Sunshine Returns As We Begin Spring...

Astronomical Spring began this morning at 4:37 AM when the Sun was positioned right over the Equator giving equal sunshine to both hemispheres.  It sure didn't feel like Spring this morning with all the clouds, but once sunshine broke through the clouds, we quickly warmed up.

Still, we'll remain well below our normal/average high which is now in the lower 70s.  At the surface, a cold front has pushed way down through the Gulf bringing cooler and drier air almost to Miami.

However, extensive cloud cover lingered well behind the front  creating several interesting swirls of low pressure on the satellite views.

The next two days should see us warm back into the 70s before a series of upper disturbances bring back the rain threat for Tuesday through Thursday.   Models are forecasting a bullseye of heavy rain (4-6"+) just to our east along the MS/AL coasts.

We'll have many days to watch this situation evolve.   Finally, did you see this morning's Advocate?

There was an article implying we have heat islands within the larger urban heat islands.(So what?) I was interested until I, as a trained scientist, began to question the data.   What caught my eye was the statement regarding the temperature readings from MSY.

"...in shade near heat absorbing wetlands".   Are you kidding me?  I've done past posts regarding the siting/location around the sensor at MSY.  Despite building the huge new airport footprint for MSY, the weather station wasn't moved.  David Bernard often points out how MSY reads higher since the new terminal was built, yet the article implies the sensor is near "heat absorbing wetlands."  NOT!  Then the article does not describe how all the "volunteers" recorded their temperature readings.  I Googled how NWS requires their weather stations to do it.

OK, my backyard sensor is 5 feet off the ground, but it's attached to my shed and above a brick patio.  Obvious, it usually reads 1-2 degrees higher than the airport.   My point being, the article is comparing temperature readings taken around the city with the MSY reading that is taken with the proper requirements.(apples to oranges)  I has to chuckle looking at the graph where it had dots showing "sun temperatures".  We all know it will be hotter in the sun.  That's why the requirement says taken in the shade.

They say, follow the science, but in the case with this article, I find the "science" flawed.  Stay tuned!