Today’s Forecast
Good morning, and happy Wednesday! I hope everyone is having a great week so far and getting prepared for some possible severe weather. As the wind advisory expired early this morning, that is not the last we will see of the wind, rain, and storms. Today will be unseasonably warm with a high of 76 and a low of 62. We can expect a breezy and mostly cloudy day with some sun shining through occasionally. As we go into late Wednesday night/early morning Thursday, we can see some showers and thunderstorms start to pick up. These storms will continue throughout the day until sometime Thursday afternoon. A few storms may be strong to severe with chances of heavy rain, gusty winds, and even some chances for hail. A first alert weather day has been declared for Thursday. Temperatures start out warm, but as the storm passes through temperatures will drop to the lower 40s and 30s.
Recent Wild Weather
This week begins peak season for Yosemite National Park’s famous firefall to be seen in all its glory. Each year from mid to late February Horsetail Fall, sitting at 1,575 feet in the Yosemite Valley, takes on the look of a fiery waterfall. What causes this phenomenon you may ask? When the setting sun hits the waterfall at just the right angle, it gives the illusion that the waterfall is on fire. However, this isn’t the only condition that has to be met in order for this to occur. The weather must be in full cooperation. In addition to the sun’s angle being perfect, you will also need the sky to be absolutely clear to make way for the sun to come in and hit the water. You will also need a significant amount of precipitation to give the waterfall good flow. Luckily, 2023 has brought record breaking amounts of snow and rain to California. It’s the perfect setup to get this “firefall” glowing! It has become such a popular event for nature lovers and photographers that reservations are now being required. This year’s peak dates for viewing this phenomenon are February 10th-27th with a viewing time between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. as the sun is setting. Park temperatures this time of the year in Yosemite average between 28°-53°.
Wild Weather this Day in History
Well, snow, snow, and more snow! So, instead I’d like to take this moment to recognize one of the greatest astronomers, physicist, and engineers to ever live! Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei (commonly referred to, simply as, Galileo) was born on this day in history, February 15th, 1564. Galileo was an Italian mastermind, responsible for many discoveries and inventions that helped propel the scientific world forward. Among the many inventions he is responsible for, he invented the thermoscope, now the modern thermometer. Galileo’s original design was a device that could show changes in temperature in a liquid-filled tube. The different liquids rise and fall as the temperature changes. These thermoscopes have once again become popular, and you may have seen on and didn’t even realize it. Happy birthday Galileo!
Have an amazing rest of the week, and make sure to stay up to date with your latest weather conditions!
Source: https://www.weather.gov/abr/This_Day_in_Weather_History_Feb_15