Freeze Warning Tonight

The National Weather Service issued a FREEZE WARNING for most of the Bay Area from 11 PM today until 8 AM tomorrow. 

* Temperatures: 25° TO 35° in the urban corridor of San Francisco and San Jose.  Inland valleys will be even cooler, 20° to 25°.  

* Impacts:  Areas of black ice may develope, especially on bridges and overpasses.  Sensitive plants may parish.  Please take outdoor pets into consideration during these cold temperatures.  Exposed pipes might want to be wrapped.

Palo Alto Really That Cold?!?!

Mike, 

Are the Palo Alto temperatures taken in a well or something?  Can
it really be 10 degrees colder than in Mt. View? 

Many examples.  We
live in South Palo Alto and the temperatures never seem to fit us?

Our plants are concerned. 

Thank you, 

Richard Bauman

Richard,

Take a look at this:  http://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/mesomap.cgi?state=MTR&rawsflag=290

You can zoom to street level and see where the temperatures are taken. 

The closer you are to the bay water, the warmer your lows will be because water looses and gains temperature at a much slower pace than land.  Most of this winter Mountain View has been warmer than it's surrounding neighbors thanks to the clear sky, light winds and dry air allowing other areas away from the moderating bay waters to cool more.

Also, the closer you are to the hills/mountains the more likely you are susceptible to cold air drainage.  Cold air is heavier and sinks into the valleys at night.  The deeper the valley, the colder it gets.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Multiple Wedding Rings...Fashion Statement?

Hey Mike,

What’s with the wedding rings? Left hand,right hand,both hands, neither hand?

Just wondering because I noticed you fidgeting with the right hand one, then changing

every day.

Anyway, you are a great meteorologist. Also very entertaining in how you express things

with your many facial expressions. Great work.

Happy Holidays,

Jay

Hi Jay,

Nice observation of my forgetfulness. 

I stopped wearing my ring at the fitness center.  It was getting damaged.  Sometimes I forget to put it back on. 

We installed a new remote control for the weather maps that looks like a key chain.  It changes the weather maps.  To keep from dropping it, I slip it over my finger.  Guess it looks like a ring on tv.

I appreciate the kind words!!  Thanks for watching.

My best,

Mike

Towers Making Delta Dangerous?

The Contra Cost County Department of Conservation and Development is reviewing its regulations of meteorological towers after the death of an agricultural pilot who crashed into one on a Delta island in January.  The Federal Aviation Administration requires that towers 200 feet and taller be painted in bright aviation colors and lit. Towers shorter than 200 feet fall under the purview of local governments.

In June, the FAA made several recommendations for meteorological towers to avoid future tragedies. It recommended that shorter towers be painted from top to bottom with alternating bands of orange and white and have eight orange marker balls, as well as brightly painted sleeves or flags, attached to the wires that hold them upright.