Another Great Weekend is in the Making.

Another cold day today, and then some significant warming to follow.  The weekend is looking great at this point.  Santa Cruz county is looking forward to mid 70s by Sunday (only 70F on the coast) and even SF should warm up to the high 60s.  I keep saying, "enjoy it while it lasts," but it keeps coming and coming.  I still do expect this all to change, but it is taking some time for the pattern to shift.

While we are enjoying this great (warm and clear) winter weather, the east coast is currently experiencing a 'storm of the decade' and if you are headed that way, expect crazy delays.  And pack a parka.  It is cold, blustery and wintery east of the river.  The NOA has shifted positive, though, and we can look for the Hudson Bay Low to shift and dissipate, allowing for warming in the east.  This also opens up the exit door for any storms that may want to hit the west coast in the near future.  The PNA is still forecasted to move significantly negative in the next few days and the models are beginning to pick up on this.  Our high pressure should begin to migrate north, and then west, next week.  This would open up the storm doors around next weekend (2/12).

Tuesday was a fantastic day to be out touring in the Sierra.  Nearly a foot and half of new snow feel over areas near the crest on Sunday.  Monday remained cold, with a slight east breeze brewing.  Tuesday the easterlies had really picked up, ushering in particularly chiller air.  Still,  if you knew where to go, you could avoid the blustery east winds, ski thigh deep powder and have it all to your self.  So we shot a round of golf.

And avoid that ridge you wanted.  The air temperature remained well below freezing all day; the wind sure did not make things toasty. But the powder was light.  Inbounds it was mostly about perfect chalky groomers, and wind blown snow.  The conditions should hold up nicely this week and through the weekend.  Cold and windy days will keep the snow chalky, but that will begin to change by Friday.  The weekend should ski pretty nicely with high 40s, sun and little wind.  By Sunday we should be transitioned well into spring type conditions.

More surf on tap this week.  This morning we are seeing the same north east wind that hit the Sierra yesterday.  This is making for a chilly morning, but cleaning up the swells.  This morning is smaller, but size should bump up by afternoon.  The rest of the week continues in the 10' range and then begins to subside for the weekend.  After that we should see a drop in wave activity.

Plan for another great weekend.  This may be your last for a while.  I know I say this often, but I really mean it this time.  I guess the moral of the story is - don't let your days off go to waste.  Enjoy the great weather, and get the most out of the next week.  And don't forget to check your gardens.  Another warm spell will help dry soil out further.  And make those plants grow.