Summer Motion and the 4th Forecast

Wow, what an evening on the Ashland riverfront! Weather-wise, a nice tropical breeze swayed the palm (err deciduous) trees, the sun set in a blaze of yellow glory on the Caribbean (err Ohio river) and the crowds packed the main stage area for two big concerts. Summer was indeed in Motion in Ashland.

Before the music started, Rico (aka Moises Arias) of Hannah Montana fame showed me what true star power was all about. The teen heart throb arrived around 6 to a rousing cheer from the few thousand teeny boppers on hand. They lined up 4 and 5 wide for more than a city block to wait their turn for an autographed 8 ½ by 11 color glossy!

The Instrumental Surf music of the Ventures warmed up the matting throng who cheered the theme from Hawaii 5-0 among other oldie hits. Then MY Z Karaoke Stars winner Jennifer Wellington gave her rendition of the Star Spangled Banner!

The main attraction was to come after I left as the rock and roll sounds of Kansas were to headline a perfect night. On this night, there was indeed a bit of “Dust in the Wind” when the breeze blew, though my fear for the weekend is that the skies will turn to “Rainmakers”. But as Kansas sang “Carry on My Wayward Son”, hopes for a perfect holiday weekend are coming unraveled.

That's becuase despite a rousing Summer Motion start, now comes word that a weekend wet weather pattern is soon to set in. As I stated last night, since rains that fall beginning Friday are not on radar right now, we just have to play a waiting game.

But consider there are all sorts of Independence Day parades and celebrations scheduled at various times and places (Hamlin 10AM, Ripley midday, Ashland 5 PM, Gallipolis 7 PM to name a few). Frankly, I could see it raining for all those parades in a pattern like the one we are about to face.

But let’s hold off on the most pessimistic forecast until we see the latest data on Thursday. For now, I sense pool parties, picnics and parades are in wet jeopardy on the 4th and 5th and maybe the 6th as well.