Thursday, March 31, 2011

out like a lamb... (pm.31.mar.11)>

we're winding up a near-perfect day... with mostly sunny skies this evening, after a high temp of 71.1F (21.7C).  a few cumulus clouds tried hard to develop over the mountains this afternoon, but could never get to the stage of producing any thunder or even sprinkles.  march is definitely going out like a lamb...

the various computer models are in dispute today, regarding the weather pattern which will evolve as we head into the weekend.  one model is showing a very aggressive upper-level disturbance plowing through, while the other two models are much more conservative.  at any rate, there IS some kind of a storm system on the way, which will increase our clouds once again, give us a better chance of some showers and thunderstorms, gusty winds, and even bring in some cooler temperatures by sunday and monday.

all in all it looks like things will trend toward wetter and cooler during the first week of april.  check back here for updates as the weekend forecast comes together...

THURSDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy skies.
low: 15C (59F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy and warm, with a chance of an afternoon/evening thundershower.
high: 23C (73F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a couple of showers and thunderstorms possible.
high: 23C (73F)

SUNDAY: clouds, with a few periods of sun... turning cooler, with a chance of another thundershower or two.
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy, breezy and cool.  slight chance of a shower.
high: 18C (64F)

TUESDAY: partly cloudy and unseasonably cool.
high: 18C (64F) 

enjoy while it lasts... (am.31.mar.11)>

it's 57.2F (14C) as dawn breaks this morning... with clear skies.  current satellite pics show an absence of any organized weather systems across the western himalayan region.

enjoy the next couple of days, because there are indications that a series of unusually vigorous weather disturbances are on the way, starting this weekend.  we should enjoy plenty of sunshine today, apart from the usual build-up of clouds (and subsequent thunder?) over the mountains during the afternoon hours.  tomorrow will also be decent, although the chance of thundershowers will rise slightly by late in the day.  temperatures will be pretty close to average for the transition from march to april.

on saturday, a deep upper-level disturbance will move into northern pakistan, then move across northern india on sunday into monday.  this looks to be a very dynamic system, but it remains to be seen whether it can draw enough moisture in, to produce significant rainfall.  at the least, it will bring us some thundershowers, occasionally gusty winds, and probably a sharp drop in temperatures, especially by monday.  stay tuned for the latest developments!

THURSDAY: sunshine this morning, but partly cloudy during the afternoon.  pleasantly warm.
high: 22C (72F)

THURSDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy.
low: 15C (59F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy and warm, with a slight chance of a late-day thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of a thunderstorm.  becoming windy...
high: 23C (73F)

SUNDAY: mostly cloudy, windy and turning cooler.  good chance of a few showers and thunderstorms.
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: mostly cloudy, windy and cool.  scattered showers possible.
high: 18C (64F)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

quiet, for now... (pm.30.mar.11)>

the day is ending just as it began, with partly cloudy skies.  it really has been a nice day, with sunshine dominating, and no trace of rain, other than a few brief sprinkles in upper mcleod ganj early this evening.  i recorded a high temp of 69.6F (20.9C), which was slightly cooler than expected.

we actually have a very interesting weather pattern shaping up during the next few days.  tomorrow and most of friday should be quiet, but an unusually deep area of low pressure and upper-level disturbance will be moving in over the weekend.  the only thing that will keep this system from being super-dramatic is the lack of moisture available.  this is the time of year when it's hard to get deep, rich moisture up here... and despite dynamic energy approaching, heavy rainfall will be hard to come by.

right now, it seems the best chances of rain will come on saturday and sunday (bad news for weekend trekkers)... and i also think we'll see a pretty significant drop in temperatures starting on sunday, and lasting into the middle of next week.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: becoming mostly clear.
low: 13C (56F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy and pleasant.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy and comfortably warm, with a chance of an evening thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a good chance of some showers and thunderstorms.
high: 23C (73F)

SUNDAY: clouds, with a few peeks of sun.  still a good chance of showers (with some thunder).  cooler.
high: 21C (69F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy and unseasonably cool... still a chance of a shower or two.
high: 18C (65F)

spring sampler... (am.30.mar.11)>

no power this morning... and an internet connection that is creeping at a snail's pace... so this will be short and to the point>

it's partly cloudy before sunrise with a cool-ish temp of 53.6F (12C).  it doesn't look like there has been any more rainfall since about 9pm... so our total for the past couple of days here in upper mcleod ganj is 0.23" (6mm), which isn't that impressive, considering the amount of thunder we've had!

we should see quite a bit of sun today and tomorrow, with lower rain chances.  however, the atmosphere is still far from stable, so don't be surprised if a thundershower pops up during the mid- to late afternoon hours.  a more organized weather system will move in over the weekend, keeping scattered showers and storms in the forecast.  temperatures have cooled quite a bit, due to the clouds and rain... but will begin to rebound with the help of a few hours of sunshine...

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy skies... not as warm.  slight chance of a brief PM thundershower.
high: 22C (71F)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: an evening shower possible... then mostly clear overnight.
low: 13C (56F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny and pleasant.
high: 22C (72F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy, with a chance of a thundershower by late afternoon.
high: 23C (74F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with some showers and thunderstorms in the area.
high: 23C (74F)

SUNDAY: a mix of clouds and sun... still a chance of thundershowers.
high: 21C (70F)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

ups and downs... (pm.29.mar.11)>

*8:53pm... a fresh 0.10" (2.5mm) in the rain gauge during the past 40 minutes.  rain has stopped.

*8:23pm... we have potent shower in progress.  the most impressive rain of the past 10 days or so!

our skies are mostly cloudy just before sunset this evening.  we've had it all today... a good amount of sun from the mid-morning until the early afternoon, followed by overcast skies and some thunder with light showers between about 2:30pm and 5:00pm.  i recorded an additional 0.07" (2mm) of rain this afternoon, bringing the total during the past 24 hours to 0.13" (3mm).  our observers near the main temple reported 0.05" (1mm) this afternoon.  today's high temp made it up to 73.8F (23.2C), thanks to the mid-day sunshine.

this most recent upper-level disturbance has tried very hard to stir up the atmosphere, but there is so little moisture available in the air (humidity only around 40% today), significant rainfall has been virtually impossible.  things should stabilize a bit tomorrow, with more sunshine and lower thundershower potential.. which will actually last into the middle of friday.  but with the approach of the weekend comes yet another disturbance... perhaps stronger than the one departing now.  that means another round of scattered showers and some thunder.  temperature will vary only slightly during the next few days... remaining close to normal for the march-to-april transition.

bottom line... typical stuff for the front ranges of the western himalayas during the springtime!

TUESDAY NIGHT: still a couple of showers or thundershowers possible... otherwise partly cloudy.
low: 15C (59F)

WEDNESDAY: sunshine, along with a few clouds.  slight chance of a brief thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and warm.
high: 24C (75F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy skies, with a chance of a thundershower by evening.
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies with one or two showers/thunderstorms possible.
high: 23C (74F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy and not as warm, with a chance of thundershowers.
high: 21C (70F)

a bit of everything... (am.29.mar.11)>

we have mostly cloudy skies this morning, with a temp of 60F (15.6C).  since last evening's report, i've picked up 0.06" (1.5mm) of rainfall... thanks to the occasional thundershowers which have been rumbling around. 

the upper-level disturbance responsible for our clouds and showers is now centered right along the pakistan/kashmir border, and will move slowly east today and tonight as it weakens.  in spite of the fact that this is a fairly weak system, it has enough energy (and pool of cold air aloft) to keep things rather unstable today.  we have at least a 50/50 chance of another round of thundershowers... but as we've seen... moisture is limited, and rainfall amounts shouldn't be heavy.

the rest of the week will be a bit brighter, but only slightly.  the upper-air flow will remain filled with little wiggles and wrinkles, any of which could touch off periods of clouds and a thundershower or two.  on the other hand, i do expect the sun to appear regularly as well... and when it does, temperatures will respond, and easily make it back into the low-mid 70sF (low-mid 20sC).  this kind of weather is pretty much right on par for this time of year...

TUESDAY: a mix of clouds and sun, with a good chance of a period or two of showers and thundershowers.
high: 22C (72F)

TUESDAY NIGHT: a thundershower possible before midnight, then becoming mostly clear.
low: 15C (59F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy skies.  just a slight chance of a PM thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy.
high: 23C (74F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a late-day thundershower.
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY: partly cloudy skies... a couple of showers or thunderstorms possible.
high: 24C (75F)

Monday, March 28, 2011

disturbed atmosphere... (pm.28.mar.11)>

it's mostly cloudy at sunset this evening... after a day where clouds were the dominant feature, and sunshine was more scarce than it has been since the very beginning of the month.  i recorded a high temp of just 69.6F (20.9C)... the coolest since a week ago today.

despite all the clouds, there was no rainfall today... at least that i have heard about.  our upper-level disturbance continues to spin over northern pakistan, but is drifting ever-so-slowly to the east.  this weak system will remain in the area for another 36 hours or so, and could yet kick off some showers and perhaps a thunderstorm.  humidity remains quite low (around 30-35%), which is an indication of how little available moisture there is to work with.

looking ahead a bit further, i don't see a dramatic and definitive turn to a totally sunny and quiet weather pattern.  the atmosphere will remain a bit unsettled and unstable right into the weekend.  that means we'll see a mixed bag of sun, clouds and the potential for some brief, passing showers.  temperatures will remain fairly close to normal...

MONDAY NIGHT: partly to mostly cloudy with a continuing chance of a shower or thunderstorm.
low: 17C (63F)

TUESDAY: variable clouds, with a period or two of showers and/or thunderstorms possible.
high: 23C (74F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a shower or thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy and pleasantly warm.
high: 24C (75F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sun and clouds, with a slight chance of a PM thundershower.
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of thundershowers.
high: 23C (74F)

clouds are back... (am.28.mar.11)>

for the first time in about nine days, we have mostly cloudy skies during the early morning hours.  the temperature stands at a very mild 63.7F (17.6C).

the upper-level disturbance we've been talking about recently is now centered over northwest pakistan, with a rather broad area of mainly mid- and high clouds associated with it.  this isn't a particularly strong system, and it lacks good low-level moisture to work with... but still, it may stir up some scattered showers and thundershowers during the next 2-3 days as it works its way slowly to the east.  although any rainfall will be generally light and short-lived, this system is putting an end to our long string of sunny mornings.

the rest of the week looks a bit unsettled as well... with a mix of clouds and sun, along with a slight chance of an occasional thundershower.  temperatures, however, should remain comfortably warm... depending on the amount of sunshine we can muster up.

MONDAY: mostly cloudy this morning.  a mix of clouds and sun during the afternoon.  one or two showers or thundershowers are possible.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy, with a chance of a period of thundershowers.
low: 17C (63F)

TUESDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with a continuing chance of a few showers or a thunderstorm.
high: 24C (75F)

WEDNESDAY: risk of showers or thundershowers remains... otherwise partly cloudy.
high: 23C (74F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy skies.
high: 23C (74F)

FRIDAY: a mix of clouds and sun, with a slight chance of a thundershower.
high: 24C (75F)

Sunday, March 27, 2011

typical himalayan spring wx... (pm.27.mar.11)>

mostly sunny skies prevail across the area early this evening.  lo and behold the build-up of clouds over the mountains this afternoon was less pronounced than during the last few days, and we've had no thunder or sprinkles or showers or anything of the sort to ruin this beautiful sunday.  i recorded a high temp this afternoon of 76.6F (24.8C), which was the second-warmest of the season thus far.

current satellite pics show a scattering of mountain showers and thundershowers from western kashmir through himachal, then southeastward into uttar anchal and nepal.  somehow they have managed to skip the dhauladars this time around.  we're still watching the approach of an upper-level disturbance, or a "wrinkle" in the jetstream flow... which is now centered over northern afghanistan.  it is the feature that will give us about a 40-50% chance of measurable rainfall between now and tuesday.  rain and thunderstorms will not be widespread, just keep in mind that showers could pop up from time to time, and perhaps stick around for an hour or two.

by the latter half of the week, shower chances will diminish to around 20% or so... but honestly, enough instability will remain right into next weekend, which will likely prevent us from having totally sunny and quiet conditions.  typical springtime, really...

SUNDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy and very mild, with a shower or thundershower possible.
low: 17C (63F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy and warm again, with a better chance of some scattered showers, and possibly a thunderstorm.
high: 25C (77F)

TUESDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies.  good chance of one or two periods of thundershowers.
high: 24C (76F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy.  slight chance of a PM thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.
high: 23C (74F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sun and clouds... slight chance of an afternoon thundershower.
high: 24C (75F)

spring showers?... (am.27.mar.11)>

skies are mostly clear before sunrise this morning, with a pleasant temp of 61.7F (16.5C) to kick off the day.

for the past three days, we've had total sunshine in the morning, a quick build-up of clouds over the mountains during the early afternoon, and then some thunder and even a few sprinkles during the mid- to late afternoon.  during the next 3 days, the pattern should change a bit... an upper-level disturbance is approaching from the west, and should provide the necessary energy aloft to produce some shower and thundershower action that will actually survive long enough to move down the mountain and deliver some measurable rain.  still, no all-day, long-lasting, persistent rains are expected... just be aware of a better chance (between late this afternoon and tuesday) of getting wet!

temperatures are expected to stay warm... in fact it will likely warm up another degree or two during the next 2-3 days... keeping us near or slightly above normal for the tail end of march.

SUNDAY: partly cloudy and warm.  chance of a shower or thundershower this afternoon.
high: 24C (75F)

SUNDAY NIGHT: an evening thundershower is possible, then partly cloudy and mild overnight.
low: 17C (62F)

MONDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with some scattered showers/thundershowers in the area.
high: 24C (76F)

TUESDAY: a good chance of one or two showers or thundershowers, otherwise partly cloudy and warm.
high: 24C (76F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy... just a slight chance of a PM shower.
high: 24C (75F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and pleasantly warm.
high: 23C (74F)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

shower risk increases... (pm.26.mar.11)>

we're in the midst of a beautiful evening... after another interesting weather day.  skies were 100% sunny until after 11:00am... then clouds rapidly increased over the mountains yet again, with a one-and-a-half hour period of nearly constant rumbling thunder, and even enough fat raindrops (for about 5 minutes) to wet the ground at the wxgeek office up at the top of mcleod ganj.  from what i hear, there were only one or two sprinkles in town.  now, skies have almost totally cleared again.  i recorded a high temp of 74.8F (23.8C).

although temperatures will remain comfortably warm, and there will still be quite a lot of sunshine, the chance for some shower and thundershower action will be on the increase from late tomorrow through tuesday.  the past few days, there hasn't been any energy aloft to allow the afternoon convection over the mountains to develop into anything significant, but an approaching upper-level disturbance will provide the necessary "spin" aloft to give us a little better chance of some measurable rain.  still... the chance of more than about 3mm (0.1") of rain is barely 50/50.  right now, i think monday appears to be the best day for any significant precipitation.

looking ahead a little further, the month of march should end with weather conditions pretty near normal for this time of year...

SATURDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy and quite pleasant.
low: 16C (61F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy, with a chance of a thundershower during the afternoon/evening.  warm again.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY: partly to mostly cloudy, warm and more humid, with a good chance of some showers and thundershowers in the area.
high: 24C (76F)

TUESDAY: partly cloudy skies.  one or two showers/thundershowers possible.
high: 24C (76F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy... still nice and warm.
high: 24C (75F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.
high: 23C (74F)

another sunny morning... (am.26.mar.11)>

**UPDATE @ 4:49pm... i'm getting some big fat drops of rain up here at the top of mcleod ganj, even though the sun is shining!  probably not enough to measure, but a shower nonetheless...

it's another absolutely, totally clear morning... with a comfortable temp of 60.4F (15.8C) before sunrise.

our full-throttle spring weather pattern looks firmly established for the next several days... as temperatures are expected to rise even a bit more between now and early next week.  our warmest day of the season so far occurred back on 15 march, when we reached 77.5F (25.3C), and it appears that maximum may be in jeopardy, especially on monday or tuesday.

another indication of a typical springtime weather pattern is instability over the mountains: although temperatures continue to warm up at the surface, the warming in the upper atmosphere is lagging behind.  that's why we have been seeing the very rapid build-up of clouds over the dhauladar range during the early afternoon hours, leading to some rumbles of thunder and perhaps a period of showers up there.  this pattern doesn't lend itself to these thundershowers surviving long enough to drift downhill into mcleod ganj, but keep in mind the potential turn to more cloudy/thundery conditions during the afternoon hours.  by late sunday into tuesday, there will be a more potent upper-level disturbance moving through the area... which will increase the chances of scattered showers and thundershowers here at the lower elevations.  still, it doesn't look like a significant rain event at all...

SATURDAY: full sunshine this morning.  becoming partly cloudy during the afternoon (more mountain thunder?).
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy and mild.
low: 16C (61F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy and warm, with a slight chance of an afternoon thundershower.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with a better chance of a few showers and thundershowers.
high: 25C (77F)

TUESDAY: a mix of clouds and sun... still a risk of a couple of showers/thundershowers around.
high: 24C (76F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy and remaining warm.
high: 24C (76F)

Friday, March 25, 2011

a pleasant weekend... (pm.25.mar.11)>

skies are mostly clear again just before sunset this evening, after a 100% sunny morning, but a rapid development of clouds (along with thunder and a few sprinkles) during the mid-afternoon hours.  we reached a high temp of 73.9F (23.3C)... about the same as yesterday.

i was quite surprised that there was enough instability (due to cold air aloft) to trigger so much cloudiness over the mountains this afternoon... much less the rumbling thunder between about 2:45 and 3:30pm.  it was an interesting punctuation mark in the middle of an otherwise gorgeous day.  temperatures should be warming a bit in the upper atmosphere tomorrow, which will theoretically stifle the convective development... but still, this is the time of year when mountain thundershowers can occur on almost any given day.  anything more than a couple of sprinkles of rain are unlikely in mcleod, however.

the upper-air flow will become more and more disturbed as we head into the first part of next week.  although there is no indication of any really noteworthy storminess, there will be a better chance of some scattered showers and thundershowers in the forecast, especially on monday.  temperatures should remain pretty close to (or slightly above) where they've been for the last several days...

FRIDAY NIGHT: clear skies.. rather mild.
low: 15C (59F)

SATURDAY: sunny in the morning, with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon.
high: 23C (74F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy... a brief light shower possible by late in the day.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY: partly to mostly cloudy, with a couple of showers and/or thundershowers possible.
high: 24C (75F)

TUESDAY: an isolated shower or two possible... otherwise partly cloudy and warm.
high: 24C (76F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy skies.  still warm...
high: 24C (76F)

stupendous... (am.25.mar.11)>

**update @ 3:00pm... cumulus clouds over the mountains have become a little more angry than expected... there has been quite a bit of thunder during the past half-hour or so.  at this point, i expect the lightning (and any accompanying showers) to remain well up the mountain... but will update if necessary!

our pre-sunrise temp is a pleasant 59F (15C) here in upper mcleod ganj just below the mountaineering center... with 100% clear skies to start the day.

there are still no major changes in our recent gorgeous springtime weather pattern expected.  one small change is some warming occurring in the upper atmosphere, which could diminish the instability that brought the heavy cloud cover and isolated showers over the mountains yesterday.  that warming aloft will continue into the weekend, keeping us in the sunshine for the most part.  by late sunday and monday, an upper-level disturbance will approach from the west, and that may increase our shower and thunderstorm chances into the 30-40% range for the first part of next week.

temperatures will remain incredibly warm and nice for late march... with both high and low temps running a couple of degrees (C) above normal...

FRIDAY: sunny this morning.  partly cloudy over the mountains (some thunder?) during the afternoon...
high: 23C (74F)

FRIDAY NIGHT: mountain clouds early, then mostly clear.
low: 16C (60F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.
high: 24C (75F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a brief thundershower in the PM.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY: partly to mostly cloudy and warm... a better chance of scattered showers and storms.
high: 24C (76F)

TUESDAY: partly cloudy with a couple of showers/thundershowers possible.
high: 24C (76F)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

warmth to continue... (pm.24.mar.11)>

the sun is shining in the southern and western sky this evening, but to the north and east over the mountains, there remain some clouds... left-overs from some showers which tried desperately to develop up there during the afternoon hours.  we had a super-comfortable high temp of 74.1F (23.4C) in upper mcleod ganj.

a pocket of cold air aloft is the culprit for stirring up the afternoon build-up of clouds over the mountains again this afternoon, but the instability is just not quite strong enough to cause anything significant to develop and persist long enough to make it down to our elevation.  the satellite pics this evening actually show a line of dying showers/thundershowers along the leading edge of the himalayan ranges, from western kashmir all the way through himachal into uttar anchal.

we're still looking at a generally quiet weather pattern the next few days.  temperatures will be warming aloft, and perhaps slightly here at the surface as well.  the upper-level disturbance we've been watching for the weekend seems to have been delayed until the early part of next week.  when it finally arrives, it could increase our chance of scattered showers and thundershowers into the 30-40% range.  stay tuned...

THURSDAY NIGHT: mountain clouds this evening... becoming mostly clear overnight.
low: 15C (59F)

FRIDAY: sunny to partly cloudy skies.  still warm.
high: 23C (74F)

SATURDAY: partly cloudy and pleasantly warm.
high: 24C (75F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy... just a slight chance of an afternoon shower.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY: a mix of clouds and sun, with a little better chance of a shower or thundershower.
high: 24C (76F)

TUESDAY: partly to mostly cloudy, with a chance of a couple of showers or thundershowers.
high: 24C (76F)

sunshine dominates... (am.24.mar.11)>

it's a comfortable 59.5F (15.3C) before sunrise this morning, under clear skies.  once again, satellite pics show basically nothing going on from afghanistan across pakistan and northern india into western tibet.

the sunshine has certainly been abundant the last few days... and that has allowed our temperatures to moderate bit-by-bit, now slightly above normal for late march.  the upper air pattern is inactive... other than a random pool of colder air up around 15-20,000ft (4500-6000m), the flow is very gentle, and there are no significant disturbances expected for a few more days.  as we've seen recently, though... those pools of colder air aloft can create enough instability to generate clouds and even an isolated shower or two up on the mountains... but most likely, we'll remain immune down here in mcleod.

i've been mentioning a stronger upper-level disturbance coming this weekend... but this morning, the computer models are showing a much weaker system, so i am tempted to remove shower and thunder chances from the forecast.  just to be on the safe side, i'll leave it in for now, but keep in mind that rain chances from late saturday into monday should be generally less than about 40%.

THURSDAY: lots of morning sun, with skies becoming partly cloudy during the afternoon.  pleasantly warm.
high: 23C (74F)

THURSDAY NIGHT: becoming mostly clear.
low: 16C (60F)

FRIDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and warm.
high: 23C (74F)

SATURDAY: partly cloudy skies, with an isolated late-day shower possible.
high: 24C (75F)

SUNDAY: partly cloudy and warm, with a slight chance of a PM thundershower.
high: 24C (75F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy and unseasonably warm... chance of one or two PM thundershowers.
high: 24C (76F)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

march perfection... (pm.23.mar.11)>

we have mostly clear skies this evening, after another really nice day and a warmer high temp of 73F (22.8C).  there was an ominous looking build-up of clouds over the mountains during the mid- to late afternoon, and from my vantage point, it looks like there could have been some showers above triund.

there will remain a chance of a shower or thundershower during the afternoon hours up on the mountains during the next couple of days, but it is doubtful that any of that rainfall will make it down here to mcleod ganj.  that means we should enjoy another day or two featuring a majority percentage of sunshine.  the upper-air pattern will shift a bit this weekend, into early next week, which may allow some of the mountain shower action to progress further downhill.  still... any periods of rainfall will be few and far between.

temperatures are just about as good as they can get... running a bit above normal for this time of year.  we may warm up another couple of degrees during the next few days, but probably not much more than that.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: a few clouds early, then becoming clear overnight.
low: 14C (58F)

THURSDAY: mostly sunny in the morning, with partly cloudy skies in the afternoon.
high: 23C (73F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sun and clouds... still pleasantly warm.
high: 23C (73F)

SATURDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a PM shower or thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

SUNDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies.  one or two showers and/or thundershowers possible.
high: 23C (74F)

MONDAY: a mix of clouds and sun, with a chance of a thundershower.
high: 23C (74F)

pleasantly warm... (am.23.mar.11)>

we have almost totally clear skies at dawn, and a relatively mild temperature of 58.1F (14.5C) to start the day.  at this hour, the satellite photos are like a blank page... absolutely no clouds showing up anywhere.

no significant changes in the weather pattern are set to occur for the next few days.  sunshine will dominate, although afternoon heating, combined with slightly cooler air in the upper atmosphere will stir up the normal cumulus clouds over the mountains... one or two of which could develop enough to produce a brief shower up there.  temperatures will continue their very gradual warming trend which has been going on ever since our big thunderstorm cooled things off last saturday night.

there are subtle indications of a stronger disturbance aloft which may increase our rain chances over the weekend, but it's not looking all that impressive right now.  at this point, i would say shower and thunderstorm chances in mcleod ganj are barely 50/50 for late saturday into sunday...

WEDNESDAY: sunshine this morning... perhaps a build-up of mountain clouds during the PM.  pleasant!
high: 22C (71F)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy.
low: 15C (59F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy skies.
high: 22C (72F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sun and clouds... continued comfortably warm.
high: 22C (72F)

SATURDAY: increasing clouds, with a slight chance of a late-day thundershower.
high: 22C (72F)

SUNDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of one or two showers, and possibly a thunderstorm.
high: 23C (73F)

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

on auto-pilot... (pm.22.mar.11)>

what a day!  skies are mostly clear this evening, after a day with lots of sun and only a few clouds... and a very comfortable high temp of 70.3F (21.3C).  we had a few patches of high, thin cirrus clouds, along with a little build-up of cumulus clouds over the mountains... but the sunshine was definitely the feature player.

so far, there is nothing appearing that holds the potential to spoil our recent nice weather pattern.  temperatures should remain fairly steady, or maybe rise just a little during the rest of the week, as things remain pretty stable in the upper atmosphere.  the only chance of rain will be in the mountains, where there could be a brief, isolated shower or two during the afternoons.

things may turn on us just a bit over the weekend, however... computer models are forecasting an upper level disturbance to arrive on sunday, and that will give us a better chance of a few showers and perhaps a thunderstorm or two.  by the way, check the SUMMER OUTLOOK tab above, if you're interested in reading about typical weather patterns in mcleod ganj during the coming three months before monsoon season arrives...

TUESDAY NIGHT: mostly clear skies.
low: 14C (57)

WEDNESDAY: plenty of sun... just a few clouds at times.
high: 22C (71F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sun and clouds... pleasant temps continue.
high: 22C (72F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy.  slight chance of a late-day thundershower.
high: 22C (72F)

SUNDAY: clouds, with a few periods of sun.  a couple of showers and/or thunderstorms possible.
high: 22C (72F)

spring sunshine... (am.22.mar.11)>

a beautiful dawn... we have partly cloudy skies and 55F (12.8C) to start the day.  these thin, wispy cirrus clouds aren't showing up very well on the satellite pics this morning... but they are nothing of much consequence anyway.

it looks like nice and quiet weather will continue today, and for most of the remainder of the week.  we'll see lots of sunshine, with occasional clouds here and there... along with a slow warming trend.  with warming at the surface and little pools of colder air drifting through in the higher levels of the atmosphere, there is always a risk of an isolated afternoon shower in the mountains, but nothing to be concerned about.  no significant storm systems are on the horizon, although there are indications that an upper-level disturbance may move into the area over the weekend.  even then, rain chances should remain generally below 30-40%.

very close to normal/average late march weather...

TUESDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.  slightly warmer...
high: 21C (69F)

TUESDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy.
low: 14C (57F)

WEDNESDAY: sunny to partly cloudy... pleasant.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sunshine and a few periods of clouds.  quite warm.
high: 22C (72F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with an increasing chance of a shower or thundershower.
high: 22C (72F)

Monday, March 21, 2011

official first day of SPRING... (pm.21.mar.11)>

there are patches of high, thin cirrus clouds gracing the skies this evening, after a (slightly cooler than expected) high temp of 66.2F (19C) this afternoon.  i neglected to mention this morning that today is the vernal equinox...which is the official first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.!  we've started the spring season today with temperatures just a bit below normal...

our weather pattern is rather non-descript, and will remain so for most of the week.  there will be a gradual warming trend in all levels of the atmosphere, along with sunshine and some occasional clouds, but other than that, there is nothing exciting going on.  although isolated afternoon/early evening showers may pop up over the mountains during the coming days, i really don't expect any of that precipitation to make it as far downhill as mcleod ganj.  however, on saturday, there are hints that a stronger disturbance may approach from the west, which could increase our precipitation chances into the 30-40% range.  it looks like another good week for spring cleaning and outdoor exploration...

MONDAY NIGHT: a few high clouds, otherwise mostly clear.
low: 12C (54F)

TUESDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.  warming up a bit.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy and pleasant.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: sunshine and a few clouds.  comfortable temps.
high: 22C (71F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of an afternoon/evening thundershower.
high: 22C (72F)

easy going... (am.21.mar.11)>

we have mostly clear skies as the eastern sky brightens this morning, with a temp of 53.2F (11.8C).  these early morning temperatures the last two days have been 9-10F (4-5C) cooler than they were during much of last week.

i'm not seeing any weather dramas, either good or bad, during the coming several days.  the pattern in the upper atmosphere is generally quiet, with weak flow, and only a few very minor wiggles from the middle east into south asia.  as usual during this time of year, an occasional small pool of cold air aloft could create enough instability to stir up mountain clouds and a brief PM shower (perhaps wednesday being the best day for that), otherwise rain chances will be very small.

temperatures will warm up slowly and gradually between now and the end of the week, but it should remain several degrees cooler than it was during the two or three days of "early summer" we enjoyed last week.

MONDAY: mostly sunny this morning, with partly cloudy skies during the PM.
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy.
low: 13C (55F)

TUESDAY: partly to mostly sunny and pleasant.
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a PM shower.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy skies.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: a mix of sun and a few clouds.  still pleasantly warm.
high: 22C (71F)

Sunday, March 20, 2011

weather on par... (pm.20.mar.11)>

skies are partly cloudy early this evening... we had a beautiful sunny morning, but then towering cumulus clouds developed quickly over the mountains during the noon hour.  as far as i know, any shower activity remained up the mountain, above mcleod ganj.  it was one of those days when it was very balmy in the sunshine, but kinda cool in the shade.. my high temp at the top of mcleod ganj was 66.4F (19.1C).

there is still some very cold air aloft, which was responsible for the heavy cloud build-up over the mountains this afternoon... but it will be warming ever so gradually up there during the next few days, and that should reduce the instability factor... giving us a greater percentage of blue skies.  here at the surface (where we all live), temps will also be slowly warming, but at this stage, i don't expect us to get into the "summer-zone" that we reached last week.  still, it will be pleasantly warm during the day, and comfortably cool at night for much of the coming week, with very small chances of any significant rainfall.

SUNDAY NIGHT: still a risk of an isolated shower this evening... then becoming mostly clear (good super-moon viewing!)
low: 12C (54F)

MONDAY: mostly sunny in the morning, with partly cloudy skies during the afternoon.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and pleasant.
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a PM shower.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy skies.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: sunny to partly cloudy.
high: 22C (71F)

a mixed bag... (am.20.mar.11)>

it is mostly clear at dawn this morning, with a temp of 52.3F (11.3C).  that's the coolest temperature i've recorded in exactly one week.  my rain gauge is showing 0.88" (2.2cm) from our thunderstorm last night.  the vast majority of that rain fell in about 45 minutes... between 9 and 10pm.  it really was quite a storm, with almost 3 hours of thunder and lightning, along with some very gusty winds.

(at 7.45am i received a report of exactly 1" (2.5cm) of rain last night just above the main temple.)

things are looking much more calm early this morning... but the disturbance and pocket of cold air in the upper atmosphere is actually pretty much right on top of us at the moment.  that means that once the sun starts heating up the suface, we could see clouds develop again... and a passing shower or thundershower sometime during the mid-day and afternoon hours can't be ruled out.  despite that, the general trend will be toward a more quiet weather pattern during the coming few days.  don't expect the summery warmth and total sunshine that we had a couple of days last week, but it is still looking nice (fairly close to normal) for the latter part of march...

SUNDAY: mostly sunny early, but some clouds developing, along with a risk of a shower or thundershower by mid-day.
high: 18C (64F)

SUNDAY NIGHT: some evening clouds and isolated showers... but becoming mostly clear overnight.
low: 12C (54F)

MONDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and a bit milder.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: partly cloudy skies, pleasant.
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy, with a slight chance of a PM shower.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: a mix of sun and clouds... pleasantly warm.
high: 22C (71F)

Saturday, March 19, 2011

*THUNDERSTORMS MOVING IN*

9:43pm... after about a half hour of good rain and some small hail, it seems most of the precip has ended for the moment.  still very windy.  could be more thundershower action later tonight...

9:20pm... moderate rain with some small hail mixed in.  i'm very glad i'm not camping at triund right now.

9:01pm... vivid lightning... and some big fat raindrops.

8:42pm... lots of thunder and lightning, along with very gusty winds.  but so far, just a few drops of rain. maybe this will be all bark and no bite...?

7:09pm...a line of thunderstorms is poised just west of the dharamsala area, and is moving slowly to the east.  lightning strikes are already occuring just west of town.  expect gusty winds, thunder and lightning, and perhaps some small hail before 8.00pm.

your complete forecast is below...

unsettled overnight... (pm.19.mar.11)>

skies are mostly cloudy this evening, with a few sprinkles near the main square.  we managed to get a couple of hours of nice sunshine during the middle of the afternoon, otherwise there have been lots of clouds around today, along with some occasionally gusty winds and a high temp of 66.9F (19.4C).

so far, most of the shower and thunderstorm action has remained to our west and north, right in the vicinity of the center of the disturbance and area of cold air in the upper atmosphere, which is now centered along the kashmir/pakistan border.  in fact, as of now (5.40pm) there is a broad area of rain and strong thunderstorms covering almost all of kashmir, and satellite photos show it developing towards the south and east.  that means that we are under the gun for some rain and storm development yet tonight.  stay tuned for updates, should things turn particularly nasty.

this storm system should be moving out of here rather quickly tomorrow, so expect a rapid improvement during the first part of the coming week.  rain chances will diminish, and temperatures will moderate once again, perhaps rising slightly above average for late march...

SATURDAY NIGHT: mostly cloudy skies.  windy at times, with a period or two of showers and thunderstorms likely.
low: 14C (58F)

SUNDAY: a mix of clouds and sun... still a risk of a lingering shower or thundershower.
high: 19C (67F)

MONDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and pleasant.
high: 21C (69F)

TUESDAY: sunny AM, partly cloudy PM.
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy skies... slight chance of a brief PM shower.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: mostly sunny and nice.
high: 22C (71F)

clouds, rain risk... (am.19.mar.11)>

HAPPY HOLI!

totally overcast skies greet us this morning, with a temp of 61.7F (16.5C).  it has been a bit breezy at times during the pre-dawn hours, and we've had a few light sprinkles of rain around the area.

it looks like we're in for a rather dismal day, compared to what we enjoyed for most of the past week.  satellite photos show lots of multi-layered cloudiness across the western himalayan region, thanks to a significant upper-level disturbance which is now spinning its way into northern pakistan.  we will remain under the influence of this system until sometime tomorrow (sunday), keeping us under the potential for some rain showers, and possible thunderstorms.  precipitation should be scattered and light for the most part, but we can't rule out a short period of moderate to heavy rainfall between now and sunday afternoon.  once again, if you plan to be in the mountains this weekend, be prepared for a rapid turn to cold and wet weather, should storms develop.

temperatures will be quite a bit cooler today and sunday... but a slow and gradual moderating trend is expected next week.

SATURDAY: clouds, with a few peeks of sun possible.  good chance of a few rain showers and perhaps a thunderstorm.  cooler...
high: 20C (68F)

SATURDAY NIGHT: good chance of a period or two of showers and storms.  otherwise, mostly cloudy.
low: 14C (58F)

SUNDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies.  a couple of lingering showers/thundershowers possible.
high: 19C (67F)

MONDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and pleasant.
high: 21C (69F)

TUESDAY: sunshine and a few clouds.
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy... slight chance of a PM shower (mainly over the mtns).
high: 21C (70F)

Friday, March 18, 2011

listening for thunder... (pm.18.mar.11)>

despite a cloudy start, and a hazy, cloudy finish... today actually turned out to be really nice!  i recorded a high temp of 74.1F (23.4C) up here below the mountaineering center, thanks to the few hours of sunshine during the middle of the day.

if you're paying close attention, you may have noticed the return of billowing cumulus clouds over the mountains during the afternoon hours... which is evidence of the colder air now arriving in the upper atmosphere.  a fairly potent disturbance will be moving through the area during the next 24-36 hours, which will stir up some thick cloudiness at times, along with at least a moderate chance of some showers and thunderstorms.  it looks like the best chances of rain will occur between now and early sunday morning...i'm not anticipating a persistent, long-term rain, but don't be surprised by raindrops and the sound of thunder this weekend.  as i've been mentioning all week... conditions up in the mountains could be quite wet and cold at times... so be prepared.

things should rapidly improve early next week... with a mix of clouds and sun, along with near normal late march temperatures...

FRIDAY NIGHT: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with a chance of some showers (with thunder) developing.
low: 17C (62F)

SATURDAY: clouds, with a few peeks of sun.  not as warm, with a good chance of some scattered showers and thunderstorms.
high: 21C (69F)

SUNDAY: a mix of clouds and sun... still a risk of a shower or thundershower in the area.
high: 19C (67F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy and comfortable.
high: 21C (69F)

TUESDAY: partly cloudy skies... nice temps.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and pleasant.
high: 21C (70F)

weekend storms?... (am.18.mar.11)>

we have much thicker cloud cover across the area before sunrise this morning... and i have a temp of 61.7F (16.5C) to start the day.

the forecast is much more difficult now than it has been for most of the past week.  the flow in the upper atmosphere has strengthened, and is running pretty much from west to east from the persian gulf and iran, across afghanistan, pakistan and into the northern half of india.  a rather vigorous disturbance embedded in that flow will be moving through the western himalayas over the weekend, stirring up quite a bit of cloudiness and some scattered shower and thunderstorm action.  although our temperatures remain relatively warm at the surface, much colder air is moving in aloft, and that is what will create the instability and thus, storm potential.

we may see some periods of sunshine between clouds, and if we do, it will warm up considerably both today and saturday... but without sun, temperatures will remain a few degrees below where they've been for the last several days.  if you plan to be out and about this weekend, especially venturing into the mountains, be prepared for sudden changes!

FRIDAY: partly cloudy skies.  a few showers or a thunderstorm possible by late afternoon.
high: 23C (74F)

FRIDAY NIGHT: mostly cloudy with a chance of a shower or thunderstorm.
low: 16C (60F)

SATURDAY: clouds, perhaps a few peeks of sun.  good chance of scattered showers and/or thunderstorms.
high: 20C (68F)

SUNDAY: still a chance of a few showers and thundershowers around the area... otherwise partly to mostly cloudy.
high: 19C (67F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy skies.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: partly to mostly sunny and pleasant.
high: 21C (69F)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

shower potential is back... (pm.17.mar.11)>

we have a lot of high clouds across the area early this evening, after a comfortably warm high temp this afternoon of 72.5F (22.5C).  there have been a few periods of sunshine, but the thin, high clouds have been the dominant feature today.

our weather pattern is becoming rather complex... and will remain so for the next 3 days.  although mild to warm air is holding on here at the surface, gradual cooling is already taking place in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere.  that means it is going to become more and more unstable as we head into the weekend.  already this evening i am seeing some lower clouds start to develop over the mountains, and that trend will continue, eventually resulting in some showers and even a thunderstorm or two.

temperatures will still be quite warm tomorrow, but if and when the showers and thunderstorms materialize, some of the colder air aloft will be brought down to the surface... so the jackets might have to come back out at some point over the weekend.  once again, keep in mind that things could turn rapidly cold and wet in the mountains from tomorrow into sunday... so be prepared, and be careful up there.

this potential storminess with be short-lived, as quiet and pleasant conditions will return by late sunday into the middle of next week...

THURSDAY NIGHT: partly to mostly cloudy skies. 
low: 17C (63F)

FRIDAY: a bit of sunshine, in the midst of increasing clouds.  chance of a shower or thunderstorm, mainly after 3pm.
high: 22C (72F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies with a good chance of a few showers and/or thunderstorms.
high: 21C (70F)

SUNDAY: a mix of clouds and sun.  still a chance of a shower or a thundershower in the area.  not as warm.
high: 19C (67F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy... comfortable.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: sunny to partly cloudy skies.
high: 21C (69F)

sun through high clouds... (am.17.mar.11)>

skies are partly cloudy before sunrise, with an early morning low temp of 61.2F (16.2C).  the satellite pics show numerous patches of high clouds to our west... heading in our direction.

we're in the midst of a gradual transition out of our recent idyllic springtime weather pattern.  although temperatures should remain pleasant (and even above normal for this time of year), clouds are going to be on the increase as we head into the weekend, with shower and thunderstorm chances on the rise, starting late tomorrow.  all of this is thanks to a strong jetstream and upper-level disturbance which are already knocking down and effectively "flattening" the massive high pressure ridge which had been in place during the first part of the week.

there is little moisture currently available with this system, but as temperatures aloft cool significantly, the atmosphere will become unstable, leading to some convective shower/thunderstorm development.  please be alert if you are planning to be in the mountains from friday afternoon through sunday... conditions could deteriorate rapidly.

THURSDAY: a mix of sun and high clouds.  pleasant temps.
high: 22C (72F)

THURSDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy and mild.
low: 17C (62F)

FRIDAY: increasing cloudiness... with a chance of a thunderstorm after 3pm.
high: 22C (72F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with some scattered showers and a thunderstorm or two possible.
high: 22C (71F)

SUNDAY: more clouds than sun... a few showers and/or thunderstorms in the area. 
high: 21C (69F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy skies... comfortably mild.
high: 20C (68F)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

slow changes... (pm.16.mar.11)>

there are a few cirrus clouds moving across the area this evening... otherwise it is mostly clear.  my thermometer here at the top of mcleod ganj made it up only to 69.8F (21C) today... a far cry from yesterday's 77.5F (25.3C).  high clouds were more prevalent than expected, and that kept temperatures down (although still very pleasant) for much of the day.

already, there are signs that the big high pressure ridge responsible for our sunny and warm weather the past several days is starting to break down.  colder air in the upper atmosphere will be gradually filtering in starting tomorrow, and that will lead to some unstable conditions as we head into the weekend.  we won't be seeing a return to winter-ish cold weather... but thicker clouds, an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms, along with a turn to slightly cooler temps are in the forecast.

during the last few days, lots of people have been venturing into the mountains... just keep in mind that much colder temperatures and wet weather are a good bet up there, starting on friday, and continuing into sunday.  if you plan to do some trekking, just be aware of the potential for rapidly changing conditions...

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy skies.  mild.
low: 17C (63F)

THURSDAY: a mix of sun and high clouds.  still warm.
high: 23C (74F)

FRIDAY: partly to mostly cloudy.  chance of a late-day thunderstorm.
high: 23C (74F)

SATURDAY: clouds, along with a few peeks of sun.  better chance of some scattered showers and thunderstorms in the area.
high: 22C (72F)

SUNDAY: more clouds than sun.  still a good chance of a thunderstorm or two.
high: 21C (70F)

MONDAY: partly cloudy skies... just a slight chance of a PM thundershower.
high: 20C (68F)

comfortably warm... (am.16.mar.11)>

skies are partly cloudy before sunrise this morning, with a very comfortable temp of 62.4F (16.9C).  these early morning low temperatures the last couple of days are similar to what we would normally expect in mid- to late april!

i'm seeing several patches of high clouds on the satellite pics this morning... so we may not get the full-power sunshine that we've had the last two days.  still, there will be plenty of sun, and it remains very warm throughout all levels of the atmosphere, so we are in line for at least another day or two of super nice springtime weather.

there are significant changes on the way, however, which will begin to be felt on friday.  our massive ridge of fair-weather high pressure is going to be collapsing... thanks to a rather strong upper-level disturbance moving in from the west.  this is going to cause temperatures aloft to drop dramatically over the weekend, which will destabilize the atmosphere enough to cause increasing cloudiness and a chance of some showers and thunderstorms.  the next couple of days will be nice for trekking, etc... but keep in mind that it could turn wet and much colder in the mountains over the weekend...

WEDNESDAY: a mix of sunshine and high clouds.  continued unseasonably warm.
high: 24C (76F)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy skies.
low: 17C (63F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny... still warm.
high: 24C (76F)

FRIDAY: increasing clouds, with a chance of a thunderstorm late in the day.
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies, with scattered showers and thunderstorms possible.
high: 23C (73F)

SUNDAY: more clouds than sun... good chance of a thunderstorm or two.  not as warm.
high: 22C (71F)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

does it get any better?... (pm.15.mar.11)>

yet another gorgeous day it's been... other than a couple of very random clouds, we've had pretty much wall-to-wall sunshine.  i recorded a high temp of 77.5F (25.3C) up here at the top of mcleod ganj, which was actually quite a bit warmer than i had expected!  it has cooled back down to around 70F (21.1C) this evening, however.  the real warmth remains a function of direct sun vs. shade, it seems.

we're going to have another couple of days of this near-perfect springtime weather before things start to change.  high pressure from the surface into the upper atmosphere will continue to keep the atmosphere stable... providing us with a good amount of sunshine, and temperatures near today's level of warmth.  however, an approaching upper-level disturbance is going to be strong enough to break down this fair weather pattern as we approach the weekend.  in the upper atmosphere, much colder air will replace the current bubble of warm air, and that is going to create the perfect recipe for a return to mountain clouds, along with an increasing chance of showers and thunderstorms.  surface temperatures will remain quite pleasant, but should cool down a few degrees by sunday.

TUESDAY NIGHT: some patches of high clouds moving in... otherwise fair and comfortable.
low: 17C (62F)

WEDNESDAY: sunshine, with a few periods of high clouds.  still unseasonably warm!
high: 25C (77F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and warm.
high: 25C (77F)

FRIDAY: increasing clouds, with a chance of a thunderstorm by late afternoon.
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a few showers or thunderstorms possible.
high: 23C (74F)

SUNDAY: more clouds than sun... good chance of a thunderstorm or two.  not as warm...
high: 22C (71F)

summer in march... (am.15.mar.11)>

our pre-sunrise temperature this morning is 61.7F (16.5C)... that's what it should be in mid-april!  other than a few wisps of high, thin cirrus clouds, skies are clear.

the march mega-warming trend we've been enjoying the last few days is going to keep building today... it is really rare to see such a massive ridge of high pressure (and bubble of warm temperatures all the way into the upper atmosphere) this early in the season.  i am going to be bumping forecast temperatures upward even more between now and thursday. 

changes are on the way by the weekend, however, as a strong upper-level disturbance starts to move in our direction, smashing down this big area of fair-weather high pressure.  temperatures aloft will begin to cool off dramatically, and that is going to create an unstable air mass... prime for thunderstorms by saturday and sunday.  in the meantime, take advantage of this early summer-like sunshine and warmth!

TUESDAY: mostly sunny skies... even warmer.
high: 24C (76F)

TUESDAY NIGHT: mostly clear and comfortable.
low: 17C (62F)

WEDNESDAY: lots of sunshine again... unseasonably warm
high: 25C (77F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and warm.
high: 25C (77F)

FRIDAY: increasing clouds, with a slight chance of a thunderstorm late in the day.
high: 24C (75F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy skies.  scattered showers and a few thunderstorms possible.
high: 22C (72F)

Monday, March 14, 2011

mercury keeps rising... (pm.14.mar.11)>

today is the first day since i came back in mid-january that we've had 100% clear skies!  quite an achievement.  totally sunny days are somewhat of a rarity here, and are treasured... since we often get a major build-up of clouds over the mountains during the afternoons, even during generally fair weather patterns.  today's high temp was 68.5F (20.3C) here in upper mcleod ganj... but my good friends near the main temple have reported 76F (24.4C).  the warmest day of 2011.  by the way, please check out the 'LOCAL TEMPS' tab at the top of the page to see the general temperature forecast trends across our area.

our warming trend isn't finished yet... temps should continue to gradually moderate through the week, aided by lots of sunshine.  the high pressure ridge responsible for this turn to spring-time warmth is very robust for this time of year... but there are signs that it is going to be breaking down by the weekend.  in fact, a rather intense upper level disturbance is on the way for late friday through sunday... bringing us increasing rain and thunderstorm chances.  i guess we knew this couldn't last forever!  stay tuned for twice-daily updates as our ever-changing weather pattern evolves...

MONDAY NIGHT: clear skies... very mild temps.
low: 14C (58F)

TUESDAY: lots of sunshine.  warming trend continues...
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: sunny and unseasonably warm.
high: 22C (72F)

THURSDAY: mostly sunny skies.  spring-like.
high: 22C (72F)

FRIDAY: increasing clouds, but still warm.  chance of a thunderstorm by evening.
high: 23C (73F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with a good chance of a few showers and thunderstorms.
high: 22C (71F)

approaching perfection?... (am.14.mar.11)>

it is a super-mild 56.5F (13.6C) before sunrise this morning... with clear skies.  it wasn't so long ago that we couldn't even get near 13C for a high temp!

nearly perfect spring-time weather is on the way for the next few days... good timing for the teachings today and tomorrow at the main temple.  i keep waiting for surprises which could knock our warming trend off track, but so far, things are progressing as expected.  the big ridge of high pressure from the arabian sea into the western half of india will peak in strength around thursday... that means we will continue to see gradually warmer temps all week, with virtually no chance of any rainfall.  a few streams of high clouds could drift through at times... otherwise it looks like plenty of sunshine ahead.

massive snowmelt is going to be occurring up the mountain this week... getting up to triund will be interesting, as the rhododendrons will be coming out in full force very soon.

MONDAY: lots of sunshine, perhaps a few periods of high clouds.  unseasonably warm!
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY NIGHT: mostly clear skies.  very mild.
low: 14C (58F)

TUESDAY: mostly sunny and spring-like.
high: 21C (70F)

WEDNESDAY: continued sunny and quite warm.
high: 22C (71F)

THURSDAY: mostly sunny skies.  gorgeous.
high: 22C (72F)

FRIDAY: becoming partly cloudy, but still warm.
high: 22C (72F)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

a week of warming... (pm.13.mar.11)>

for a switch, we have totally clear skies over the mountains early this evening, with a band of clouds (the high, thin variety) in the southern and western sky.  today was indeed the warmest day of 2011... i recorded a high temp of 64.6F (18.1C) at the top of mcleod ganj.

...and this is only the beginning... our warming trend will get even more aggressive during the coming few days, with high temps likely to top 21C (70F) as far up the mountain as dharamkot and naddi.!  a late spring / early summer-like ridge of high pressure continues to build and strengthen, and will effectively keep the atmosphere stable and rain-free.  today was the first day in a long time when cumulus clouds failed to develop over the mountains... evidence of the warming aloft.

looks like a good week to do some spring cleaning, attend the teachings, or maybe get out for some hiking...

SUNDAY NIGHT: a few high clouds... otherwise mostly clear and mild.
low: 12C (54F)

MONDAY: sun, with some patches of high clouds at times.  warmer...
high: 19C (67F)

TUESDAY: mostly sunny and unseasonably warm.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: warming continues, with mostly sunny skies.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: plenty of sun... spring-like temps.
high: 22C (71F)

FRIDAY: partly cloudy and warm.
high: 22C (72F)

better and better... (am.13.mar.11)>

we have perfectly clear skies at dawn this morning... with a current (and overnight low) temp of 52.3F (11.3C).

well, if all goes according to plan, today will be the warmest day of 2011.  satellite photos this morning show just a few thin, high clouds upstream (to our west-northwest), but the rapidly developing ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere is keeping things very calm and stable from the arabian peninsula all the way to the western himalayas.  we'll still have to be prepared for cumulus clouds developing over the mountains during the afternoon, but even that will become less of an issue during the coming days.

our warming trend is in progress, and will really kick into high gear between now and thursday, with a nice stretch of above normal temperatures for a change.  enjoy...

SUNDAY: mostly sunny skies... but some clouds mainly over the mountains in the PM.  warmest day of the year!
high: 18C (65F)

SUNDAY NIGHT: mostly clear and mild.
low: 12C (54F)

MONDAY: lots of sunshine... warming continues.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: mostly sunny and pleasant.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: sunshine, spring-time temps.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: sunny to partly cloudy.
high: 21C (70F)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

into the comfort zone... (pm.12.mar.11)

skies are partly cloudy early this evening... it's been a nice day, with a better percentage of sunshine than yesterday, and a slightly warmer high temp of 61.7F (16.5C).

no real changes to the going forecast.  a strong ridge of high pressure will continue to build and strengthen just to our west and south, right into the middle of next week.  high pressure means sinking air, allowing for very little chance of any significant precipitation, along with warming temps.  in fact, it still looks very likely that we'll being experiencing much warmer than average/normal weather by the middle of next week.  there will continue to be a few bouts of cloudiness from time to time, but sunshine is going be the majority player.

recent reports tell us that there are still several FEET of snow up at triund... but there will be a significant amount of melting going on between now and next weekend...

SATURDAY NIGHT: a few clouds this evening... becoming mostly clear overnight.  mild temps.
low: 11C (51F)

SUNDAY: sun and occasional clouds.  warmest day of the year so far...
high: 18C (65F)

MONDAY: sunny to partly cloudy.  very pleasant.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: lots of sunshine.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: mostly sunny and unseasonably warm.
high: 21C (70F)

THURSDAY: springtime weather continues... with mostly sunny skies.
high: 21C (70F)

gentle and mild... (am.12.mar.11)>

there are a few high clouds drifting by just before sunrise this morning... otherwise skies are mostly clear, with a temp of 50.9F (10.5C).

current satellite photos show patches of thin, high clouds scattered from pakistan into kashmir and himachal pradesh... an indication of the warming which is occurring very high in the atmosphere.  at the same time, temperatures are also warming in the lower levels... so it looks like our much-anticipated warming trend is continuing to take shape.  we've had a battle between sun and mountain clouds the past few days, but as the atmosphere becomes more and more stable, the clouds should suffer defeat... especially into early next week.

i am really impressed with the magnitude of this pre-summer weather pattern being advertised by the computer models...  a massive ridge of high pressure (more representative of may than march) will become firmly established by tuesday/wednesday.  might be a good idea to dig out the summer clothes...!

SATURDAY: sunshine, along with a few patches of clouds.  milder...
high: 17C (63F)

SATURDAY NIGHT: mostly clear... comfortable.
low: 11C (52F)

SUNDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.  warm-up continues...
high: 19C (66F)

MONDAY: mostly sunny and very pleasant.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: mostly sunny.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: continued sunny... gradual warming.
high: 21C (70F)

Friday, March 11, 2011

approaching "normal"... (pm.11.mar.11)>

skies are partly cloudy this evening, with a bit of light haze and fog around the area.  we had a gorgeous, sunny morning, followed by a partly to mostly cloudy afternoon... and a high temp of 59.5F (15.3C).

the sunshine gave way to clouds very rapidly during the noon hour today... but with the setting of the sun, the clouds are just as rapidly dissipating.  much warmer air is moving in in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere, but the warming is lagging just a bit at the surface, so far.  it takes a delicate balance to stabilize the atmosphere and keep the skies sunny all day... but hopefully we are heading in that direction.

a strong ridge of high pressure will continue to build across south asia during the next several days, so our warming trend still looks on track... with the most dramatically warmer weather scheduled for the first part of next week.  there will still be a bit of a battle between sun, clouds, and fog... but the sun should be progressively more dominant, day by day...

FRIDAY NIGHT: becoming mostly clear... but some patchy fog possible.
low: 10C (50F)

SATURDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.  milder...
high: 17C (63F)

SUNDAY: sunshine and a few clouds.  warming up!
high: 19C (66F)

MONDAY: mostly sunny and very pleasant.
high: 20C (68F)

TUESDAY: plenty of sunshine... spring-like temps.
high: 21C (69F)

WEDNESDAY: mostly sunny and rather warm.
high: 21C (70F)

temps on the rise... (am.11.mar.11)>

we have another totally clear morning in mcleod ganj...with a pre-sunrise temp of 49.5F (9.7C).  satellite photos show absolutely cloudless skies from pakistan through northwest india, into western tibet.

it's time for major changes in our atmospheric alignment once again... the pool of cold air aloft has now moved to the east, and is going to be replaced by a gradually strengthening area of high pressure during the next several days.  that means temperatures will be on the rise... not only at the surface, but throughout all levels of the atmosphere... which should kill the instability required to stir up showers and thunderstorms.  the only "fly in the ointment" i can see at this point would be too much warming aloft, which could create an inversion (relatively cooler air trapped below warm air)... that's the recipe for fog.  we'll just have to watch that potential spoiler on a day-by-day basis.

otherwise... we're in line for an aggressive warming trend to kick in this weekend, accompanied by mostly sunny skies.  there are indications that temps could top 70F (21C) by the middle of next week!

FRIDAY: sunny this morning... becoming partly cloudy during the afternoon.  milder!
high: 17C (62F)

FRIDAY NIGHT: clear to partly cloudy.
low: 11C (51F)

SATURDAY: plenty of sunshine.  warming up...
high: 18C (65F)

SUNDAY: mostly sunny and very pleasant.
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: more sunshine... still warming...
high: 21C (69F)

TUESDAY: mostly sunny and definitely spring-like.
high: 21C (70F)

Thursday, March 10, 2011

warming trend to resume... (pm.10.mar.11)>

we have partly cloudy skies prior to sunset this evening, after a sunny morning, and then some clouds and a few sprinkles during the mid- to late afternoon.  i recorded a high temp of 59.2F (15.1C), with just a trace of rainfall.

although not as dark and ominous as yesterday, we did get the build-up of clouds over the mountains again this afternoon... thanks to the (now departing) pool of very cold air in the upper atmosphere which has been hanging around for the past 2-3 days.  this has put our springtime weather on "pause"... but during the next few days, we'll resume the progression toward nicer conditions.

there will be a huge ridge of high pressure developing from the arabian sea into the western half of india during the next week... and that is going to cause temperatures in all levels of the atmosphere to begin warming dramatically.  it will also effectively cut off any instability, and end the precipitation chances for a while.  it looks like we'll be experiencing ABOVE normal temperatures by sunday, for a change...

THURSDAY NIGHT: lingering clouds and perhaps an isolated light shower this evening... then becoming mostly clear overnight.
low: 9C (49F)

FRIDAY: sunny to partly cloudy skies.  a bit milder.
high: 17C (62F)

SATURDAY: mostly sunny... warming up.
high: 19C (66F)

SUNDAY: plenty of sunshine.  comfortable temps.
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: mostly sunny and unseasonably warm.
high: 21C (69F)

TUESDAY: sunshine and pleasant temps again...
high: 21C (69F)

precarious... (am.10.mar.11)>

skies are totally clear just before the sun rises over the mountains this morning... with a temp of 46.9F (8.3C) to start the day.  i picked up another 0.01" (0.3mm) of rain last evening around 9.00pm, bringing the 24-hour total to 0.11" (3mm).

i'm feeling a little nervous today... although it is bright and calm at the moment, that menacing pool of cold air aloft has shifted only slightly to the east since late yesterday.  that means as soon as the sun starts working on the atmosphere, we could see clouds blossom over the mountains once again, which could lead to a few sprinkles, brief showers, and perhaps some thunder.  on the other hand, temperatures aloft are going to be warming rapidly starting later today, and continuing all the way into early next week... and that could tip the balance in favor of a drier, sunnier day.  anyway, for those of you out and about participating in uprising day activities (among other things), just keep in mind that our beautiful early morning could turn sour on us again!

after today, then things are more cut-and-dried... a big area of high pressure from the surface into the upper atmosphere is going to gradually establish itself from the arabian sea into western and northern india.  this is a classic fair weather pattern for us... and also a classic warming-trend pattern.  so... it looks like we are going to be taking another giant step toward spring-time... starting this weekend.!

THURSDAY:  sunny early... but becoming partly to mostly cloudy with a risk of one or two showers or thundershowers from mid-day into the afternoon.
high: 16C (60F)

THURSDAY NIGHT:  slight chance of a shower/t-shower in the evening... then becoming clear.
low: 9C (48F)

FRIDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.
high: 17C (62F)

SATURDAY: plenty of sunshine... warming up.
high: 19C (66F)

SUNDAY: mostly sunny... super nice day!
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: continued mostly sunny and unseasonably warm.
high: 20C (68F)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

a temporary setback... (pm.09.mar.11)>

today was one of those days when we had all kinds of variety... sunshine in the early morning, thick, heavy clouds from the mid-morning into the early afternoon, thunder and a brief heavy shower (with hail in a few spots) around 2pm, then a mix of clouds and sun during the mid- to late afternoon hours.  our warming trend was stifled today... as we only reached a high temp of 56.3F (13.5C).  i recorded 0.06" (1.5mm) of rain this afternoon.

the pocket of cold air in the upper atmosphere that we've been discussing the last few days has been directly overhead during the past 18-24 hours.  the relationship between warmer temperatures at the surface to much colder temps aloft is what creates instability in the atmosphere... and that's why we've seen the brief shower/thundershower action since the pre-dawn hours today.  the good news is that this instability is going to be weakening, then disappearing altogether during the coming 12-24 hours... and will be replaced by rapidly warming temperatures in all levels of the atmosphere.  the potential for a couple of showers or thundershowers will continue overnight... with an even smaller chance tomorrow.

then, get ready for a major warm-up as we head into the weekend, and especially into early next week, along with a good dose of springtime himalayan sunshine...

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy with a couple of showers or thundershowers in the area.
low: 9C (48F)

THURSDAY: partly sunny skies... only a slight chance of a brief, isolated shower.
high: 16C (60F)

FRIDAY: sunny to partly cloudy and warming up again...
high: 18C (64F)

SATURDAY: mostly sunny skies.  super nice!
high: 19C (66F)

SUNDAY: plenty of sun... warming trend continues...
high: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: mostly sunny and pleasant.
high: 20C (68F)

sun/clouds...maybe a shower... (am.09.mar.11)>

we have mostly clear skies just before sunrise, with a temp of 48.6F (9.2C).  and we finally cashed in on that "random" shower that has been in the forecast for the last few days... it came between 3.00 and 4.00am, and delivered 0.04" (1mm) of rain, along with a couple of healthy claps of thunder.

the pool of cold air aloft which is responsible for the rain/sleet showers up at triund yesterday afternoon, and our brief thundershower very early this morning, is sitting right on top of us now... although there is very little on the satellite photos to indicate its presence.  what it will do, though, is create enough instability to keep the chance of showers (thunder?) in the forecast once again today... until it moves east of us and out of the picture tomorrow.

otherwise, we should see our standard mixture of sunshine and clouds again today and tomorrow... THEN, even more dramatic changes are on the way.  it looks like there is going to be a massive warm-up in all levels of the atmosphere, from the surface, all the way up to the jet stream level, as we head into the weekend.  also, sunshine should become even more abundant than it has been recently...

WEDNESDAY: partly sunny skies... with a chance of another shower or thundershower.  a bit cooler.
high: 14C (58F)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: a brief evening shower possible... then becoming mostly clear.
low: 10C (50F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny.
high: 16C (61F)

FRIDAY: mostly sunny and very pleasant.
high: 18C (64F)

SATURDAY: lots of sunshine... warming up.
high: 19C (66F)

SUNDAY: sunshine, along with unseasonably warm temps!
high: 20C (68F)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

nice wx to continue... (pm.08.mar.11)>

it's partly cloudy early this evening... after a high temp of 63.1F (17.3C), which occurred just after the noon hour.  we had beautiful, sunny skies all morning, but there was quite a bit of cloudiness over the mountains during the afternoon.  i have received a report of some light showers of sleet and rain up towards triund around 330-400pm.

well today was the fourth day in a row of at least a few hours of sunshine combined with mild temperatures... quite a change from what we were experiencing last week (and most of the past month, for that matter).  looking ahead, the weather news continues to be good.  we still have a pool of colder air aloft which is going to hang around for another day or so... and that will keep the slight chance (20%) of an afternoon/night-time shower in the forecast... but other than that, we should see a good amount of sunshine and nice march temps for the next several days.  in fact, there are indications of an even more dramatic warm-up starting this weekend, lasting into next week...

TUESDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy... scattered thundershowers possible.
low: 10C (50F)

WEDNESDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.  an isolated shower or thundershower?
high: 16C (61F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny.
high: 16C (60F)

FRIDAY: mostly sunny and comfortable.
high: 17C (62F)

SATURDAY: plenty of sunshine.
high: 18C (64F)

SUNDAY: warming up even more... with mostly sunny skies.
high: 19C (66F)

sun tries to hold on... (am.08.mar.11)>

we have crystal clear skies before sunrise this morning, with a temp of 50.5F (10.3C) to start the day.  satellite photos show only a few scattered clouds from pakistan into northern india at the moment.

yesterday i saw people wandering around in t-shirts and shorts... thanks to the super-balmy warmth of the direct sunlight.  it looks like our mild-warmish temperatures might be here to stay, as there is no evidence of any more intrusions of cold air during the next several days.  we are getting into the time of year where it will be hard to get more than a day or two of cold weather in a row.

there is still a weak disturbance aloft, which will be moving through northern india during the next 36 hours or so.  really, it's a pocket of cold air up around 18-25,000ft (5500-7600m).  its presence means that i find it hard to totally remove any chance of random showers during the afternoon... as our warming at the surface could destbilize the atmosphere enough to get something going over the mountains.  chances are only in the 20-30% range... but just keep it in mind during the next couple of days.

computer models are hinting at an even more dramatic warm-up starting this weekend!

TUESDAY: sunny skies this morning.  becoming partly cloudy during the afternoon with a slight chance of a shower.
high: 17C (63F)

TUESDAY NIGHT: an evening shower over the mountains?  otherwise becoming mostly clear.
low: 10C (50F)

WEDNESDAY: a mix of sun and clouds... still that small chance of a PM shower.
high: 16C (60F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.
high: 16C (60F)

FRIDAY: lots of sunshine... very pleasant.
high: 17C (62F)

SATURDAY: mostly sunny and warming up even more...
high: 18C (64F)

Monday, March 7, 2011

winter chill gone for good..? (pm.07.mar.11)>

our skies are partly cloudy at sunset this evening... after a day of alternating sunshine and high clouds, and a comfortable high temp of 60.1F (15.6C).  here at the top of mcleod ganj, today was the warmest day since the beginning of february, when we had a couple of days with high temps reaching 60-61F (~16C).

satellite pics are currently showing patches of mid- and high clouds moving across the western himalayan region... in association with a weak upper level disturbance which is slowly making its way from northern pakistan into north india.  there is nothing particularly menacing about this weather system, but a couple of the computer models continue to insist on some light shower activity during the next 36-48 hours or so, so i think it's best to keep mentioning at least a slight (20-30%) chance of a random light rain shower or two.  otherwise, things are going to remain quiet, with temperatures perhaps cooling off ever-so-slightly in the next couple of days, but then warming again as we approach the weekend.  not much to complain about, really...

MONDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy and quite mild.
low: 10C (50F)

TUESDAY: sunshine in the midst of a few clouds.  slight chance of a brief afternoon shower.
high: 16C (60F)

WEDNESDAY: partly cloudy... still that small chance of a random shower or two.
high: 14C (58F)

THURSDAY: partly cloudy skies.
high: 15C (59F)

FRIDAY: mostly sunny and comfortable.
high: 16C (61F)

SATURDAY:  partly to mostly sunny and nice!
high: 17C (62F)

some clouds, but mild... (am.07.mar.11)>

skies are partly cloudy early this morning, with a super-mild temp of 51F (10.6C) to start the day.  unfortunately, clouds have been on the increase during the overnight hours.

satellite pics show a broad area of mid- and high clouds scattered from central asia, southward into pakistan.  this is associated with a weak upper-level disturbance which will be moving through during the next couple of days.  i do emphasize weak, because it will likely fail to do much more than stir up occasional cloudiness and perhaps a couple of isolated showers (mainly in the mountains).

temperatures, as usual, will be highly dependent on how much sunshine we can get... but should remain fairly comfortable through the week... with no blasts of cold, winter air expected.

MONDAY: partly cloudy skies.  just a slight chance of a random shower in the PM.
high: 16C (60F)

MONDAY NIGHT: partly cloudy with a brief, light shower possible.
low: 10C (50F)

TUESDAY: a mix of clouds and sun... still that slight chance of a passing shower.
high: 15C (59F)

WEDNESDAY: periods of sunshine between clouds.  a random shower or two possible.
high: 14C (58F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly sunny skies.
high: 15C (59F)

FRIDAY: mostly sunny and pleasantly mild.
high: 16C (61F)