High pressure to our east and a deep low pressure system to our west have combined to produce strong, southerly winds across the Heart-land over the past two days. Warm, Gulf air has been streaming northward, bringing record high temperatures to the Central Plains and Great Lakes region. Yesterday, we topped out at 72 degrees F in Columbia and this morning's low was 59!
Such warm winter episodes may trigger spring growth in bulb plants, bring chipmunks from their dens and rouse a host of insects from their months of suspended animation. But birds and mammals will not be fooled by this respite from the cold; their breeding behavior and migratory urges are tied to the light cycle, not to the daily temperature. And, while they no doubt enjoy the pleasant weather as much as we do, their activities, vital to their survival, go on as usual.
Today, the cold front of the recent Pacific Coast storm is bearing down on our warm, moist air mass and should trigger thunderstorms by late afternoon. Winter lurks behind the front and will reclaim the Midwest over the next few days; after a brief taste of spring, we'll soon face reality.
