Brief Sharp Cool Down With Rapid Warm Up Next Week...

Today we again challenged the record high (80) as we reached 78 degrees ahead of our next cold front.  The main upper energy from this system is racing to the NE bringing down some bitterly cold on the backside.  Still, it's surprising we have a storm moving up the East coast with virtually no snow and just a cold rain.  there is some real cold up in Canada, but it is not the super cold (40-50 below) like in December.

This coming cold spell will not be nearly as intense as the pre-Christmas December freeze.  However, it is January and this chill will bring a freeze threat to the North Shore for Saturday morning.  I do not expect a need to cover my plants, but we'll give it another look tomorrow.  You don't need to do anything for tonight.

As Nicondra pointed out at 4 PM, we are in the coldest time of the year for the next 2 weeks before we  begin the slow rise by the end of the month as the longer day & higher sun angle start the warming process towards Spring.

Even though it will be much colder for the next three days, if you're dressed for it, it will feel delightful with sunshine and drier air.

As you can see, the cool down will only last 3 days and then we're back to 70+.  This makes me nervous since Mardi Gras parades begin next month, and usually when we're way too way, the weather flips to way too cold.  Hope not.  Finally

Been watching The Weather Channel parade their "experts" telling us the the recent California rainy period does not end their decades long drought.  Hold on, it may not fill the reservoirs up, but it does end the short term soil moisture deficits.  Look at the change it the weekly drought monitor.  The top is last week with the bottom issued today.  Clearly the reds (extreme) have been replaced by the oranges (severe).  With more rains coming, look for next week's monitor to show more improvement.  As I mentioned in a previous post, Dr. John Christy's research (Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville) indicates it's either feasts or famine (extremes) for California rainfall.  The past 130 years of real data show no trend that droughts are getting worse.  Humm, that's not what the media wants you to know.  Stay tuned!