“When a calm, clear evening follows a warm day we see the mist gathering in the valleys, creeping stealthily and silently up the hillsides, and rising into the air in long, low, horizontal streaks which are made beautiful by the silent, silvery light of moon and stars.”
~Alfred Rowland, “The Clouds: God’s Angels of the Sea,” 1884

And so went the weather on Memorial Day. The day began clear and warm; by evening cool moist air began to move inland, reaching the foothills. As the week progressed, the temperatures continued cool as coastal fog dominated the weather. “May Gray” and “June Gloom” is right on schedule.

The infamous weather phenomenon strikes every spring and summer, prompting shock in tourists and distain among us native-born Californians. With the adjective “sunny” firmly placed preceding our state’s name, one would have expectations. Each year as school lets out, after the ink dries on newly received diplomas, couples say, “I do” and maps are highlighted with summer adventures, many of us head to the beach. Summer’s here and the surfs up! Great – but where’s the sun?

Attention readers! The weather words – low clouds, fog, marine layer and stratus – may be used interchangeably as their meanings are similar.

There is an old recipe for “the fog;” i.e., May Gray or June Gloom. The three ingredients are: cold water, high pressure and wind. Cool air rises off the cold Pacific waters and collides with the warm sinking air of the North Pacific High. A marine layer forms and prevailing westerly winds carry the clouds over coastal lands. Simple yet complex and unique to our region.

    On this first day of June, gray shifts to gloom; different name, more of the same, although today through Saturday a modest warming is predicted. Come Sunday the fog rolls back, settling in until Tuesday. Each day, during this period, the onshore flow will strengthen, causing heavy morning and early afternoon stratus. Beaches could remain overcast for the duration. Max temps will fall some each day. Meteorologists have differing predictions for Tuesday forward. Some say, “warm and clear” and others, “cool and foggy.”

Interestingly, Scripps Institution of Oceanography throws a May Gray/June Gloom contest. Employees – scientists and non-scientists alike – are invited to forecast the number of days from May 1 to June 30 that will be gray and gloomy. Apparently it’s anyone’s guess!
Sue Kilpatrick is a
Crescenta Valley resident and
Official Skywarn Spotter for the
National Weather Service. Reach her at  suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.