Winter takes a short break; satellite indicates global warmth for January

The cold weather pattern of the past few weeks has broken for just a few days as the Mid-South saw their first 50 degree day today since January 28. A full day of sun was a welcome sight, and so was the lack of snow cover! Today was the first day without any snow on the ground at WXLIVE! in Bartlett since the February 8th storm, and only the 5th day this month.

Though it was still below normal temperature-wise, that streak (which is also at 21 days) should end tomorrow as highs climb to the mid to upper 50s. It's been an unusually cold and active winter for the region (see Eddie Holmes' blog on the topic as it relates to Jackson, TN), so a few nice days in the mix is welcome. Following a low pressure system that will bring rain to the area this weekend, another round of Arctic air will spill into the tri-state region next week, which could hold tight through the early part of March (8-14 day outlook), as we end meteorogical winter.

Though the U.S. has been well below normal this winter, Jeff Masters at Weather Underground reports that last month was the warmest January in the lower atmosphere since 1978, globally speaking, continuing a trend of above normal temperatures since the current El Nino began last summer. The measurements are taken from Microwave Sounding Unit aboard a polar-orbiting satellite.

One final note... I'll be speaking tomorrow to the second graders at Rivercrest Elementary School for their Career Day. I hope they enjoy my talk on being a world famous pastry chef! Ha! I always look forward to opportunities like this and am especially grateful to the staff at Rivercrest for having me tomorrow. I think my second-grade daughter is more excited than I though!

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