The weather was incredible today. There was a downpour, and the Sun came out, so there were rainbows in the sky for the peace vigil at Percival Landing. Those clouds were intense, if you saw them, maybe you would agree.

Here are some photos and video and a little more commentary:

Signs for peace at the peace vigil at Percival Landing, the vigil happens every Friday, and you're welcome to join.

Bang what you got! Whether it's pots and pans, or if you're a marching band, your instrument of choice. Saxophone? Sauzaphone? Trumpet? Trombone? Glockenspiel? Banjo? Drums? Symbals? Cowbell? Bang it! for peace! Great tunes, thanks to the Artesian Rumble Arkestra

A little of what the sky looked like with dark clouds contrasting with bright sunlight... at Percival Landing.

What a day, what weather!

A story from the weekly peace vigil at Percival Landing last Friday, 26 April 2013

I went to look at the fire that had broken out in the area of West Bay Marina, and struck up a conversation with an Army Ranger veteran who had toured Iraq and Afghanistan.

He was initially quite aggravated and offended by the sign I was carrying, but once I explained in my own words what I thought the sign meant, he was in complete agreement. He was in complete agreement that the wars were wrong and the foreign policy has been misguided. And that much of the wealth of America has been founded on violence, African and Asian slavery and extermination of Native People, decimations of Native Culture, and industrial activities that have come at the expense of environmental quality, sustainability, and public health. etc.

He said he heard that people in high levels of military and government are asking questions about imperialism and policies of dominance, and mentioned a JBLM Army Officer he knew.

The sign I was carrying read: "Militarism is choking our democracy."

Thank you to Nancy Partlow, for permitting these photos to be posted here. Nancy also helps to keep a blog about natural history, and pollinators, Bees, Birds & Butterflies

Welcome to Percival Landing sign, submerged by high tide. This was one of higher tides of the season, a predicted 16.5, which turned out to be over 17.5. The tide-level was higher due to the presence of an atmospheric low pressure system, as well as heavy rains associated with the low pressure. Photo by Nancy Partlow

Oyster House Parking Lot, nearly inundated Photo by Nancy Partlow

Global warming poses a dual risk for flooding: *1) eventual sea-level rise (so far, scientific estimates of overall sea-level rise due to human caused global warming has only been about one-half to two-thirds of a foot,) and *2) more urgently, the increased intensity of storm systems. As heat/energy builds up in the atmosphere, stronger storms result, translating into lower atmospheric pressures, heavier rainfall, higher winds, etc.

Classic View to the South from the Port Plaza Tower Photo by Nancy Partlow

Now updated with photo descriptions and even a mouseover! (see below)

Some of the year's greatest tidal fluctuations are happening this weekend. This morning was one of the year's lowest low, and also one of the highest high predicted tides. At 12:25 A.M. there was a -3.7 foot predicted tide, and at 7:36 A.M. there was a +16.8 foot predicted tide. Depending on the weather, morning higher high tides could be higher (depending mostly on rainfall, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction/velocity.)

At around 7:30 A.M.

At around 12:45 A.M.

Daylight photos are from between about 7:15 and 8:15 A.M. Night photos are from between about 12:30 and 1 A.M.

On a windy evening at Percival Landing

Wednesday 21 November 2012, Olympia Washington—Photos from a high tide at Percival Landing: The predicted tide level was a 15.2, but a tidal gauge showed the tide was close to 17.0 feet.

The water was likely pushed up by strong outflow from the Deschutes River after heavy rain showers over the past few days.

City Workers were cleaning the boardwalk, and said that yesterday's high tide was higher than today's. Yesterday the water had risen up to the board's running parallel with the boardwalk, which means the tide was pushing over 17.0 by traditional measures.

Returned to Percival Landing this afternoon. Another high tide.

Here's the parking lot at Oyster House

There are tidal gauge markers on the pilings in this photo. This is near Bayview Thriftway, seen from the Percival Landing boardwalk.

Slideshow includes 26 other photos:

A Lower High Tide at Percival landing, on Thursday the 15th of November 2012, at a little before 5:30 pm. This was a 15.1 foot tide, according to one source. Tomorrow morning at about 7:45 AM is predicted to be a 16.3 foot tide.

This tide-level, pictured in this photo, and predicted to be 15.1 feet, looked mighty darn close to some of the 17+ foot predicted higher high tides last year.

I think I could sense a change in the light today. That there was a little more a little later on into the evening. Of course, hours of blue sky and sunshine didn't hurt.

The scene near the Kissing Statue at Percival Landing during the Oly FOR Peace Vigil.