(Originally written on 06 Jan)

9% is the current relative humidity here. I know, you’re probably sick of reading about the weather out here, but it still manages to freak me out occasionally. 9% humidity freaks me out. The fact that my face feels like I’ve been given a moderate acid peel and my hands look all shriveled like prunes, even though I keep drinking water all the time, freaks me out. Hardly needing to pee, even though I’m drinking all day, freaks me out.

9% humidity is quite simply insanely dry.

Just a few days ago it was pouring rain here and, the day after, our lawn would make squishy noises when you walked on it. Last week you couldn’t turn on the news without hearing about the flooding in California (mostly north of here, but still). It was cool and wet and overcast and generally winter-like, at least for here.

Today? 85º at 2pm. And the bluest skies you have ever seen.

Oh, and 9% humidity.

I feel guilty about it being so warm, like I have anything to do with it. My friends and family are mostly back east and they’re experiencing a typical winter day. But here I am, out here, wishing the pool wasn’t unheated because I could really do with a swim (but that water is just a bit too chilly, especially in relation to 80+ degree air). And then I see the Polar Bear swimmers on the news and realize that I’ve become a total wuss.

Yes, the wussification may be complete.

I was concerned about it last week when I caught myself complaining about the cold. Yeah, those freezing upper 40s/lower 50s morning temperatures and highs in the 60s…
…sheesh, how embarrassing for a Midwesterner.

I think that’s the problem–there’s that Midwestern mindset that is proud of living in places where it gets below zero (F). If you listen to A Prairie Home Companion you can definitely pick up on that. So, having grown up with that (and a good dose of Eastern European exaulted martyrdom), I feel guilty that I now live in a place where January is described thusly by the National Weather Service (NOAA):
January Weather in San Diego

January is usually the coldest month of the year in san diego and
the only month when temperatures below the freezing point were
experienced at the national weather service. Only on 9 days has
a reading of 32 degrees or below been recorded since records
began in 1872 with the absolute low of 25 degrees on january 7,
1913. The average minimum temperature for the month is 48.9
degrees, the average maximum 65.9 degrees and the mean 57.4
degrees. Daytime readings often reach 70 degrees and
occasionally 80 degrees and on january 10 in 1953 rose to a high
of 88 degrees.

With an average of 7 days with rain it is the wettest month of
the year. The normal total is 1.80 inches but amounts vary
widely from year to year ranging from 9.09 inches in 1993 to no
rain in several Januarys. Small hail has occurred occasionally.
A few snowflakes were observed melting as soon as they reached
the ground on january 10, 1949, the only day in January snow has
occurred.

Strong winds sometimes accompanied the rains reaching velocities
of 30 to 35 mph and gusts between 40 to 45 mph. The fastest wind
in any January was at the rate of 64 mph in 1988.

The sun shines 71 percent of the time possible and the average
month has 12 clear, 8 partly cloudy and 11 cloudy days. Heavy
fog overspread the city on an average of 3 days each january but
it is a most variable phenomenon, some months having as high as
10 days. The relative humidity is quite low averaging 70 percent
in early morning, 55 percent near noon and 55 percent in late
afternoon.

So, for all you readers in other places, please accept my apologies. Just remember, I do feel guilty, especially for things like:
With an average of 7 days with rain it is the wettest month of
the year
and
Only on 9 days has a reading of 32 degrees or below been recorded since records began in 1872.
Sorry.