It's as if someone flipped a switch from Winter to Spring this week. The warm up ended a run for a record period of freezing temperatures that goes back all the way to 1895. Why the big change in seasons from Winter to Spring ?
The change-over occurred slowly over the weekend as the North-South alignment of the Polar jet gave way to a more zonal or East-West flow. This in turn resulted in milder Pacific air masses overtaking the nation. A weak Pacific air mass is over the Northern portion of the state today and that looks like where it will stay. Think of it as a Valentine's Day gift from mother nature.
By the weekend another in a series of Pacific fronts will approach Houston with most of the energy deflected to the North thanks to a ridge in the Gulf. As a result the chances for rain remain low until next week when rodeo trail riders start their trek towards town.
