Quiet Week With Slow Warm Up, Still Chilly Nights...

There has been little change in the upper pattern that has a large ridge over the West and a moderate trough over the Northeast.  This is keeping the western states mild to warm and very dry.  You'll notice it this weekend watching the Super Bowl from Los Angeles.  They're expecting highs in the 80s for the rest of this week.

The rest of the nation is very quiet with seasonally cool temperatures.  Abundant sunshine is the rule with lots of snow on the ground still apparent on satellite views.

With the higher sun angle. we;; see a slow warming the rest of this week until our next cold front on Saturday night.

In the short term, look for clear skies with chiily nights warming into the 60s during the day.

I'm leaving my plants out again tonight, but there is a greater threat for frost as winds will be lighter.  I will check the temperature before I go to sleep in case I need to run out and cover some of them.

The Mississippi River has fallen 4-5 feet during the past 2 weeks, but another surge is coming that will add a 3-4 foot surge.  Even though we only have 3 weeks left of "Meteorological Winter" left, there is still plenty of super cold (45-50+ below) up in Canada & Alaska.  No signs of that coming our way during the next 7-10 days.

Finally, I love to pick out features on satellite pics.  With clear skies, clouds are not the main feature.  However, look at all the fires showing up (Circles)   Some of these are really big fires with long smoke plumes.   Hopefully, these are all "controlled" burns?   Stay tuned!