“Year’s end comes on the wings of a chattering jay and a cawing crow, and a wind that rustles the sere oak leaves in the star-glimmered night. The jay chatters of short Winter days, and the crow caws of the long Winter nights. And the wind’s song is the song of time, of the years, the endless round of years.”

~ Hal Borland “The Song of Time,” 1945 December 31st

The New Year arrived as if ushered in by Monday night’s strong northeast Santa Ana winds!  Simultaneously, last year’s pages were ripped free of the calendar by gusts exceeding 40 mph. Off they flew into history, during the cold first hours of 2019. Happy New Year!

The date of New Year’s Day seems so fundamental that it’s almost as though nature ordained it. But New Year’s Day is a civil event; its date isn’t precisely fixed by any natural seasonal marker. Time is not kept by nature but only by man. How was January chosen as the start to a new year?

For us in the Northern Hemisphere, early January is a logical time for new beginnings. At the winter solstice – Dec. 21 – in the Northern Hemisphere, we had the shortest day of the year. By early January, our days are obviously lengthening again. This return of longer hours of daylight had a profound effect on cultures that were tied to agricultural cycles. It has an emotional effect on both people and their “best friends.” What’s more therapeutic than a summer evening dog walk? Ask Abby.

Historical fact has it … In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar made January the first month of the year.  January was named after the Latin word for door (ianua.) So as Julius created the Julian calendar, January marked the opening like a door to new beginnings.

Gusty Santa Ana winds and the typically associated offshore flow will keep our area under clear skies and dry until most of Friday. The weather then changes as a Pacific storm is expected to take over late Friday evening and lasting into Monday. Rain and mountain snow with periods of gusty winds are likely; total rainfall could reach two inches. Looking beyond, thanks to a well-developed Pacific jet stream, at least one more storm is in the offing. NWS meteorologists are hinting that this storm system could be a bit stronger than the first; intensity and amounts are yet to be determined.

If you haven’t already done so, it may be a very good time to locate your umbrella and assess its condition. Mine seems to hide out in the trunks and under seats of vehicles. As for working condition, broken ribs (on your umbrella!) seem to be the number one reason for lack of function. There’s still time for a repair or better yet –  a new one to start out the new year!

Sue Kilpatrick is a Crescenta Valley resident and  Official Skywarn Spotter for the  National Weather Service. Reach her at  suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick