First off, we have a comet that will be visible tonight.  Comet Lulin.  I’ll admit I’ve never heard that name before.  Around 9pm it will be in the Southeast sky near Saturn.  If you’re in a dark area, then you may see it with the naked eye.  A good pair of binoculars or a telescope will help a lot though.  Here’s a link for more information:  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/35992534.html

Now on to temperatures…I wondered how this February stacked up compared to the last couple of years.  I’ve put in some numbers to relate. 

      2007 produced a chilly February.  Using Norfolk International Airport’s data, we had 9 days of 40 degrees or cooler.  10 days of 50 degrees or warmer.  No temperatures above 70. 

    2008 was much warmer.  We had 3 days of 40 degrees or cooler.  20 days of 50 degrees or warmer.  With 4 days of 70 degrees or warmer.

So far in 2009….  6 days of 40 degrees or cooler.  13 days of 50 degrees or warmer.  6 days of 70 degrees or warmer. 

That last part shocked me a little bit.  I thought all of February was cold this year.  We did have one day where the high was 29 (February 5th).  Last year we hit 80 degreees on February 6th.  We still have a couple days left.  Friday is expected to be warm with highs in the upper 60s to possibly 70.  That will be a nice break from the chill.  The record, however, is 82 degrees (1997) for that day. 

Tomorrow, I;ll talk about possible snow/mix on Sunday.  I’d say that I sound like a broken record, but a lot of younger people won’t know what that means. 

Meteorologist: Jeremy Wheeler