That was quite a run of cold weather with the past seven days not reaching 40 degrees beginning Jan. 13. Friday afternoon if out and about, I bet that 37 degrees under partly sunny skies felt almost balmy compared to temperatures some 20 degrees colder a few days ago. It was a slow thaw indeed.
With temperatures hovering around freezing and slightly below that 1 inch of rain that fell Wednesday really locked us in a silver thaw. Even on the west side of the county the ice was at least one-half inch thick and over an inch thick in east county. I think we’ll remember this event for a few years to come, don’t you?
We switch gears in the giant weather machine and slide into a regime of mild and wet weather. The last 10 days of the month will be nearly identical to the first 10 days of the month. One storm after another with mild temperatures and soaking rains. Rivers will be rising, and some will reach flood stage, I bet, with all the mounting snow below 4,000 feet. Haven’t we done this once already this winter? El Nino will be back in the driver’s seat for sure.
Thinking of my opening statement I remember back in late December of 1978 and early January of 1979 we had a long cold snap. At my weather station in Hazel Dell, I didn’t top the 40-degree mark for well over three weeks. My lowest temperature between Dec. 25 and Jan. 15 was minus 2 degrees with a snow cover on Dec. 31.
