and fly or jump back into the undercover as I walked past. Lots of strimming going on and some are readying to paint their walls. The sunset was nice bright yellow and followed by the yellow, purple skyline for 15 minutes before it slowly became dark and we were again treated to a bright starlit night.
The maximum temperature was 21.7c and the minimum 10.8c.
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kaz
Roda Anorak
Posts: 3,961
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Post by kaz on Apr 2, 2019 20:30:45 GMT 2
Good weather then Daveh....enjoy
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Post by daveh on Apr 3, 2019 8:13:37 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera; Kaz it has been an excellent few weeks but you have jinxed us as we wake to full cloud cover, though it is high and thin in places and a brisk wind. It is a mild 14.0c at 9am but feel cooler due to the wind. Albania a shadow, the horizon not as distant as usual and the sea much greyer looking. There is a hint that the sun is trying to break through the thinner clouds to the East. There is little by way of dew this morning.
Yesterday it was a sunny start but there was a very heavy dew; the verges glistened in the sun as all the flowers and grass had dew drops on them. Many small spiders webs were covering short grass areas also dew covered. The field which during the day is a mass of colour, yellow, orange, purple and white, looked almost green at first glance as the flowers had stayed closed due to the due; the daisies white petals had all fallen down towards the ground leaving a sad damp looking yellow top. However as the sun shone so they slowly dried and recovered to their glory. I went to Corfu Town yesterday and on the way home there was a Jeep Safari heading the opposite way to me; just 5 Jeeps but nice to see there are a number of tourists around already enjoying the good weather and the beauty of the flower drenched countryside. There was a build up of very high grey fluffy clouds over the almost cloud hidden Albania and by mid afternoon there was a slow build up of high thin cloud cover to the N, NW and W. The result was the sun became more hazy and as sunset approached whilst we could see a hazy yellow patch of sky to the West which became more orange as it set there was no sign of sun reaching us, no shadows to be seen anywhere; an indication of the thickening clouds. After dark there was a partially starlit start to the night but as it got towards midnight so the wind picked up a little and the clouds began to roll in.
The maximum temperature was 20.2c and the minimum was 11.3c.
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Post by daveh on Apr 4, 2019 7:32:28 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera where there was a very light, short overnight shower. Just the road yet to fully dry, the ground just took what little rain there was as it is still dry, but where I watered last night is still wet and there a small bit of water on top of my cloche. The clouds are still banked to the N, NE and E with much thinner clouds elsewhere and hints of blue to the NW. The air is still and visibility better than yesterday but Albania still almost hidden. The sea is bluer and calm with a small yacht passing towards Roda. It is 14.4c at 8:30am.
Yesterday stayed cloudy though the sun did break through the thinner parts from as early as 9:30am. The sunny intervals throughout the morning were all very short but the air was still and it was warm. I was able to work in the garden in just a polo shirt in comfort. As we entered the afternoon the sunny periods increased slightly in length and this would increase more as the western sky began to show blue areas and this soon had the temperature rising. The sun was at its best late afternoon but by 6pm it was becoming more hazy as it went behind distant clouds. The sunset was therefore nothing to note. As nightfell we had partial starlit skies above us but by 9pm it was getting much darker to the West. These clouds continued to roll in and by midnight not a star could be seen although it still felt mild as it was 16.4c.
The maximum temperature was 21.8c and the minimum was 13.0c
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Post by daveh on Apr 5, 2019 9:41:05 GMT 2
Good morning from a wet and windy Sfakera. During the hours before dawn we had a light wind come in bringing with it a prolonged shower, heavy at times lasting well over an hour. Dawn brings with it total cloud cover of varying shades of grey, except very dark, and there is no sign of Albania. The wind is gusting at least F4 but as coming from the South the sea looks calm. There is an absence of birdsong due to the weather; however it was 14.1c at 10am.
Yesterday soon the winds came gusting up to F5 at times, the higher cloud was light grey but underneath rolling over the Pantocrator range and tumbling down over the villages such as Episkepsi were much darker fluffy grey clouds; moving quickly they fortunately passed bye. We even had the odd sunny interval when a gap in the clouds presented itself and these stayed around until almost 4pm when the wind dropped a little and we had just full higher cloud cover. The sea had remained calm looking as the wind is from the South although gusting. By 7pm the wind picked up again and darker lower clouds began rolling in this time bringing rain which started around 7:45pm and continued for a couple of hours but never got heavy. After it stopped the wind stayed as did the total cloud cover.
The maximum temperature was 19.8c and the minimum was 14.1c.
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Post by daveh on Apr 6, 2019 6:58:22 GMT 2
Good morning from Sfakera. We have a very damp start after yesterdays rains; it seems like we are inside the low cloud. Misty everywhere, everything damp, and patches of mist/cloud amongst and on top of the olive groves. Albania is seen through this much clearer than of late; the sea not so visible as it is the same grey through the mist as the sky behind it. There is still plenty of clouds about, mostly high and thin. Over to the N,NW and W the clouds are individual either in thin layers, odd patches of grey or thin white but there are also glimpses of the sky. The air is still and it is 12.5c as we approach 8am.
Yesterday was the first day since 3rd February where we didn't even get a glimpse of the sun at any time. The morning stayed full cloud with other passing below and windy; if anything the gusty southerly wind got stronger to reach F5 and it didn't begin to ease until nearly 2pm. It gradually became darker as the clouds thickened up and finally at around 3:40pm it started to rain as a light shower. It was continuous for an hour or and thereafter it was short intervals and short showers; sometimes it was just spots of rain. At 8:35pm we had a power cut; strangely it also cut the wifi connections; but fortunately power and wifi were resumed within less than 10 minutes. After 9pm the rain became continual again; but never heavy; until almost midnight when it finally stopped.
It was strange with us having a grey day and then seeing Jan's photos on facebook of their arrival into northern Italy with deep blue skies (yes there was snow on the mountains in the background).
The maximum temperature was just 16.0c with the minimum 13.8c.
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