easing into instability... (pm.29.dec.18)>

Although we're still not talking about a super major storm system in our area... at least not right now... we definitely are easing our way into a bit more active and unsettled weather pattern.  The upper-level flow is becoming more agitated and disturbed, with a steady stream of weak to moderate systems forecast to move across Himalayan north India during the next couple of weeks.  Moisture availability is limited, but at least it appears that there is something to watch as the new year arrives...

Check THE 7-DAY OUTLOOK (above) for forecast details.

cold, but mainly dry... (pm.26.dec.18)>

It has been noticeably cooler the last few days... actually, our temperatures have been on a downward slide since the weekend.  There has been significant cooling in the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere, and at our elevation around 1800m (6000ft), we're getting our share of that.

There is a disturbance aloft that is spinning across Himalayan north India as well, and if we had any significant moisture availability, we'd be getting some rain and snow showers in our general area.  There could still be some very random, isolated, brief showers of rain, sleet and/or snow overnight into Thursday, but it looks like any kind of significant precipitation is very unlikely.

We're running well below normal in terms of precipitation for this month of December, and it looks like we won't be adding much to that during these final several days of the month and the year.  Looking ahead to the first week or so of the new year, there's no major storm system on the horizon... but we'll be watching and hoping for some kind of a pattern shift that would bring a round or two of much-needed winter rain and snowfall.

the 2018 winter solstice... (pm.21.dec.18)>

We remain locked into a very uneventful weather pattern, with little or no chance of any precipitation for at least the next week or so.  Temperatures have been running a few degrees above normal for this time of year, but a subtle push of cooler air from the north-northwest will occur by Sunday, and last through Christmas Day, taking us closer to where we should be.

The winter solstice is occurring right now, meaning that we've arrived at the shortest couple of days of the year, and are officially into the winter season.

Extended range models keep tempting us with a turn to a more active weather pattern and increasing chances of rain and snow just after the new year arrives... so we'll keep our eyes on that.  It's been an extremely dry couple of months, and some good doses of precipitation would be welcome.

THE 7-DAY OUTLOOK is up and running, and can be found on the tab at the top of the page.

quiet and pleasant... (pm.18.dec.18)>

After a moderately significant storm system which was going on this time last week, we're now in the middle of a very inactive overall weather pattern.  The atmosphere is very dry, and the upper-level flow which drives and steers disturbances is flat and featureless... and this general pattern is not expected to change as we move toward the final days of the month and the year.  Occasionally, the extended range models have been showing a tendency toward some kind of instability during the few days between Christmas and the end of the year, but the data as of this evening is not really impressive at all.

Temperatures are currently quite mild for this stage of December, but a gentle push of cooler continental central Asian air is expected over the weekend, which should put as back into the normal range for the season.

THE 7-DAY OUTLOOK is back up, and you can find that on a tab up at the top of the page.

a tentative return...

It's been more than 10 months since I've posted here!!  But, as we all know... Life happens.  Things come up.  Things change.

I run into so many people around town who ask, "What happened to the weather blog?"  My short answer is, "I've been busy doing other things..."  But there is a longer answer which I don't share often, and that has to do with the fact that monitoring weather and really being on top of it is a 24/7 kind of thing.  For seven years I allowed weather patterns and thermometers and rain gauges and blog posts and computer model data online to pretty much dominate and consume me.  As much as i love weather, I must admit that I got burned out on being obsessed with all the details and ins and outs and ups and downs of weather conditions that are dynamic and ever-changing -- day in and day out.  Unfortunately, I lost my enthusiasm and mojo, and just needed to get away from it all and think about other things going on in my life and all around me.

I was 'out of station' (as they say), out of McLeod Ganj, out of India... for about five months during 2018.  Most of that time (four months), I was back in the US with my family, and being available to assist my mom and dad in the wake of a stroke that my dad experienced late this summer.  I returned to McLeod a couple of weeks ago, and my current plans are to be here until about the middle of April.

Already since I returned earlier this month I have been monitoring local temperatures and precipitation and all the data being spewed out by big number-crunching computer models that provide the raw forecast information fed into and digested by modern weather apps.  And I am surprising myself by considering that I just might start blogging again during these upcoming few months of the winter and early spring seasons.

I am aware of the demographics of traffic patterns here on my blog.  There is a lot of random activity... impersonal and consumer/consumption/critically oriented.  But I also know that there is a small percentage of you that are true local weather geeks.  Friends.  Supporters.  And you are the reason I am here...  Thank you.