Once again, San Francisco’s microclimates and sensible temperatures said “We’re good, babe.”
Temperatures across the United States have plummeted since Saturday evening as an arctic cold front has swept through (most) of the lower forty-eight states, bringing with it record-setting low temperatures. Many parts of the country have seen the mercury fall some 25 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit lower than recorded averages for this time of the year; wind chills in Montana and Iowa have been recorded as low as -50F — a rigidness capable of leaving someone frostbitten within a matter of minutes.
NFL games were postponed. Snow storms have buried the South. Utility networks are being tested… before predicted collapses.
But here in San Francisco? It’s sunny and in the mid-50s today, January 15th, with slight winds. In fact, with our current temperatures, San Francisco is presently one of the warmest places in the country.
The Bay Area is one of the warmest places in the country this morning. Arctic air has plunged south across a huge portion of the U.S. Life-threatening wind chills across the Plains and Great Lakes right now. pic.twitter.com/xHaI0KNhwd
— Drew Tuma (@DrewTumaABC7) January 15, 2024
“The Bay Area is one of the warmest places in the country this morning,” reads a post on X from ABC7 Meteorologist Drew Tuma. “Arctic air has plunged south across a huge portion of the U.S. Life-threatening wind chills across the Plains and Great Lakes right now.”
The screenshot of this morning’s temperature painted a grizzly, fridge picture… with most of the country recording temperatures well below freezing. Dallas, for example, is expected to see lows in the teens tonight; for comparison, the historic average temperature for the Texas city during the month of January is somewhere between the mid-40s to low-50s; the evening temperatures on Monday, January 15th, could well fall more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average.
Meanwhile, Miami is, as one user on the social media formerly known as Twitter pointed out: “Miami is on a different planet.” Though its morning temperatures were a tropical 75 degrees Fahrenheit today, the Florida mecca of nightlife still could very well be swallowed by the Atlantic during our lifetime.
As for us San Franciscans? We’ll just have to make sure to wear a slightly thicker piece of outerwear while we lay out on Dolores Park reading a book, drinking our CBD-infused kombucha, and minding our business (having applied SF prior, of course).
I have spent many winters in San Francisco along with the associated rain downpouirs and temps. in the 40’s. One year even snowed yet did not last long. Stating that warm winters in S.F. are common is not correct. There are some days that are warmer than others and the rains can be fierce during some winters along with low temps. Most of us did survive however. Since you are living there and writing about The City, I would think that accuracy would be important.