A weather tale

[Chickenlady]

well, twas pretty exciting up here too. 80 mph gales inside a yurt ! The yurt seemed quite happy aboot it tho... Was dancing a jig & jumpin aboot having a rare ol time so it was! Nevepmind the horizontal hailstones movin at speeds like that. Hehe bit like bein @ sea. And now we wait 4 the proper gales (100+ mph) in jan-feb.

F**k...You sound very calm about this. Maybe it is time to move onto an earthship???

[caithnesscrofter]

Well, tis stressful at the time like especially when I can't walk or get aboot just now with my broken ankle. But, you can't help but chuckle when it gets a rockin like that inside, it's strength in aerodynamics is just astounding. The yurt is the wind master and I can be assured it will get put through its paces in the next few months.. it is looking more like a bunker just now. We have it pitched straight on the ground on a raised and levelled earth platform with a drainage ditch around the perimeter plus 50 sand bags laid around the bottom edge to keep the wind from blowing up underthe groundsheet or else the yurt becomes a kite. Plus 8 seat belt material straps lashed over the top tied to 12 - 5 ft fence posts driven 4 ft into the ground. Hopefully it will keep it intact in the proper gales...

Earthships would maybe be a good idea hear however a whole broad south face of windows could be bad in the high winds here , if something smashed into them the wind would come and take your roof off and send all your worldly possessions to Orkney!LOL We are planning a very small rounded cob house with a turf roof.

[caithnesscrofter]

damn.. and its picking up again. Hitting 60 mph in the last hour too.. how's it down there stonehead?

[Stonehead]

damn.. and its picking up again. Hitting 60 mph in the last hour too.. how's it down there stonehead?

We had a nice calm morning, then blam, the winds came back about 1500. Now, we're up to 50mph or so, which is fairly normal for autumn through winter.

On the subject of yurts, few people realise just how weatherproof and warm a good, properly erected one is. The original design, in felted wool, could withstand storm force winds and temperatures below -20C.

It's only downside was that it wasn't up to wet climates (Mongolia is dry, cold and windy in winter).

But modern European interpretations with waterproof outer fabric and erected on a platform add water resistance to the other qualities.

I know you know this CC, but I thought it worth mentioning to those who don't know.

I'd happily live in a yurt (and have been a tent dweller for weeks at a time in the past), but the Other Half likes a nice, solid, stone house.

[caithnesscrofter]

aye, the local forecast had me fooled into thinking we were in for a good calm the next few days too. Dunno, my yurt came fae Mongolia but adapted for uk wet. Rot proof canvas inner, felt insulation which mice like unfortunately & 2 more layers of canvas. Works 4 me just now but is a part time job living in one.

[Stonehead]

It was bitter here this morning, but the sunrise was worth it...



More on the blog.

And yes, we're still cycling: -5C, 10mph headwind, and heavily iced roads...

[caithnesscrofter]

the earthship idea is sounding better all the time. Lol! Last week it hit 80 again after the central scotland storm rolled north and this tuesday/wednesday we have another nailbiter rolling in frae the NE. After every gale we add a rope or two. Eek! Wish me luck!