By Sue KILPATRICK

“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”

– Mark Twain

Mark Twain was a great American writer, known for his wit, humor and social commentary of life in late 19th century America. His experiences and travels were vast, thus giving him plenty to say and much to write about – including everything from fierce anti-slavery sentiments to the lighter subject of weather.

His following quote addresses both: “The rain is famous for falling on the just and unjust alike, but if I had the management of such affairs I would rain softly on the just, but if I caught a sample of the unjust out doors I would drown him.”

Back to the present life and weather here in the foothills.

Spring’s transition from winter to summer is like a rollercoaster ride, with its sudden ups and downs, then a complete turn in direction. Mr. Twain was not too far off about the many types of weather that can occur on a single spring day. Last weekend, as I sat with my morning coffee, I glanced into our backyard, north toward the San Gabriel Mountains. The sky was blue and the wind was blowing from the northeast – beautiful, warm day! Then I go into our living room to look out the window at the San Rafael Mountains to the south. Fog is moving up the valley and over the hills heading toward La Crescenta. The sky is gray and a breeze is coming from the southwest – an overcast, cool day.

What a change! Within a 24 hour period the temperature had dropped from 95 to 70 degrees. I may have mentioned last week that the weather may present us with a little April Fool’s trickery. No fools here!

Keep your umbrella within reach for the next several days for there is a good chance of a few April showers.

As said by English poet Thomas Tusser in 1557:

“Sweet April showers, Do spring May flowers.”

Its original meaning was based on the sentiment that good may result from unpleasant events – days of tiresome rain is rewarded with beautiful flowers.

The trip to retrieve your CV Weekly will be greeted by cloudy, cold and windy weather as a storm system moves into the area. Expect these conditions, plus a chance of rain and thunderstorms to remain into the weekend. Temperatures will be 10-15 degrees below normal with daytime highs in the 50s and nighttimes dipping to around 40. By the first of the week there will be a warm up with a few passing clouds. And once again, another cooling trend with partly cloudy skies will move in.

The weather rollercoaster ride continues, but when it is over, green hillsides and spring blooms await us.

Sue Kilpatrick is a longtime Crescenta Valley resident and amateur weather watcher. Reach her at

suelkilpatrick@gmail.com.

  Sue Kilpatrick, weather in the foothills