people-pleaser... (pm.04.may.12)>

It is partly cloudy this evening as sunset approaches, with thundershowers lurking in the mountains once again.  Today has been close to a repeat of yesterday, with lots of morning sun followed by an eruption of clouds over the mountains around noon, and then a couple of rumbles of thunder during the mid- to late afternoon.  My high temp on Tushita Road just below the mountaineering center was actually slightly below yesterday's, at 78.3F (25.7C) -- but still pleasantly warm.

Looking at the array of weather charts, it is interesting to watch the readjustment, transformation and morphing that the atmosphere is going through, as it shifts into a summer-like pattern -- warming is occurring from the surface into the highest levels.  There are still some pockets of colder air aloft clinging to the highest mountain ranges, and that is what is generating the instability during the afternoon/evening hours.  We'll see varying degrees of that instability during the coming several days, which will keep the risk of a random PM thundershower in the forecast from time to time, but -- strong May sunshine should win the battle, for the most part.

Temperatures have been right in the range of "normal" the last couple of days, but are still expected to warm up even further between now and the early part of next week.  Although the definition of "comfortable" differs widely for different people, temps the next few days should please most...

FRIDAY NIGHT:

any random thundershowers dying away... then becoming mostly clear.

low: 18C (64F)

SATURDAY:

sunny to partly cloudy and warm.

high: 27C (81F)

SATURDAY NIGHT:

an isolated evening thundershower?  otherwise clear to partly cloudy.

low: 18C (65F)

SUNDAY:

a mix of sun and occasional clouds.  even warmer... with a risk of an evening thunderstorm.

high: 28C (83F)

MONDAY:

partly cloudy and warm.  chance of a thunderstorm.

morning low: 19C (66F)

daytime high: 29C (84F)

TUESDAY:

both sun and clouds.  risk of a thunderstorm or two.

morning low: 19C (66F)

daytime high: 28C (83F)

WEDNESDAY:

still warm... with a mix of clouds and sun.  good chance of a period of thunderstorms.

morning low: 18C (65F)

daytime high: 28C (82F)

warmest yet... (am.04.may.12)>

Another gorgeous morning... we have totally clear skies at sunrise, and I've recorded a seasonably mild low temperature of 63.3F (17.4C).  There was no rainfall overnight, which makes it now more than 48 hours since any measurable rain has occurred.

During the past 24 hours we've very quickly jumped back into the zone that we SHOULD be in for this time of year.  It looks like we're in for an extended stretch of seasonably warm weather... with temperatures exceeding the warmest of the season thus far.  Yesterday's high of 80.4F (26.9C) exactly matched the season's maximum which occurred on the 20th of April... and we should have no problem adding at least a couple of degrees to that during the coming several days.

Of course there remain some flies in the ointment.  Although temperatures are warming in all levels of the atmosphere, there are a few pockets of much colder air lingering over the mountains -- this keeps the risk of thundershower development alive during the afternoons and evenings.  Also, there are indications of a couple of weak disturbances drifting through on the westerly flow by early next week, and that may ignite a random thunderstorm or two as well.  Otherwise, we should see plenty of sunshine during the coming days, along with temperatures that shouldn't inspire many complaints...

FRIDAY:

sunny this morning, but becoming partly cloudy this afternoon.  some PM mountain thunder possible.  warm!

high: 27C (81F)

FRIDAY NIGHT:

risk of a thundershower in the area this evening... then becoming mostly clear.

low: 18C (64F)

SATURDAY:

warming continues, with sunshine and a few clouds.  

high: 28C (82F)

SUNDAY:

a mix of sunshine and occasional clouds.  an isolated thunderstorm possible by evening.

morning low: 18C (65F)

daytime high: 28C (83F)

MONDAY:

partly cloudy and very warm.  risk of a thunderstorm in the area.

morning low: 19C (66F)

daytime high: 29C (84F)

TUESDAY:

a thunderstorm or two possible... otherwise partly cloudy.

morning low: 19C (66F)

daytime high: 28C (83F)

great leaps... (pm.03.may.12)>

Thundershowers are lurking in the mountains just above us this evening, but up to now, there have only been a couple of rumbles of thunder here in town... starting as early as about 3:15pm.  Otherwise, the sunshine hung on long enough and strong enough to boost my high temp to 80.4F (26.9C)... which matches the warmest temperature of the season back on the 20th of April.  I was very surprised with such a rapid warm-up this soon.

As we were anticipating... the mountain micro-climate machine did indeed switch on this afternoon, and it will be interesting to see if a thundershower drifts down into McLeod Ganj as the evening wears on.  But even so, all of the activity should diminish rapidly after dark.  Our general pattern will continue to transition into a much more early summer-like scenario during the coming several days.  Warmer air is surging northward not only at the surface, but in the mid- and upper-levels of the atmosphere as well, so we should continue to see temperatures on the rise right into early next week.  The warmest weather of this season is definitely in our near future.

Shower and thunderstorm potential remains a frustrating thing to keep on top of.  Although we have no major storm systems or significant upper-level disturbances in the forecast, the interaction between warmer air flowing in, and pockets of much colder air hanging over the mountains will keep us a little bit on pins and needles in terms of afternoon and evening thunder potential.  Just be aware and prepared, should you be planning an excursion upward...

THURSDAY NIGHT:

mountain thundershowers dying quickly... then clearing skies.

low: 17C (62F)

FRIDAY:

sunny to partly cloudy and warm.  some PM mountain thunder?

high: 27C (80F)

FRIDAY NIGHT:

an evening thundershower in the area?  otherwise clear to partly cloudy.

low: 17C (63F)

SATURDAY:

sunshine and occasional clouds.  warming trend continues...

high: 28C (82F)

SUNDAY:

a mix of sun and clouds.  a thunderstorm possible by evening.

morning low: 18C (65F)

daytime high: 28C (83F)

MONDAY:

partly cloudy with a couple of showers and/or thunderstorms possible.

morning low: 18C (65F)

daytime high: 28C (83F)

TUESDAY:

both sun and clouds.  chance of a thunderstorm or two.

morning low: 18C (65F)

daytime high: 28C (83F)

strong morning sun... (am.03.may.12)>

Skies are clear again early this morning... with the sun now peeking over the mountains.  I've recorded an overnight low temp of 60.1F (15.6C), which is the warmest since last Wednesday.  There has been no rainfall during the past 24 hours.

We are on track to get back into a more normal weather mode for this time of the year.  Temperatures continue to warm in all levels of the atmosphere... and especially the warming in the upper-levels is what should contribute to a more stable air mass during the next several days.  The exception, of course, is the risk of a thundershower developing over the mountains during the afternoon hours.  I think it's very likely we'll see that happen... if not today, then on one or two afternoons as we head into the weekend.  Enjoy the fantastic May sunshine and warmth... but be prepared for a sudden turn of events if you're heading upward.

A ridge of high pressure is going to allow temperatures to rise rather dramatically by Sunday and Monday, which will take us a bit above normal for early May.  Could it be that summer is coming?

THURSDAY:

sunny early, but becoming partly cloudy by afternoon.  some PM mountain thunder?  pleasantly warm.

high: 24C (76F)

THURSDAY NIGHT:

risk of an evening thundershower, then clearing and mild.

low: 16C (61F)

FRIDAY:

sunny to partly cloudy and warm.  an isolated PM thundershower?

high: 25C (77F)

SATURDAY:

sunshine and a few clouds.  seasonably warm.

morning low: 17C (63F)

daytime high: 26C (79F)

SUNDAY:

partly to mostly sunny and warm.

morning low: 18C (64F)

daytime high: 27C (80F)

MONDAY:

partly cloudy and still warm.  chance of a thunderstorm or two developing.

morning low: 18C (65F)

daytime high: 27C (81F)