Days Are Getting Longer...

I was sitting on my back patio enjoying my afternoon cocktail & watching a terrific sunset when I looked down at my watch and saw it was already past 5:30 PM.     Geez, it's staying light a lot longer than 7 weeks ago when we had our shortest day.   Add in today's record breaking high of 80 and dances of Springtime jumped into my head.  Not so fast Little Fella.  We are still in the historical time of the year when hard (pipe busting) freezes have happened.  We need to get into March (another 3 weeks) before I'll feel confident that the worst of this Winter is over.   Most of Canada remains 20-30 below zero and any shift of the upper trough now over the western states would allow that bitter chill to head back into the lower 48.   I don't see that happening for the next 8-10 days, but once beyond Feb. 15th we'll need to pay attention for another "Polar Vortex" type invasion over the eastern states and into the Southeast.   We could set another record high on Thursday before a brief Arctic front chills us for Friday & Saturday.  The core of the cold stays far to our north as the upper flow remains WSW creating an overrunning situation at the surface.   Any rain chances will be with the front before daybreak on Friday with a band of cold rain and/or sleet developing behind the front Friday afternoon & night.  Right now, if any sleet develops, it should stay well to our north & west.  The chill quickly retreats on Sunday with highs Monday & Tuesday back to 70+.  Expect these up & down temperature rides to be common during February & March as they are every year.   Once into March, we'll need to pay attention for any severe weather outbreaks as the surges of Spring warmth collide with the retreating cold of Old Man Winter.  Stay tuned!