We're in for our 3rd nice weekend in a row. Sat. we'll have plenty of sun with afternoon temps. near or a little above 70 but a good 5-10 degrees cooler at the beaches due to onshore east to northeast winds. Much warmer air will flood into the area Sun. thanks to a strong southerly wind that will increase to 15-20 mph with higher gusts & become southwesterly late in the day. Mostly offshore winds will mean even the beaches will warm at least well into the 70s. As for the Daytona 500 race which begins @ 3:30pm -- partly sunny, breezy & warm with a brief isolated shower possible but nothing more than a possible interruption of the race...wind: S 10-20 mph...temps. 80-85 at race time dropping into the upper 70s.
Back to the First Coast....an isolated afternoon shower will be possible but by far the better chance for rain will be later Sun. night into Mon. During this period a strong cold front will roll into the area preceded by a band of heavy showers & thunderstorms that will likely produce some gusty winds too. Overall, the severe threat appears to be marginal at this
point since we'll be no where close to the heating of the day + the upper level disturbance will be quite a distance to the north & west as will the surface low. So I'm anticipating a weakening line of convection that will end up dropping a quarter to half inch of rain with some local amounts between a half inch & an inch. An isolated severe storm with damaging winds will be possible, but I'm not expecting anything widespread (I'll update if necessary). Once the front moves through by midday Mon., temps. will again crash with an inland freeze looking likely early Tue. & early Wed.
This so-called President's Day storm will be a "headline-maker" this weekend with severe storms -- including tornadoes from Texas to the Carolinas & an ice & snow storm (again!) from Oklahoma to Iowa to Wisconsin including Oklahoma City, Wichita, Kansas City, Des Moines & Madison. Mostly rain for Chicago except for wind-driven snow
as the storm departs late Sun.
I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago that the space station will be visible on the First Coast through Mon. early each evening. Click here for the info.
Our great Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens continues to get even better! Opening Sat. -- Feb. 16th -- "Help Save the Frogs!" Described by the zoo as:
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens new Save the Frogs! Amphibian Conservation Center is its contribution to helping avert the virtual extinction of frogs and other amphibians. According to the World Conservation Unions’ Global Amphibian Assessment, one-third of the amphibians worldwide are threatened and 165 species have already become extinct. Loss of habitat, pollution, climate change and a fast-spreading infectious fungus are to blame.
Click here for more from the zoo.
Gardening according to the phases of the moon? This from the Farmer's Alamanac:
Some gardeners put their full faith and trust in the idea of gardening by the Moon -- that is, setting out plants when the Moon either is full or on its way to being new, or when the Moon is new or on its way to being full. They swear by the outcome: bigger harvests and bigger blooms.
If you’ve never tried gardening by the Moon, why not try it this season? We can tell you what and when to plant, depending on your location, anywhere in the United States and Canada. You’ll find all the dates and details in our Outdoor Planting Table.
Oh, in case you’re wondering: Gardening by the Moon doesn’t involve gardening at night or in the dark (although you can certainly try it . . .)!
With best wishes for abundance this coming gardening season,
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Earth Gauge: Storm Smarts
While only about 10 percent of the 100,000 thunderstorms occurring in the U.S. each year are classified as severe, it is important to be prepared for the heavy rains, high winds, and hail that can be associated with severe thunderstorms. Straight-line winds and downbursts that accompany some thunderstorms can result in winds of 100 to 150 miles per hour, which are strong enough to flip cars and trucks, and can do the same amount of damage as most tornadoes.
Tip: The best way to stay safe and informed during a severe storm is to listen to your local media or NOAA Weather Radio for warnings. Keep an eye out for "clues" to an approaching storm - darker skies, lightning, and increasing winds. Before the storm, secure or bring outdoor items inside that may be damaged or become dangerous if they blow away - children's toys, gardening tools, lawn furniture, firewood, and other items. If you keep animals on your property, make sure that corrals, pastures, and shelters are protected, and try to bring livestock and horses into a barn. Bring pets inside, close doors to your home securely, and draw blinds and shades over windows to protect yourself in the event that glass breaks.
(Sources: National Disaster Education Coalition, Washington, DC. 2004. "Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages."
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Climate Fact: Melting Monsters
Every winter, winds from Siberia pass over the Sea of Japan and bring freezing water particles to Mt. Zao, which sits on Honshu, Japan’s largest island. This frozen moisture envelopes the Mountain’s coniferous trees, which then begin to take forms that resemble animals and humans. These frosted trees are sometimes called “ice monsters,” and they provide the Region with a wintertime tourist attraction. In the 1970’s, these trees would usually remain frozen from December to April. In recent years, however, the ”monsters” have only stayed frozen between January and March. The monsters could also be found as low as 4,800 feet in elevation in the 1970’s. Since then, a regional warming of 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit has forced them to retreat to elevations above 5,100 feet.
(Sources: Japan Atlas: Nature. “The Frost Covered Trees of Mt. Zao.” Web Japan. Accessed Online 2 March 2007 and “Zao’s Famed Trees’ Future Not Frosty.” The Japan Times Online 2 March 2007. Accessed Online 2 March 2007 )
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Climate in the News: "Winter Tornadoes Can Be Faster, Deadlier, Experts Say" – National Geographic News, February 6, 2008
Winter tornadoes tend to move faster than those that develop in the summer months, and this year’s La Niña may have some connection to the recent rash of tornadoes in the Southeast.
Have a fun & safe weekend!
