Sun Broke Out Early in Santa Cruz.

 Around mid day the sun started to poke out around Santa Cruz.  It was one of those magical moments were clouds were every where, but here.  To the south wind swept white puffies rode up onto the San Lucias.  To the west a general grey stood.  To the north bright wisps blew over each other.  To the east the sky was dark and menacing.  Overhead? Sun.  And plenty of wind today.

Winds should slowly die down through the evening.  Showers continue in the Bay Area this evening, but it will be patchy rain.  The main band passed through last night.  There is a possibility of another wave coming through the area, but it looks like it should pass us to the north east.  This precipitation is expected to slip into the Tahoe region and continue moderate snow fall over night.  There has already been 5-10" of snow at the resorts levels.  Mostly rain at the lake.  Reports suggest a freezing level of about 6700'.  That is expected to drop some tonight as cooler air filters in.  Still, it won't be cold.

You probably noticed how warm it was today.  At least it seemed that way after the last storm brought freezing temperatures to as low s 1000 feet.  Toasty wet.  It does cool down a bit tonight, but just slightly.  Then warmer on Friday.  Saturday's storm is now looking like it will come in a bit earlier, and warmer.  We still may be able to enjoy a beautiful morning before the rain comes; it will not be the day to sleep in.  That will be Sunday.

So, the effects of the cold weather are starting to show in the produce.  A lot of plants received some superficial bruising and discoloration from the two weeks of cold.  Prices have jumped a bit as yields lower.  Tomatoes are gone, or low quality, for a bit (hey, it is only March).  The boom in the strawberries still looks like it made it through.  Another week will tell.  Here on the coast, I think today's wind may be more damaging then the cold we had.  But for our neighbors just up the road in Felton, the snow they had on their crops Saturday morning must have felt more impressive than this breeze.  Things are looking good right now, with warmer air temperature and rain for another week.  After that, the high shifts again, driving storms down from British Columbia and ushering in more cold air.

Showers off and on through the morning hours. Dwindling with sunrise and through the morning.  Sky clear and Friday is looking to be nice.  Perhaps the warmest of the week.  Rain returns by Saturday evening and lasts through perhaps Monday.  Another break follows.  More rain, and some cold, by weeks end.