Warm Week Will Spring Plants/Grasses...

It's sometimes difficult to understand how Mother Nature often flip-flops from cold to warm or warm to cold.  Only a couple of weeks ago, we had our 1st real freeze in several years with areas to our north and west getting hit even harder.   Now later this week we'll be flirting with near record warmth.  Why the change?

As usual, it's tied into the upper level winds.  With the freeze we had a deep upper trough over the Plains and East coast.  This week the upper trough is off of California with a big upper ridge over the South & East.  60+ warmth has surged into the Dakotas & Minnesota with 70 + to Omaha St. Louis and almost to Chicago.   That will last through the weekend into next week, but there are signs that an East Coast trough will return making the latter half of March here cooler than the 1st.   You cold air geeks, don't give up on those sweaters and coats just yet.  I don't see any more freezes for the South Shore, but if you live north of Lake P.   I'd hold off on those tomato plants.

The cold surface high has moved off the East Coast with a return flow coming out of the Gulf.  That has brought back some clouds and warmer temperatures.  The western system is expected to develop into a major snow storm over the Rockies and could trigger some severe weather over the central plains.

SPC places a slight risk for severe storms in their 2 day outlook, but radar shows it will take time for the California system to get organized.

We'll stay breezy & mild to warm through the weekend with very slim chances for rain.  As long as the winds remain brisk, dense fog should not be an issue.  And finally...

my friends at WeatherBell Analytics will issue their 1st 2021 Hurricane "forecast" tomorrow.  Yea I know it's still nearly 3 months away, but in a world of competition, getting out the 1st forecast is now the norm.   I suspect it will say we're in for another very active season (15-18 named storms), but not as active as last year's 30+.   Just the mention of Hurricane Season gets me wanting to head for my Guinness!  It is after 4 now.  Stay tuned!