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David Blanchard

@davidblanchard.bsky.social

1.5K followers 170 following 630 posts

Atmospheric Scientist, Ph.D., CCM. Chased by storms since 1981. Trail running, mountain biking, skiing. Astro, weather, and landscape photographer. dblanchard.net/blog/

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 2h

This event is winding down as the system moves to the east this morning. This is the MRMS analysis of rainfall across AZ. Note that the orientation is NNE-SSW along the two major bands that developed. Compare with the forecast which was oriented NW-SE along the terrain gradient.

#azwx #weather

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 22h

Raindrops cling to maple leaves on a tree in my backyard.

#landscape 📷 #leaves #azwx

A cluster of red maple leaves fills the frame.

Closeup of a red maple leaf covered with water droplets.

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 22h

Several rain gauges in the Happy Jack area are reporting 24h totals of 3.5" to 4.4". Wow! Heaviest rain has been in a NNE-SSW band just east of I-17.

#azwx #weather

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 1d

A one-hour time lapse of C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) from Monday night. The nearly full moon resulted in short exposures -- but still good enough for time lapse.

#astrophotography

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 1d

Round one produced a narrow band of moderate to heavy rain spanning much of Arizona. The main event will be Fri-Sat.

Left: KFSX Storm Total Precipitation
Right: NOAA/NSSL MRMS analysis

#azwx #weather

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 2d

This will be a high-shear, low-CAPE event so there is a [small] threat of thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and even a tornado or two.

www.stormresearch.com/pubs/sls_200...

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 2d

Water vapor image shows upper level low over the NE Pacific helping to guide the moisture associated with former Hurricane Priscilla towards the southwest US.

#weather

GOES018 Water Vapor image showing the upper-level low over the NE Pacific and the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla near Baja California.

GOES-18 Visible image showing the low-level circulation associated with former Hurricane Priscilla west of Baja California.

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 2d

Models have been showing this major rain event for many days now. Rainfall amounts >2" are likely over the higher terrain. It will be interesting to see the measured maximum rainfall amounts.

This forecast graphic is from NOAA/Weather Prediction Center.

BE SAFE!

#azwx #weather #arizona

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 2d

Love Waterline Road on a bike at this time of year!

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 4d

AMS paper that discusses the 06 October 2010 tornado outbreak.

journals.ametsoc.org

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 6d

Images taken with my semi-functional Sony RX100m5. The on-off switch is damaged and the camera turns itself on at random times. I don't know if it is repairable.

#sony

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 6d

Today's group trail run was along the Arizona Trail between Snowbowl Road and Bismarck Lake. Some of the aspen groves are showing great color; others are still fully green.

#landscape 📷 #trailrunning

A runner on the Arizona Trail. Aspen trees are showing lots of color.

Two runners and a dog (with sun goggles!) on the Arizona Trail. Aspen trees are showing fall colors.

The Arizona Trail enters a grove of aspen trees showing fall colors.

A trail runner on the Arizona Trail entring a grove of aspen trees showing fall colors.

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Reposted by David Blanchard

Jeremy Perez @perezmedia.bsky.social · 7d

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) from wayyy too early Thursday morning with all the good comet colors in the coma, dust & ion tails—with that stretching 6° in the uncropped original. It should keep getting better over the next few weeks and finally make it's way to the evening sky. A more tolerable place.

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 9d

Wildflower season is starting to fade away in northern Arizona. These were seen this morning on the Highland Trail south of Flagstaff, AZ.

#wildflowers #landscape 📷

Closeup of a flowering penstomen using flash fill to illuminate the shadowed side of the flower.

A cluster of white asters with a bright background.

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 12d

A twilight rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base was easily visible from northern Arizona this evening.

Long after the rocket had reached orbit the rocket exhaust cloud continued to shine in the late twilight.

#astrophotography #landscape 📷 #rocket

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 13d

Thunderstorms and a rainbow from Saturday evening over northern Arizona.

#azwx #weather #rainbow

A thunderstorm at sunset over northern Arizona. Light illuminates a portion of the top of the storm and rain can be seen falling.

A faint rainbow -- lasting only a few minutes.

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 13d

Beautiful fogbow!

Jackson Frishman @jfrishman.bsky.social · 14d

Destination anywhere...

#TheRoad #BlueSkyArtShow #fog #rainbow #californiadesert

Photograph of a desert ranch road heading into the middle of a fog rainbow. Sparse yellow desert plants are seen amidst bare ground on either side of the small, rather dilapidated road. The fog bow forms a complete arch with subtle color and a golden cast to it and its surrounding mist. There is blue sky overhead. All other details are shrouded by the mist.

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 15d

Part 2...

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 15d

Yesterday (25Sep2025) was a very active thunderstorm day across much of Arizona. Instead of chasing storms, I let them come to me while shooting images from my upstairs deck.

#azwx #lightning #nikon

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David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 15d

This storm has both a TBSS (three body scatter signature) and side-lobe contamination. Large hail possible.

#azwx #weather

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 15d

That was close!!! Less than 250 meters (bins are 250m x 0.5 deg).

#azwx #weather @radarscope.app

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 17d

Late-season wildflowers have been appearing in many locations including Highlands Trail just south of Flagstaff.

#landscape 📷 #trailrunning #wildflowers

Tiny dew drops adorn a cluster of white asters. Behind the flowers are pine needles and a pine cone.

Yellow flowers (aster family) are covered in tiny dew drops.

A cluster of yellow and white flowers on the side of the trail.

A trail runner runs past wildflowers on the Highlands Trail south of Flagstaff. Sorry...too much camera blur.

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 20d

Thank you.

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 20d

Thanks!

David Blanchard @davidblanchard.bsky.social · 20d

Thank you.