“When said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be certain.”
– Alice Hoffman, “Here on Earth”

The above quotation was especially true on Feb. 14. Within a 24 hour period, both Valentine’s Day and the weather were all over the map – one figuratively and the other literally. A full moon come evening added a nice touch.

Feb. 12, 2014: The sheriff in Oconee County, Ga. posted on the department’s Facebook page: “Valentine’s Day has been cancelled from a line North of I-16 to the Georgia/Tennessee border … Men who live in the designated ‘No Valentine’s Day Zone’ are exempt from having to run out and buy lottery scratchers and Hershey bars from corner stores until Feb. 18, 2014 –  due to ice, snow, and freezing rain.”

A good idea for the ice storm battered region as driving conditions were dangerous. But it was not posted for this reason. The sheriff, deputies and staff had spent a 34-hour shift weather-bound at the station.

“He was just trying to break the monotony and give us something to laugh at,” according to the dispatcher.

On the other side of the country, we basked under sunny skies with temperatures close to 90 degrees. Coming out of Ralphs after picking up a few items to complete our Valentine’s Day dinner, a Jeep drove through the parking lot. It’s top was down and the driver wore a Hawaiian shirt while tunes of The Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ Safari” could be heard throughout the shopping center. Nostalgic summertime music for a summer-like day … in the Crescenta Valley.

Meanwhile, on the very same day and in the very same state – in Humboldt County, “land of the redwoods and Bigfoot” – the weather was very different. Our college kid called, “Mom! It’s been really foggy and raining non-stop for three days. The winds are blowing hard, like Santa Anas.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetie!” Gently I broke the news of our beautiful weather.  Thankfully by May, the sun-seeking graduate will be home. Yes! Home to the sun, dog, friends … and family. The order of these is apt to change at any given moment, although, “back to life” in Southern California may be No. 1!

In the meantime, between proofreading and submitting this column, the weather shifted from cool and foggy to warm and clear. Oncoming winds were the cause with stronger ones predicted to end the week. Temperatures in the 80s and low humidity may create Red Flag conditions. By Sunday, cool and dry weather returns.

The last days of February may be under an umbrella as rain is expected. Can we ever be certain about the weather?

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

  Sue Kilpatrick