coldest winter since 1970-71; wildflowers galore

with a whopping mean high temperature of 61.9 degrees (compared to a normal of 66.1), san diego's meteorological winter (dec-feb) was the 4.2 degrees below normal and the coldest since 1970-71, from a max temp standpoint. we topped off way-below normal months in december and january with just a moderately below normal february - we actually had 8 days above normal last month. of course six of those days were in a row, so most of the month was quite cool like the rest of the winter has been. it remains to be seen how spring will fare, but only one out of the 10 past springs has been above normal in san diego (2004).

one positive is that the average rainfall winter to this point has created quite a wildflower bonanza in anza borrego state park. we're hoping to get out there this weekend to get some pics but the link above should tide you over till then. meanwhile, the ut reported on the countywide wildflower boom, with plenty of color at the coast and inland valleys. i've been noticing the blue spikes of some kind of wildflower on the north side of la jolla parkway as i sit in the daily backup each morning.