The state flower is blooming in abundance around coastal bluffs and along Highway 1. It is a great time of year, as clovers and mustard battle for control of yellow. There are all types of greens across the hills. But the poppy owns the orange. I mean, there are a few calendula moving in on this turf, but they are far and few between. The poppy rules on the open road. As you move into town, there are purples and reds, and all sort of Dr. Sues flowers. Still, my favorites are the wild ones. As springs moves on, the blooms will slowly move inland, and by July, into the mountains. Oh, and there are strawberries from last week available at the markets. Expect more a few weeks after the rain.
The morning began with a thick cloud cover in Santa Cruz. Cool and dreary, but the surf was pumping. Rain started in the are about 3PM. First a drizzle and then a bit of moderate fall. It lasted for perhaps an hour and then stopped. More is expected this evening and overnight across the region. Radar suggest a band of rain moving down the coast around San Mateo county. Earlier in the day it was north in Marin. Significant precipitation is to our east in the Sierra. The strongest showers look to be along I-80, east of Auburn, and south toward route 50. The entire region should be mostly clear by mid morning on Monday. Six inches to a foot of new snow expected in the Sierra above 7000 feet. Snow levels down to as low as 5000 feet by Monday morning.
The week ahead looks turbulent. Very good chance of rain tonight. Monday will be fair, with clearing skies, and only a slight chance of rain in the morning. Still, it will remain at least party cloudy until rain light rain returns late on Tuesday. Wednesday see continued chances of rain, and slightly cooler temperatures. Perhaps a bit of a break on Thursday, with an increased chance of rain on Friday. Perhaps wet next weekend as well. All in all, it sounds pretty bleak, but on the up shot, we will see only brief periods of heavier rain. For the most part, the week looks grey. If you want to get outside, look for a hike in the forest, where the canopy helps protect you from light rain. The creeks will be flowing throughout the week. I know the waterfalls were dumping from the cliffs into the ocean this morning.
Which brings us to the surf. It is rocking. This morning we awoke to a pumping 8'@14sec swell. It was clean at day break, but by noon a south wind was on it. Surf is looking to be on the very large to huge side in the morning Monday. A
High Surf Advisory is posted for the area. Use caution if you plan to get close to the Pacific tomorrow. The morning should see an east wind blowing and some good surf at Maverick's. Winds will not be a cooperative through the rest of the week; Tuesday should have south winds, and then light NW flow through Thursday evening (and then again shifts southerly). Surf is biggest on Monday, but remains overhead through the week. The swell gets a boost (a long period one at that) on Wednesday. It should be a decent week to get in the water between south winds, and there will actually be enough swell to surf in the Golden Gate.
And the week looks to be a snowy one. Perhaps a foot of snow on Sunday night into early Monday morning. Showery to clearing weather on Monday. Some warming on Tuesday ahead of the next system. Snow levels begin around 8000 feet and lower to 5000 feet on Wednesday. Looking at about 18 inches of mostly thick snow with the last half foot being lighter. Showery weather on Wednesday and Thursday, with cooling temperatures by Friday morning. The next system looks to come in late Friday and perhaps sticking around through the weekend. It could add up this week.
So, yup, it is a wet and grey week ahead. There will be breaks. Best best are from mid day Monday to early Tuesday. Again sometime around Thursday. And when it does rain, it will not be torrential downpours. So, you have a chance to get out there this week and get some exercise. And once this clears, you will really want to get your garden working.
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