Storms, Monkey Grass, and Cooler Temps

This picture is a still captured from the Channel 3 Lookouts Cam from last August of a storm sliding west to east, just south of downtown Chattanooga. This image was just about sunset, and while the exposure seems a little heavy I still like the view.

WOW! Whatta weekend we just had! Saturday's high tied the record of 81, and Sunday's 81 was 2 degrees shy of tying the mark for the 12th of March. That is remarkably warm! We should have highs this time of year in the lower 60s. To borrow (and put a weather twist) on a Tom Jones line....."It's not unusual to have highs in the 70s", but it is rather rare to get into the 80s this early in the year. A scan of the weather records from the last 10 years reveals we have only reached the 80s one other time before the 11th of March.

Here's a look at the warmest highs 1-1 through 3-11 from 1996 to 2006:

• 81 3-11-2006
• 71 1-4-2005
• 76 3-4-2004
• 74 2-22-2003
• 77 1-30-2002
• 76 2-9-2001
• 82* 3-7-2000
• 75 1-27-1999
• 72 2-26-1998
• 79 3-1-1997
• 77 2-26-1996

Since last Monday the Storm Prediction Center has had 1369 preliminary storm reports across the United States, with more to come today. Some possibly in our area. A line of storms now entering NW Tennessee will sweep eastward and arrive here this afternoon. Large hail and strong, straight line winds appear to be the main threats. Highs today should reach well into the 70s before the storms get here. The front triggering this latest round of storms has some rather chilly air behind it so we may only be in the upper 50s with some wind tomorrow afternoon. A cold start to the day on Wednesday. Lows will drop to near freezing Wednesday morning with highs popping back into the low 60s with sunshine. Then a slight chance for a shower or storm Thursday. Dry on Friday. Highs both days in the mid to upper 50s.

I took advantage of the weather yesterday getting my Monkey Grass trimmed back before it started to sprout up. Most years I end up waiting too long, and have to hand trim around the new growth which is a real pain. But now it's done and I feel like I'm a little bit more prepared for Spring. 7 days until Spring officially arrives, but it may not feel like it again for awhile. The long range models have a cooler look to them. And the Climate Prediction Center has much of the nation in below average temperatures through the 26th.