Time To Plant Back 40 ? Another Storm Threat This Weekend?

I know many of you have already started with your vegetable gardens even though we still will see more March cold fronts.  Typically the "Rule of thumb" for planting tomatoes is March 15th on the South Shore and March 25th North of Lake Pontchartrain.  Based on the guidance I'm seeing, I've moved everything out of my He-Shed and back into my yard.  Here's why.

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has all of the Southeast warm/above normal for the next 10-14 days.  Our average/normal high is now up to 70, but more importantly, look how the frigid cold up over Canada has moderated with the longer days & higher sun angle.  Gone are the 30-40 below zero readings with only NE Canada still very cold (10-20 below).  My caution is only for those north of I-12 regarding future freeze/frost threats.  One of those will come tonight as NWS is predicting 30s far North Shore.

That's because some cold air is flowing around a deep surface low in Ohio.

As the center of the high over Texas comes across us, winds will be much less for Thursday & Friday. Skies will be mostly sunny with low humidity making for perfect weather to be outdoors.

Yesterday's severe storms have pushed off the Carolina coasts with the next system for us moving into California today.

That system will bring much needed rain & snow to the West Coast, but it's too early to tell if all of the dynamics will be there by the time this system reaches us on Saturday.  In the short term, let's enjoy two more mostly sunny days.

Winds tonight will be breezy, slowly decreasing after midnight.  Winds tomorrow will be much less.

Hopefully the next system on Saturday will not be as damaging as yesterday's storms.  NWS has now confirmed 2 tornado touchdowns. The first was near Donaldsonville (EF 1) with the second near Gramercy (EF 0).  Fortunately, neither caused any injuries. As we approach the Vernal Equinox (March 20th 4:01 AM) which begins Astronomical Spring, our "Tornado Season kicks in through late April.  Always something for us to worry about!  Stay tuned!