Ocean Water Temperatures, of late in the high 50s Fahrenheit, are finally on the upswing this month as the daylight hours lengthen and the sun arcs higher overhead in the sky each day. It will take about five months of …

Ice Plant is responsible for many of the carpet-like splashes of yellow, pink, red, and purple we're beginning to see around San Diego. Popular as a ground cover for concealing and stabilizing road cuts or any other easily eroded slope, …

Tree Heights can be easily measured this week if the sun shines at midday. On or near February 18, at or very near 12 noon, the sun as seen from San Diego County stands at an altitude of 45 degrees …

The Frost-Nipped Legacies of the past winter's cold spells might not be hard to spot in February, especially in the inland areas where overnight lows dipped to below-freezing. Look for brown lawns, half-dead-looking avocado trees, and wilted ornamental plants like …

The Planet Venus makes its debut this month as an "evening star," visible in the west after sundown. At first (around mid-February) the elongation angle of Venus relative to the sun will be small, and Venus will barely be visible …

Ornamental Pear Trees are bursting into bloom all over town. The thousands of white blossoms appear in sheets and clusters, rather like snow when viewed from a distance. Nice specimens can be seen along Lake Murray Boulevard, along Clairemont Mesa …

The Sun Strides North in February, swinging higher across the sky each successive day. Already quite noticeable is the change in the time of sunset, currently almost a minute later per day, and sunrise, currently almost a minute earlier per …

Mars comes to opposition with the sun on Friday, January 29, meaning that it appears opposite (180 degrees from) the sun in the sky. The "Red Planet," which looks like a reddish or rusty-colored, bright pinpoint to the naked eye, …

Extreme tides are set to occur on several days during the end of January. These tides coincide with the full moon (January 29). A peak high tide of +6.5 feet occurs on Thursday, January 28 at 7:07am. Friday's high tide …

Ceanothus, or wild lilac, normally a late winter or early spring blooming native plant, should begin blossoming this month in some spots (Mission Trails Regional Park for one) around coastal and inland San Diego County. This is due to the …

San Diego County's Waterfalls, already 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 Rancho State Park; the …

The Glittery, Bright "Winter Constellations" of Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Gemini, Canis Major, and Canis Minor are best seen during early evening hours in January and February. The last week of January, however, won't be so good for observing these stars …

Highest Monthly Rainfall Totals in San Diego are most likely to occur in January and February (about 1.9 inches each on average) according to weather-service statistics. If low temperatures accompany the typical Pacific storms of this period, there's a chance …

The latest sunrise of 2010 (on standard, not daylight time) occurs Sunday, January 10, near 6:52 a.m. for most of metropolitan San Diego. Slowly at first, then more rapidly in the weeks to come, sunrise will arrive earlier with each …

Venus is nowhere to be seen, and for good reason. Venus is currently at superior conjunction, which means that it lies on the far side of the sun and is hidden in the sun's glaring light. Venus will make it …

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 is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. …

Gray whale migration off San Diego County's coast peaks this month. The best view spots from land are high points close to the surf. Aside from the whale watching overlook at Cabrillo National Monument, try Sunset Cliffs, the vest-pocket parks …

Cross-Country Skiers are in for a short-lived treat late this month through February if winter storms intense enough to drop several inches to two feet of snow hit San Diego County's higher mountains. As the clouds are clearing, you may …

The Fabled "Green Flash" at sunset or sunrise can sometimes be seen on crystal-clear days in December and January. At the instant the sun's upper rim is last visible at sunset, and also at the instant when it is first …

Winter Solstice, the moment when the sun reaches its southernmost point on the celestial sphere, occurring this year at 9:47am, Monday, December 21. This event signals the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in …