Models Nailed The Timing, Bark Worse Than Bite, Hail Endymion!

It was pretty impressive watching the computer models predict the timing of our weekend rains 4-5 days ahead of time.  Models shifted/delayed the rain threat slightly from their initial forecast, but all in all, they nailed it coming over night Friday and gone before Saturday's parades.  I attended Endymion, but this time it was down on the street.  For 30 years, I rode with the Grand Marshal's float and then enjoyed the festivities in the Super Dome. This year was a different experience being down in the crowds of people who were eating, drinking, and having a good time hours before the parade arrived.

I was with my new partner Valerie and she made sure the old Bob Breck was back.

If you have never been to a night parade, it's quite the experience as all the floats are now using LED lighting that is spectacular.  It begins with the horses but quickly picks up into the multi-decked floats, the first one saluting the late Ed Muniz, the founding Captain of the Krewe.

From there, it was all eye candy.

After 38 floats, I was exhausted but grateful for being there to see and experience Mardi Gras at its finest.  Hail Endymion!!!  Before I get into the coming weather, let me recap the past severe threat, which I consider was over hyped by SPC and local broadcasters.

 

I had mentioned the likelihood that the strong squall line would weaken as it approached us. It actually held together all the way into Florida, but there was only one storm report near Folsom, where some minor roof damage was reported.  The highest wind gust locally was 44 mph at Lakefront Airport.  My point being, if you cry wolf for every time a slight chance for severe weather approaches, and the "wolf" never comes. Then you lose the public's trust for future storm threats.  Just my opinion, but it's why you follow this blog.  Today we got hosed by lingering low clouds.

With the low cloud deck, temperatures have struggled to reach 60.  However, the winds are light, and these are not rain clouds.  Tonight's parade weather looks great IF you're dressed for it.

You can see the warming trend back to our west.  IF we can break out of the low clouds on Tuesday, temps will quickly climb into the 70s.  That's due to the pattern shift that now has the trough along the West Coast with an upper ridge moving over us.

This should keep us warm and dry for the rest of this week.

It's a different story for the West Coast and Rockies.  Much-needed rain & snow has returned with several more storms expected later this week.  For us, we stay warm through Saturday.  Winter is NOT over here as next week we'll need our coats & sweaters again.  Until then, Happy Mardi Gras !!! Stay tuned!