Confounding Conditions Bring Snow to Diablo.

 Will this thing ever move south?  I mean really.  Instead of the storm pivoting from Tahoe, it decided to anchor the band in Sand Francisco, providing the central coast with some heavy rain fall over the past few hours.  The morning broke with promise, as the grey sky was showing some cracks.  And then it began to drizzle, then rain and finally pour.  With the ground already saturated, water rain through the streets.  It was wet, but now, it looks (again) like it might break.

The shift in the storm also allowed for some colder air to stay on top of us, instead of the slight warmer we saw yesterday.  Again, snow levels dropped, and this time we have the wet right on top of us.  The Diablo ski fields are filling in, and tomorrow may be a bluebird day for skiing above the bay.  Just be sure to bring your rock skis.  And in the real ski country, today continues to be turbulent, but much mellower than the past few days.  Kirkwood is reporting 12 feet of new snow, and the entire mountain is on schedule - but it will take some time to dig the back out of all that new fluff.  Tomorrow looks to be bluebird.  Cold temperatures keep the week ahead looking prime with a light refill coming in late in the work (or ski) week.  I know I'm gonna try to find some time in the coming weeks to get back up there.  It has returned to goodness.

Today, the rain, drizzle and the general greyness stick around for another twelve hours or so.  Sunday we can expect clearing skies and a fair amount of sun.  It could be spectacular.  And continued cool.  Early in the week we may see continued fair weather, as the next system is forecasted to mainly stay off shore.  Clouds begin to fill back in Wednesday into Thursday.  Lighter showers should return by late Thursday and continuing through Friday.  The heaviest rains look to be some time during the early morning hours on Friday.  Clearing anticipated again for next weekend.  The following week looks like a return to stronger storms.

This past week has been a challenge to forecast.  It never ceases to amaze me how storms moving in off the Pacific can be so unpredictable.  Even the ones in sync with the jet stream seem to have a mind of their own.  It is one of the wonders of California.  Another winter wonder for us it the fact that so many flowers seem to be enjoying like.  It is amazing.  I think about how back east, no only have they been under the brutal domain of winter for the past six week, but now that their weather has rebounded, they are still under the influence of that winter.  Skies can remain grey for weeks in upstate New York.  Northern New England may barely (if that) break the freezing mark.  And even as far south as our nation's capital they need to wait fro April for the trees to blossom.  Not us.  Here, we are in perpetual bloom.  So even after a week of grey and rain, there is plenty of beauty to behold.

After today, we for sure have a nice Sunday on tap.  Perhaps a few more before we see the return of light rain.  Next Friday and its fringes see some showers, but nothing like the past few days.  Then another fair weekend.  Around March 1st we see strong winds and stormy weather return.  Beyond that - still no signs that the storms doors will close.  So get out there and enjoy the few days of break that we have.  The creeks are flowing, and the land is lush.  A good spell to don some Wellies and go stomping.