More Sun. More Warmth. A Nice Week Ahead.

This past weekend was beautiful in the city, with a very warm day in the inner Richmond.  A perfect morning for Dim Sum on Clement Street and a play in the park.  Similar weather is to continue through next weekend.  You may begin to wonder if winter is over.  Bets are on "not yet."

We are in the midst of what many refer to as the January thaw.  Not all that unusual of an occurrence, where we get an extended period of clear and warm weather after the holidays.  What is making this year so notable is the period of very wet and cold weather we had from November through January 3rd.  The latter part of autumn and early winter came in with a bang this season.  Now we are in the midst of a 25 day plus period that has had no more than a sprinkle of rain and a dusting of snow.  As it looks now, sun is to continue through at least this week.  Enjoy it while it is here.

There is a slight chance of light precipitation, mainly to our north, beginning some time on Sunday the 30th.  Chances increase on Monday and Tuesday.  There is also just as good of a chance that this system will stay completely to our north and affect the CA/OR border area.  We will need to monitor as the week goes on.  This system should usher in some cooling, and we could begin to see effects of that as early as Friday, with lower temperatures and increasing breezes over hills and ridge tops.  Currently we are expecting less than 1/4" of rain.

The work week looks beautiful with a peak in temperatures onTuesday and Wednesday.  Slight cooling through the week's end.  Santa Cruz can expect highs reaching 70F through Thursday, then a 10 degree drop by Sunday.  Overnight lows in the low 40s.  The Peninsula is to be slightly cooler and San Francisco expecting temperatures to top in the low 60s and drop to the high 50s over the weekend.  Overnight lows in the city are to remain warmer, in the low 50s and high 40s. The Sierra is also expecting a great week, with daily highs around 50F at 7000 feet, cooling a bit on Saturday and down into the high 30s by Sunday. Freezing temperatures over night will help set up fantastic corn. Sun across the board on the coast and in the hills.  Unfortunately for the central valley, thick fog is to persist.  If they are lucky, this system on Sunday will knock out the inversion.

The skiing was warm and sunny this weekend.  Reports of epic corn are coming in from the back country.  This is a great time to get out there, especially if you are new to winter travel in the mountains.  You still need to use caution, but the snowpack right now is as stable as it gets.  And the sun is warm. As they say though - know before you go.  Or travel with an experienced partner.   Follow the sun for great corn skiing.  Reports from this past weekend are that south aspects were skiing great from 11AM to 1PM, with west aspects softening just a bit later.

The real news right now is the surf.  We did not quite get the XXL swell needed to run the Maverick contest, but there was plenty of surf out there this weekend, with Friday and Saturday the biggest.  Areas just north of Santa Cruz saw waves in the 10-15 foot range, with some bigger sets.  In town the waves ranges from waist high east of Capitola to well overhead.  These shots came from a few spots up the coast and reminded me that I really need to get a real camera.  Regardless, some beautiful weather for mid winter surfing.  The swell began to moderate on Sunday and will continue through mid week.

Another swell is brewing out in the Pacific and should be upon us on Wednesday.  This one to be a bit more moderate in size, but still starting off in the 8-14 foot range.  While the swell has been nice, it is the clam to off shore winds that made it all come together.  Light winds to continue through the end of the work week, with some mild NW winds picking up late Friday.  A great week to get out there if you have a chance.

Still some great garden weather even will the over night chill down in Santa Cruz.  Watch the outlook for freezing lows later in the weekend and early next week, especially if we don't get rain and cloud over.  The clear skies allow for radiational cooling.  If you are like me, with some young plants out there, you may want a cover to protect your babies.  As for the market, I am sad to report that I missed it this weekend.  Bummer.  We are still seeing some local apples available, along with the usual winter fare of roots, leafs, and hardy vegetables.  I noticed that the local Brussels sprout fields (of the conventional fumigated variety) were recently harvested - so road side stands should be in abundance.

Longterm:  We have seen a few models runs in a row suggest that by the second week of February we should have a low pressure squarely over us, having displaced this lovely high to the east.  If that is to come to pass, would should expect significant cooling and at least several days of wet weather.  This is still too far out to say with any certainty, but this is the first major shift in the models in several weeks.  This will be monitored.  Again, enjoy this fine weather while we have it.

In short - more great weather.  Chance of cold and wet weather late in the weekend and early next week.  Expected return of sun for several more days, and then...