Weather Eye: Return of rain will be welcome after snowy, icy weekend

Well folks, it is over. The snow and ice, that is. Of course, it may be a while before all signs of the winter action are gone. I noticed many parking lots were plowed Monday, piling snow ten feet or higher in places. That will take a while to melt away.

The relentless east wind continued to puff out a dying, cold breath Monday, keeping our highs in the 30s as of 5 p.m. It was warmer in the foothills, in the 40s. It was a slushy mess getting around Monday, but that is the transition part. I wish it would rain all night at 50 degrees and be gone.

A strong storm moves inland Wednesday, with high winds along the coast and blustery weather inland. Back to normal finally. No more stubborn ridge of high pressure keeping us in the doldrums.

Northern California also received some much-needed moisture, with rain and mountain snow, but authorities there say it was only a drop in the bucket after years of below-normal precipitation. It will take a while but all is welcome.

The weather the rest of the week and into the weekend calls for weather systems to move inland, with periods of rain and mild temperatures. It actually will be a little below normal, but warmer than it’s been recently, mostly 45 to 50 degrees. Freezing levels will be bouncing around between 4,000 and 6,000 feet.

Looking out a week or ten days, some computer models show a cold trough of low pressure, with snow levels down to 500 feet or lower. More snow? I am not even thinking about it; that is a ways out and only a couple of models are hinting at that. I expect the outlook will change a dozen times in the next ten days.

Meanwhile, we dig out and get back to normal — whatever that is.

Enjoy your week and keep your feet dry!

Patrick Timm is a local weather specialist. His column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reach him at http://patricktimm.com.