SamSaid!

Weather

11th May 2003

Weather

WEATHER

     I am just about convinced that the Red Chinese are fooling around with the jet stream. I can't think of any other explanation of the aberrant and bizarre weather we have been experiencing this spring. They probably stole the secret from the Soviets back when the Evil Empire was falling apart.

     Ordinarily we worry about the effects of El Nino as that huge pool of warm water drifts eastward in the Pacific. Alternately we have to be concerned about La Nina although I'm not sure what might come from the little lady except Fickle Fahrenheit. The third alarm bell comes from the space cadets who point to sunspots. But we have heard very little from these 3 meteorology  sources in the past year. If nothing else, the absence of warnings here gives support to the Chinese jet stream theory.

     Spring is a very nice time of the year in Northern California. Except for a shower here and there, it is a season of high blue skies, warm sun, and cool air. Tough to beat. It is especially welcome since spring comes to this part of the country a couple of months before other areas. Locals flee to Mexico, SoCal, and Hawaii in winter months to seek warm temperatures, but they generally stay at home in April/May since it is so nice here. Not this year. April was monsoon month with 19 days of rain and the other days were cloudy, overcast, grey, cool, chilly, cold, and blustery. As late as May 8 the evening weather forecast mentioned a wind chill factor. Here  –  in May! The Mountain reservoirs are full to the brim, some spilling water, and the big runoff from the melting Sierra snowpack (deep) has barely begun in earnest due to the cold nights. It is a sad state of affairs when I consider swapping my pre-dinner martini for a cup of hot chocolate, and my wife observes that some of my turtle necks and sweatshirts are getting ragged after 6 consecutuve months of wear. And of course, all of this sounds trivial compared to the waves of tornadoes that are tearing the midwest apart. Something is definitely wrong with that meandering jet stream.

     Maybe I am a bit unfair in pointing the accusing finger at the Red Chinese, but at least for the moment, that's my slant on things.

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