Monday, February 23, 2015

things will change... (pm.23.feb.15)>

Monday's stats:

Low temp: 57.0F (13.9C)
High temp: 66.0F (18.9C)
Precipitation: none

We have a broken layer of high cloudiness blanketing the area just after sunset this evening.  Those clouds did pose a greater challenge to the sun today than we've seen the last couple of days, but it didn't really matter -- today's high temperature was the warmest of 2015.  It felt more like the middle of March, as far as normal/averages are concerned.

Although there is still a strong ridge of high pressure across much of India, a very intense late winter storm system centered over eastern Iran is generating lots of high cloudiness out ahead of it.  This system will be shifting gradually eastward during the coming two to three days, putting an end to our recent string of unseasonably mild days.  Most of tomorrow (Tue) is still looking OK, but rain chances will be on the increase by evening, with the likelihood of some moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms appearing before Wednesday morning comes.  Unless something miraculous happens, Wednesday is going to be a very wet and stormy day, with that potential for rain, gusty winds and thunder lingering into Thursday as well.

It's also going to be turning much colder, allowing the snow line to drop further downhill than we've seen since the very beginning of February.  Sleet and snow is not out of the question in McLeod Ganj proper during late Feb -- and we can't rule out that possibility with this system.

Further down the road... things are looking unstable and cooler than normal through the weekend, with rain chances increasing again by Sunday night.