We finished up the gated pipe this morning. Terry talked to our ditch rider at 6:30 a.m. and he said they are flushing the Ironstone Canal (that is ours) tomorrow morning. By Thursday we should have water.
Of course a huge winter storm is supposed to come in here by mid-night tonight. We have high wind warning starting at noon today. The storm is fast moving, very cold and wet with lots of rain and snow for two days and nights. Anyone with fruit trees in bloom have been warned to start the wind machines and/or the smudge pots.
My family made a living in the orchard world up in Eckert. Anytime I hear freeze warnings I always think about the stress that produced for my parents and my maternal grandparents.
Our Apricot trees are blooming, but some of the blooms are already into the fruit stage so they will survive, the other blooms that aren’t are okay by me. We don’t make our living on these trees and the summer fruit can be a mess.
Local Weather Alert
Winter Storm Warning for Central Gunnison And Uncompahgre River Basin, CO (we are the Uncompahgre River Basin)
… WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM MDT TUESDAY…WITH FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 9 AM WEDNESDAY
* TIMING… RAIN WILL CHANGE OVER TO SNOW LATE TONIGHT AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET TO BELOW FREEZING.
* SNOW ACCUMULATION… 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE. SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE EXTREMELY VARIABLE FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION. EVEN SO… AREAS THAT ARE LIKELY TO RECEIVE HIGHER AMOUNTS OF SNOW INCLUDE MONTROSE AND CERRO SUMMIT AND MUCH OF THE UPPER GUNNISON VALLEY.
* SNOW LEVEL… LOWERING TO THE VALLEY FLOORS BY LATE TONIGHT.
* WINDS… BECOMING NORTHWEST TO NORTH AT 15 TO 40 MPH.
* VISIBILITY… LOWERING TO LESS THAN 1 MILE AT TIMES IN MODERATE SNOW.
* IMPACTS… HIGHWAYS WILL BECOME WET AND SLIPPERY WITH SLUSHY ACCUMULATIONS POSSIBLE. LOCAL AREAS… LIKE CERRO SUMMIT… WILL BECOME SNOW PACKED.
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING SNOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.
In spite of all this the water will still come on. Terry is getting ready to pack the rows so if we get rain and snow it won’t hurt the ground (cause it to turn into a huge clay mess so we have to start all over) so when the head gate is unlocked we can begin.
Well, my break is over, I’ve enjoyed sharing it with you, but I must get back to work the spring storm is putting a huge rush on things.
(Although, snow in the Gunnison Mountains will be lovely for when it melts it means more water — hopefully).
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
i had just read about the snows expected for the west! ugh! love those blooms (while they last!)
LikeLike
I guess the best thing about an April winter storm is the moisture it brings. It’s cold and windy here today, but I hope we don’t have any more winter storms.
LikeLike
Just when you think there are balmy days ahead…
LikeLike
I am so glad you still have that tree, i am always flabbergasted at its size.. and MORE snow, ah well, it will melt and as we both said at the beginning of winter -we will take it, we will take all of it, better than a drought anytime.. c
LikeLike
What a beautiful tree! My old apples are just thinking about waking up.
I noticed your storm warning this morning. We got RAIN last night…enough rain to make PUDDLES! And then it snowed. Three + inches of wet snow! Might be able to plant a spring grain crop to cut for hay. It’s pretty hard on the new calves but they are stuffed in the willows and brush and will be okay.
Hope you get done with pre spring storm chores before it hits!
Stay warm.
LikeLike
Good for you some moisture!! I love your apricot tree..it is so pretty. Enjoy your blizzard:)
LikeLike
Your apricot tree is beautiful!! Our fruit trees in this area all had a hard freeze while they were blooming, so probably no fruit again this year. Glad to hear your water is on it’s way. Pre-planting watering will begin here soon, though with so little water here, some farmers have given up on pre watering and just soak the ground good after planting…and pray!
We are 85* today with a very strong wind. Red alert fire warning here, then a cold front is to come thru tomorrow with lots of wind. Take care…if you have to get snow, make it wet snow and let it melt quickly!
Blessings!
LikeLike
Weather coming off the mountains an often be extreme rapid. We are on the east side of the Rockies so the chinooks hit us but not much this winter.
LikeLike
Just how do you ‘pack the ground’? A lot of the ground here is ‘Red River Gumbo’, a crazy name for red clay.
Hope the mountains get all the snow and you all stay safe. ♥
LikeLike
what a romantic name – ditch rider… sounds as though the storm could be a good thing – more water, or a bad thing – too cold and ruining the blossom! will be thinking of you, as we get our first real rain… we’re promised a day, which won’t do much, but will get some water into our tanks!
LikeLike
You tree looks beautiful. I have a pathetic little tiny one. Hoping that you’ll get plenty of moisture.
LikeLike
Hooray for moisture. However, at this time of year I’d rather not have to shovel it!
LikeLike