“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~Norman Vincent Peale

The feeling … Was it the soft rain falling Christmas Eve and into the early morning hours of Christmas Day? Maybe it’s the childhood memories of Santa Claus or wrapped presents under the tree or two weeks of Christmas vacation. For some the holiday is now a memory; for others the anticipation continues until Jan. 6. Christmastime can’t be contained in just one day; it overflows becoming its own season. Mr. Peale’s words “magic,” “behold” and “beautiful” shed light onto these days. With the year nearly over, 2018 is soon a memory.

Nationwide, the weather of 2018 was more than memorable; it was both record-breaking and devastating. Its effects are long lasting. The heat waves, winds (Santa Anas, hurricanes and tornados), winter storms, floods and drought arrived as expected. But some weather events were downright strange. They included weather phenomena in unusual locations and times of year, ones that repeatedly hit one place and, of course, record-breakers. Some could likely make the upcoming editions of Weather 101 textbooks. One of those happened right here in the Crescenta Valley. Headlines read, “Heat Wave Breaks Records Across Southern California.” On July 7, La Crescenta reached an all- time high temperature of 117 degrees.

Some of the other “beyond the normal” weather highlights included:

• On Memorial Day, Tropical Storm Alberto, originating in Florida, landed in Michigan. Lack of upper winds allowed a tropical storm to travel an almost unheard of distance.

• In August smoke from California’s wildfires were caught up in a jet stream current related to Hurricane Ernesto. Smokey skies in Western Europe resulted.

• August was the hottest month measured on Earth. Death Valley set a new record at 125 degrees for five straight days.

• In October, the Hawaii’s East Island disappeared under sand as it was washed over by Hurricane Walaka.

• July 26, during the Carr Fire, a tornado-like fire whirl developed. With winds equivalent to an EF3 tornado, trees were downed,  high-tension electricity towers collapsed and homes were damaged. The bark was stripped from the trees!

Mostly clear skies and gusty north to northeast winds are forecast through the rest of the week. Temperatures dropping below freezing may occur in the valleys. Just in time for New Year’s Day temperatures will likely reach into the 70s. A wild year of weather ends with the season’s “wave of a magic wand.”

Happy New Year!

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