Date: 09/15/2021
Number: 5
Upon leaving the Shaner Cancer Pavilion in State College, PA, at about 1:30 PM, we spotted an adult Monarch butterfly heading west across the parking lot (latitude 40.8177°, longitude -77.8417°, indicated approximately by the position 1 butterfly icon in the photograph). It was making good progress until it got past the south end of the building, when the wind from the northwest took it off course. Driving around the north end of the Mt. Nittany medical complex on Hospital Drive we spotted two more adult Monarch butterflies (positions 2 & 3), both trying to head west. And as we approached the intersection of Hospital Drive and East Park Avenue we saw two more (positions 4 & 5).
By the time we had turned onto East Park Drive heading southwest it began to rain. This quickly evolved into a severe thunderstorm with torrential rain, possible hail, and gusts likely exceeding 30 mph. Hopefully, the five Monarch butterflies we had just seen found safe havens before this all erupted, as any westward progress would have been completely interrupted.
Weather conditions for this interval, as shown below, were obtained from the Weather Underground for the University Park Airport in State College, PA.
| TIME | AIR TEMP | DEW POINT | HUMIDITY | WIND DIR | WIND SPEED | AIR PRES | SKY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:53 PM | 79°F | 66°F | 65% | WNW | 7 mph | 28.57" | Partly Cloudy |
| 1:33 PM | 79°F | 64°F | 61% | NNW | 6 mph | 28.56" | T-Storm |
| 1:43 PM | 64°F | 63°F | 94% | WNW | 25 mph | 28.56" | Heavy T-Storm / Windy |
| 1:53 PM | 64°F | 64°F | 100% | NNW | 14 mph | 28.56" | T-Storm |
| 2:10 PM | 66°F | 68°F | 0% [sic] | WNW | 6 mph | 28.56" | Light Rain |
| 2:53 PM | 68°F | 66°F | 69% | Calm | 0 mph | 28.56" | Mostly Cloudy |
- Tim
State College, PA
Latitude: 40.8 Longitude: -77.8
Observed by: R. Timothy
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