Outdoors
San Diego County’s Waterfalls, swollen with runoff and snowmelt from recent storms, should be at their very best during the next month or two. Three of the most accessible are: Green Valley Falls at Cuyamaca …
The Frost-Nipped Legacies of last November’s and December’s cold spells aren’t hard to spot. Brown lawns, half-dead-looking avocado trees, and wilted ornamental plants like poinsettias in certain areas of San Diego County tell the story …
Green and Gold will be the colors of the coastal region’s natural landscape in early 2023. The recent rain will trigger the growth of annual grasses and weeds, with greens replacing yellows and browns. At …
Recent Chilly Days and Nights only confirm that San Diego’s lowest temperatures (according to more than a century of weather records) tend to occur during the month of January. January’s mean temperature at Lindbergh Field …
Shorebird-Watching enters its most agreeable season this month and next, with migrant and resident birds sharing common winter grounds. Egrets, herons, terns, and a variety of other species provide endless entertainment as they go about …
Extreme High and Low Tides are set to occur over several days in late December. On Friday, December 23, the tide reaches a high of 7.61 feet at 8:26 am and then falls to -1.96 …
Spectacular Sunsets and Sunrises are characteristic of late fall and early winter’s dry spells. You can drive up to Soledad Park atop Mount Soledad in La Jolla or Mount Helix near La Mesa for an …
Ripening Palm Fruit, hanging in great clusters on California's native fan palms (Washingtonia filifera), can be seen this month. Native Americans of centuries past utilized the black, pea-sized fruit, which consists of a deliciously sweet …
Earliest Sunset (4:42 p.m. from San Diego) occurs Monday, December 3 or 4, a date that is not coincident with the shortest day (winter solstice – December 21) because of factors relating to the non-circular …
Atmospheric Ice-crystal Effects are often observed, starting about this time of year, because of the frequent appearance of high clouds made of tiny bits of ice. The most familiar of these optical effects is the …
”Rainbow Season” arrives with the first rains of November or December. Scattered showers are best for rainbow watching: sunlight refracting and reflecting through the raindrops causes two bows to appear — an intense circular arc …