The Streak Is Almost Over, 2 Fronts Coming

Seems like we have been in Spring since that Arctic Blast before Christmas back in December.  We have seen a couple of cold fronts, but the main story has been the lasting warmth that has lingered through January into early March.  Our latest warm stretch, not including today, reached 18 straight days above normal/average. More impressive is the fact that 11of those days reached record highs.

Northerly winds are trying to bring down some cooler & drier air, but it won't last very long as the front stalls tonight and heads back northward on Saturday.

the top graphic is valid for later tonight with the middle valid for Saturday morning.  the bottom is the forecast by Saturday PM with us back in the warm air sector.  You can see the next stronger cold front developing back over Texas.  That will sweep through Sunday night bringing a severe threat for areas to our north & east.

The bottom satellite view indicates the upper flow over us is still mainly west to east stalling the first front.  As the West Coast upper disturbance shifts eastward over the weekend, our upper flow for next week becomes more from the NW.

That will result in much cooler air for the beginning of next week.

But it doesn't last as we'll be on a roller coaster temperature ride with yet another warm up by late next week.

Nicondra showed us the upper flow predicted for next Thursday.  Another upper disturbance will be moving across the Rockies buckling up the warm ridge over us.  This appears to be a very progressive (moving) pattern that should prevent any extended warm or cold stretch.

It's very Winter-like across the northern states and we'll be back in sweaters & jackets for Monday-Wednesday

Finally, we saw the most widespread rainfall in many weeks.  Unfortunately, it wasn't very much (my house .03"), but another opportunity arrives late Sunday with the next front.  While we need the rain, California keeps getting battered.  Just heard this current deluge has water management folks releasing water from their reservoirs as they are nearing capacity.  It's taken only 3 months to erase a multi-year drought.  But that's how California's climate has always worked.  Enjoy our brief cool down.  Stayed tuned!